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My question is regarding "Mahr" (dowry amount given by groom to bride). I married 7 months back and my Mahr was fixed by my father. My father and bride's father had dialog and my father told that its good and its Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, is Mahrul-Mithl (may be Mahr of elder sister in the family of bride) and my Mahr was fixed according to that only i.e. equal to Mahr given to my bride's elder sister by her husband. I paid that in advance. Now after 7 months of marriage I came to know that my father in law thought to fix more than what was fixed but he agreed to my father in respect at last moment. Now that I came to know this fact from my wife then what should I do? I want to give the remaining amount of Mahr. My wife said that her elder sister's Mahr was fixed according to their husband's income at that time which was less when compared to my income. She said that Mahr should be fixed according to the income of groom. Is she correct? Now that I want to give more Mahr then what is the correct rule according to Islaam while fixing Mahr. Please let me know in detail. If I am earning 3500 Saudi riyals per month then what should be reasonable Mahr amount to give? Please clarify my doubt?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

Since the dowry was agreed upon a given amount and was mentioned at the contract, then you are not obliged to pay more than this amount, unless it is a donation from you to please your wife and her guardian.

Stipulating a dowry that is similar to the one given to a related bride, according to some scholars, is acceptable when the dowry is not specifically stated. However, this is not the case as the dowry was specifically stated at the time of the contract and was agreed upon between yourselves.

Allaah Knows best.

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