Mahr
Definition
Mahr is the mandatory gift that the husband gives to the wife at marriage — her exclusive right, which she may spend, save, or gift as she chooses. Al-Ghazali discusses the fiqh of mahr and its spiritual significance: it is a recognition of the wife's dignity and the seriousness of the commitment the husband is making. He recommends moderation in the mahr — neither so high as to create financial strain and social pressure, nor so low as to suggest that the wife's dignity is undervalued. The prophet's ﷺ practice of facilitating nikah by encouraging reasonable mahr is a deliberate social policy to make marriage accessible.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
Appears in
1 book in the library
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