Preferring the Mahr of Fatima to Mahr al-Mithl

Question

Zayd wants to contract the nikah of his daughter with a young man who has completed his studies, on the mahr of Fatima, whereas here the custom for mahr al-mithl (customary dower) is 5 thousand / 7 thousand; moreover everyone is agreed, and the girl and the young man are agreed as well. Will the nikah on the mahr of Fatima be valid or not?

Answer

When the adult (baligha) girl and her guardians (awliya’) are agreed, adherence to mahr al-mithl is not binding — especially since the young man is also a religious scholar (‘alim); then reviving the sunna of the mahr of Fatima is also a source of reward.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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