Is It Necessary for a Woman to Forgive Her Mahr? Complete Shar’i Guidance
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil, Masāʾil al-Nikāḥ, Vol. 1, p. 326
❖ Question
Is it necessary for a woman to forgive her mahr (dower) or not?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā baʿd!
According to Islamic teachings, payment of mahr is obligatory upon the husband. If the wife, with her own will and consent, wishes to forgive the full or partial amount of her mahr, she has the right to do so. However, such forgiveness must never be under compulsion or pressure; it should be purely of her own free choice.
✿ If the wife forgives the mahr:
◈ She may forgive the full mahr.
◈ She may forgive only a portion of the mahr.
❀ Conditions:
◈ There must be no compulsion or coercion from the husband or anyone else.
◈ The decision must be made willingly and with full satisfaction.
Hādhā mā ʿindī wallāhu aʿlam biṣ-ṣawāb
