Adapted from the original article by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amonpuri حفظه الله
When he had nothing, the Prophet ﷺ asked if he knew any part of the Qur'an. He replied affirmatively. The Prophet ﷺ said:
"I have married her to you on the condition that you teach her the portion of Qur'an you know."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5029, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1425)
✔ Imām Mālik: This was compensation for teaching the Qur'an.
✔ Ḥāfiẓ Ibn al-Jawzī: The hadith proves that Qur’an can be appointed as mahr.
✔ Ḥāfiẓ al-Khaṭṭābī: The "bāʾ" in "بِمَا مَعَكَ" denotes exchange, confirming Qur'an teaching as compensation.
✔ Imām al-Qurṭubī: Jurists agree this hadith proves the permissibility of delayed mahr and using Qur'an instruction as compensation.
✔ Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Kathīr: Teaching the Qur'an was the agreed mahr, not an honorary gift.
✔ Imām Ibn al-Qayyim: The hadith confirms such a marriage contract is valid by both textual evidence and reason.
① Narration by Abū Nuʿmān al-Azdī: Declared false and unsupported by Ḥāfiẓ Ibn ʿAbd al-Hādī and Ḥāfiẓ al-Dhahabī.
② Statement of Makḥūl al-Shāmī: Declared mursal and non-authoritative.
③ Narration in Dārquṭnī & Bayhaqī: Involves ʿUtbah ibn Sakan, a discarded and unreliable narrator.
✔ False reports opposing this ruling have been critically examined and rejected.
✔ This ruling reflects the practicality and inclusiveness of Islamic law, accommodating for those who cannot afford material mahr.
❖ The Legality of Qur'an Teaching as Mahr
It is permissible and valid in Sharīʿah to appoint Qur'anic instruction as the mahr (bridal gift) in a marriage contract, as multiple authentic hadiths support this practice.✿ The Hadith of Sahl ibn Saʿd رضي الله عنه
A woman offered herself to the Prophet ﷺ. A companion requested to marry her. The Prophet ﷺ asked him if he had anything to offer as mahr:When he had nothing, the Prophet ﷺ asked if he knew any part of the Qur'an. He replied affirmatively. The Prophet ﷺ said:
"I have married her to you on the condition that you teach her the portion of Qur'an you know."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5029, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1425)
❖ Scholarly Commentary
✔ Imām al-Shāfiʿī: Based on this hadith, it is valid to appoint Qur'an teaching as mahr when wealth is unavailable.✔ Imām Mālik: This was compensation for teaching the Qur'an.
✔ Ḥāfiẓ Ibn al-Jawzī: The hadith proves that Qur’an can be appointed as mahr.
✔ Ḥāfiẓ al-Khaṭṭābī: The "bāʾ" in "بِمَا مَعَكَ" denotes exchange, confirming Qur'an teaching as compensation.
✔ Imām al-Qurṭubī: Jurists agree this hadith proves the permissibility of delayed mahr and using Qur'an instruction as compensation.
✔ Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Kathīr: Teaching the Qur'an was the agreed mahr, not an honorary gift.
✔ Imām Ibn al-Qayyim: The hadith confirms such a marriage contract is valid by both textual evidence and reason.
❖ Refutation of Fabricated Reports
Several weak or fabricated narrations have been falsely cited to negate Qur'an as mahr:① Narration by Abū Nuʿmān al-Azdī: Declared false and unsupported by Ḥāfiẓ Ibn ʿAbd al-Hādī and Ḥāfiẓ al-Dhahabī.
② Statement of Makḥūl al-Shāmī: Declared mursal and non-authoritative.
③ Narration in Dārquṭnī & Bayhaqī: Involves ʿUtbah ibn Sakan, a discarded and unreliable narrator.
- Both Imām Dārquṭnī and Imām al-Bayhaqī reject it.
- Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar: Unauthentic.
❖ Summary
✔ Teaching the Qur'an as mahr is permissible, valid, and well-established by authentic hadiths and the consensus of scholars.✔ False reports opposing this ruling have been critically examined and rejected.
✔ This ruling reflects the practicality and inclusiveness of Islamic law, accommodating for those who cannot afford material mahr.
