Who has the right to decides the amount of meher'(gift given by groom to his bride during marriage or nikah)? How much it should be ? Is a marriage valid without ‘meher’ ?
Praise
be to Allah
Deciding the amount of the dowry is to be left to the woman
and her guardian. If the woman disagrees with her guardian about the amount
of the dowry, then what appears to be the case from the words of the
scholars is that they should take as a reference the dowry of a woman of
similar standing. If she agrees to the dowry of a woman of similar standing,
but he wants more than that, then no attention should be paid to his wishes.
If he is the one who wants a dowry like that of a woman of similar standing,
but she wants less than that, then what matters is his view. Please see
fatwa no. 224378.
With regard to the amount of the dowry, there is no set
limit. Rather it is whatever is agreed upon by the couple or by the husband
and the woman’s guardian, whether it is small or great, but the Sunnah is to
make the mahr smaller and to be easy-going concerning this matter. This is
the practice of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).
For more information, please see the answers to questions no.
3119 and 10525.
It is essential to have a mahr in the case of marriage. Once
the amount of the dowry has been agreed upon, at that point it becomes a
right only for the woman, which the guardian must hand over to her, and not
take anything from it except with her consent.
After the marriage contract, it is permissible for her to
give up to her husband all of the dowry or part of it, on condition that she
be of sound mind.
If marriage occurs without a dowry, it is still valid, but
the woman is still entitled to a mahr like that of a woman of similar
standing.
See fatwas no. 111127 and
112153
And Allah knows best.
