No Right to Reject the Stipulated Mahr

Question

At the time of the nikah my mahr was fixed at ten thousand two red dinars, which is contrary to the practice of our whole community, family and biradari (kinship group). Among us the mahr is fixed at five hundred rupees. Now I reject it — is this correct or not?

Answer

Whatever mahr was fixed for you at the time of the nikah, that alone is valid according to the Shari‘a, and its payment is binding. Had you refused it at the very moment of the nikah, the mahr would have been fixed accordingly. But refusing it after having accepted ten thousand two dinars is in no way valid.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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