Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
Is Nikāḥ (marriage) valid without specifying Mahr (dowry)?
Mahr is obligatory in Nikāḥ. A marriage contract without Mahr is not valid.
❀ Allah Almighty says:
وَآتُوا النِّسَاءَ صَدُقَاتِهِنَّ نِحْلَةً
“And give the women their Mahr (bridal due) graciously.”
[Surah an-Nisā’, 4:4]
هذه الآية تدل على وجوب الصداق للمرأة، وهو مجمع عليه ولا خلاف فيه
“This verse proves that giving Mahr to a woman is obligatory. It is a matter of consensus and there is no difference of opinion on it.”
[Tafsīr al-Qurṭubī: 5/24]
❖ Question:
Is Nikāḥ (marriage) valid without specifying Mahr (dowry)?
✿ Answer:
Mahr is obligatory in Nikāḥ. A marriage contract without Mahr is not valid.
◈ Evidence from the Qur’an:
❀ Allah Almighty says:
وَآتُوا النِّسَاءَ صَدُقَاتِهِنَّ نِحْلَةً
“And give the women their Mahr (bridal due) graciously.”
[Surah an-Nisā’, 4:4]◈ Statement of ʿAllāmah al-Qurṭubī رحمه الله (d. 671 AH):
هذه الآية تدل على وجوب الصداق للمرأة، وهو مجمع عليه ولا خلاف فيه
“This verse proves that giving Mahr to a woman is obligatory. It is a matter of consensus and there is no difference of opinion on it.”
[Tafsīr al-Qurṭubī: 5/24]
Conclusion:
- Mahr is compulsory in marriage.
- The Qur’anic command is clear, and the scholarly consensus confirms it.
- Therefore, Nikāḥ without Mahr is invalid in Islamic law.
