Question: Assalaamu Alaikum. I've noticed people nowadays are increasing the mahr (dowry-obligatory bridalmoney given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage). Is this Sunnah? Does the shariah stipulate a certain limit for the mahr that should not be overstepped?

Answer: Praise be to Allaah. Marriage is one of the blessings of Allah Taa'la , and one of His signs. Allah Taa'la says (interpretation of the meaning):

"And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect" [al-Rum 30:21]

Allah Taa'la commanded guardians to arrange marriages for those who are under their care, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

"And marry those among you who are single (i.e. a man who has no wife and the woman who has no husband)….[al-Noor 24:32]

But some guardians (walis) put obstacles in the way of marriage, by demanding huge dowries which a young man who wants to get married cannot afford, until marriage becomes something of a distant dream. The mahr is a right that is given to the woman, as enjoined by Islamic shariah, Allah Taa'la says (interpretation of the meaning):

"And give to the women (whom you marry) their Mahr with a good heart" [al-Nisa' 4:4]

The shariah does not stipulate a certain limit for the mahr, but it does encourage reducing the mahr and keeping it simple. The the Holy Prophet Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said:

"The best of mahrs is the simplest (or most affordable)." Narrated by al-Haakim and al- Bayhaqi, Abu Dawood (2125) and al-Nasaa'i (3375) narrated from Ibn 'Abbaas that 'Ali said: "I married Faatimah (r.a) and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, let me go ahead with the marriage.' He said: 'Give her something.' I said: 'I do not have anything.' He said: 'Where is your Hutami shield?' I said, 'I have it with me.' He said, 'Give it to her.'" Saheeh al-Nasaa'i, 3160.

Ibn Taymiyah in Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 32/194: stated Whoever thinks of increasing his daughter's mahr and asking for more than the daughters of the Messenger of Allah, the Holy Prophet Hadhrat Muhammad- ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) (pbuh) were given - when they were the best women in this world in all aspects - is an ignorant fool.

This reinforces the fact that in Islam, the mahr is not something that is sought for its own sake. Ibn Maajah (1887) narrated that 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab said:

"Do not go to extremes with regard to the dowries of women, for if that were a sign of honour and dignity in this world or a sign of piety before Allah, then Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) would have done that before you. But he did not give any of his wives, and none of his daughters were given, more than twelve uqiyah. A man may increase the dowry until he feels resentment against her and says, 'You cost me everything I own, and caused me a great deal of hardship'." Saheeh Ibn Maajah, 1532. (Twelve uqiyah is equivalent to 480 dirhams, i.e., approximately 134.4 silver riyals )

Hence it is clear that what people do nowadays, increasing the mahr and exaggerating concerning it, is something that goes against the shariah. The wisdom behind reducing the makes it easier for people to get married, so that they will not be diverted from it, which will result in all kinds of moral and social corruption.

(VERILY, ALLAH TAA'LA IS ALL-KNOWING!)