Fatwa ID: 08866
Written by Alimah Aisha Qureshi
Question:
If Zaid wanted to marry Zubaida but Zubaida’s dad said to Zaid not to pay the dowry now but if he ever divorced or messed around with Zubaida then he tells Zaid that you will pay £50,000 then.
Is this a sinful, haram bid’ah?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
In Islam, marriage (nikah) is a sacred contract that comes with rights and responsibilities. One of the obligations upon the husband is the payment of mahr (dowry), which is a gift given to the wife at the time of marriage, either immediately or deferred, as agreed upon.
Mahr is a right of the wife and becomes obligatory upon the husband once the marriage is contracted. It can be mu’ajjal (prompt), Paid immediately at the time of Nikah, Or Mu’akhkhar (deferred), Paid later, either on demand or upon death/divorce.
The scenario you described makes the payment of mahr conditional upon divorce or misconduct. This goes against the basic concept of mahr being a gift and a right at the time of marriage.
A condition that turns mahr into a punishment goes against the ethos of nikah, which is meant to be based on goodwill and mercy. However, it does not invalidate the nikah. It is better to agree on a fair mahr at the time of nikah that reflects the dignity of the woman and the commitment of the husband.
References:
وَآتُواْ ٱلنِّسَآءَ صَدُقَٰتِهِنَّ نِحْلَةًۭ ۚ
Surah An-Nisa, verse 4
ثُمَّ قَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي النَّاسِ، فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ ” أَمَّا بَعْدُ مَا بَالُ رِجَالٍ يَشْتَرِطُونَ شُرُوطًا لَيْسَتْ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ، مَا كَانَ مِنْ شَرْطٍ لَيْسَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ بَاطِلٌ وَإِنْ كَانَ مِائَةَ شَرْطٍ، قَضَاءُ اللَّهِ أَحَقُّ، وَشَرْطُ اللَّهِ أَوْثَقُ، وَإِنَّمَا الْوَلاَءُ لِمَنْ أَعْتَقَ ”.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2168
وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦٓ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًۭا لِّتَسْكُنُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةًۭ وَرَحْمَةًۭ
Surah Ar-Rum verse 21
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Alimah Aisha Qureshi
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
