The Shar‘i Mahr and the Mahr of Fatima

Question

Zayd wants to divorce his wife; he is also a landowner, and his wife is a girl from a poor family. The girl does not want to contract another nikah, and her mahr is “according to the Shari‘a of Muhammad”, that is, thirty-two and a half rupees. What is the maximum amount of the mahr “according to the Shari‘a of Muhammad”? Kindly let us know — it will be a great favour.

Answer

The amount of the mahr “according to the Shari‘a of Muhammad” as thirty-two and a half rupees is correct if that is the custom (‘urf) of that place, i.e. when people say “the mahr according to the Shari‘a of Muhammad” they mean precisely thirty-two and a half rupees — then only this amount will be binding, and there is no right to demand more than it.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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