Excerpted from: Aḥkām wa Masā’il – In the Light of Qur’an and Sunnah
Author: Shaykh Mubashar Ahmad Rabbani
Is it permissible for a Muslim to marry off his daughter for the sake of Allah’s pleasure, without stipulating a dowry (mahr)?
It is not permissible for any Muslim to give his daughter in marriage fee sabeelillah (for the sake of Allah) without setting a dowry.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَأُحِلَّ لَكُمْ مَا وَرَاءَ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَنْ تَبْتَغُوا بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ ﴾
[Surah an-Nisā’: 24]
Translation:
“And lawful to you are [other] women beyond these, provided that you seek them with your wealth (i.e., by giving them their due dowry).”
Sayyidunā Sahl bin Saʿd رضي الله عنه narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ said to a man (who wished to marry but had no wealth):
“Search for something [to offer as mahr], even if it is an iron ring.”
[Bukhārī: 5149, Book of Nikah; Muslim: 1425]
This was said to a man who wanted to marry but had no wealth. It proves that a mahr must be offered, no matter how small.
If a woman's marriage is conducted without specifying a mahr, she becomes entitled to a mahr al-mithl, i.e., the average dowry typically given to women of similar status in her family.
It is permissible to marry a woman in exchange for teaching her Qur’an or religious knowledge, and that would count as her mahr.
The Prophet ﷺ asked the same man:
“Do you have anything of the Qur’an memorized?”
He replied: “Yes.”
The Prophet ﷺ then said:
“Teach her those Surahs — I have married her to you in exchange for that.”
So, if a man is so poor that he owns nothing to offer as mahr, he may offer Qur’an and beneficial knowledge in its place.
However, if a man has financial means, then setting a monetary mahr is mandatory.
Mahr is exclusively the right of the woman, and no one has the right to interfere with it.
If she, out of her own voluntary and conscious consent, forgives the mahr, nothing is due upon the husband — provided that:
✔ She is of sound mind,
✔ She is fully aware,
✔ There is no coercion or psychological pressure.
Allah says:
﴿ وَآتُوا النِّسَاءَ صَدُقَاتِهِنَّ نِحْلَةً، فَإِن طِبْنَ لَكُمْ عَن شَيْءٍ مِّنْهُ نَفْسًا فَكُلُوهُ هَنِيئًا مَّرِيئًا ﴾
[Surah an-Nisā’: 4]
Translation:
“And give the women their dower graciously. But if they, of their own will, remit any part of it to you, then enjoy it with pleasure and goodwill.”
Author: Shaykh Mubashar Ahmad Rabbani
❖ Question:
Is it permissible for a Muslim to marry off his daughter for the sake of Allah’s pleasure, without stipulating a dowry (mahr)?
❖ Answer:
It is not permissible for any Muslim to give his daughter in marriage fee sabeelillah (for the sake of Allah) without setting a dowry.
✦ Dowry (Mahr) is a Necessary Condition of Nikah
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَأُحِلَّ لَكُمْ مَا وَرَاءَ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَنْ تَبْتَغُوا بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ ﴾
[Surah an-Nisā’: 24]
Translation:
“And lawful to you are [other] women beyond these, provided that you seek them with your wealth (i.e., by giving them their due dowry).”
✦ Hadith Evidence on the Obligation of Mahr
Sayyidunā Sahl bin Saʿd رضي الله عنه narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ said to a man (who wished to marry but had no wealth):
“Search for something [to offer as mahr], even if it is an iron ring.”
[Bukhārī: 5149, Book of Nikah; Muslim: 1425]
This was said to a man who wanted to marry but had no wealth. It proves that a mahr must be offered, no matter how small.
✦ What If a Marriage Occurs Without Mahr?
If a woman's marriage is conducted without specifying a mahr, she becomes entitled to a mahr al-mithl, i.e., the average dowry typically given to women of similar status in her family.
✦ When Knowledge Becomes Mahr
It is permissible to marry a woman in exchange for teaching her Qur’an or religious knowledge, and that would count as her mahr.
The Prophet ﷺ asked the same man:
“Do you have anything of the Qur’an memorized?”
He replied: “Yes.”
The Prophet ﷺ then said:
“Teach her those Surahs — I have married her to you in exchange for that.”
So, if a man is so poor that he owns nothing to offer as mahr, he may offer Qur’an and beneficial knowledge in its place.
However, if a man has financial means, then setting a monetary mahr is mandatory.
✦ A Woman May Waive Her Mahr Willingly
Mahr is exclusively the right of the woman, and no one has the right to interfere with it.
If she, out of her own voluntary and conscious consent, forgives the mahr, nothing is due upon the husband — provided that:
✔ She is of sound mind,
✔ She is fully aware,
✔ There is no coercion or psychological pressure.
Allah says:
﴿ وَآتُوا النِّسَاءَ صَدُقَاتِهِنَّ نِحْلَةً، فَإِن طِبْنَ لَكُمْ عَن شَيْءٍ مِّنْهُ نَفْسًا فَكُلُوهُ هَنِيئًا مَّرِيئًا ﴾
[Surah an-Nisā’: 4]
Translation:
“And give the women their dower graciously. But if they, of their own will, remit any part of it to you, then enjoy it with pleasure and goodwill.”
