𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 (369)

The Mahr of the Prophet’s Wives Sheikh ’Abdussalām Ash-Shuwa’ir hafidahullah states: The first matter we must be aware of is that the mahr, the more it is reduced, the better it is—firstly, in compliance with the command of the Prophet ﷺ, who forbade exaggeration in the mahr of women. Secondly, because there is blessing [in doing so], as the Prophet ﷺ said: “The best among you are those whose burden (in marriage) is the lightest.” Scholars have mentioned, as reported by Al-Ba’li in Al-Ikhtiyarāt from Sheikh Taqiy Ad-Dīn, that whoever believes his ward—be it his daughter or sister—is more honourable than the daughters and wives of the Prophet ﷺ, and thus demands a dowry greater than theirs, thinking this is a reflection of greater dignity, is misguided! Listen to the narration of ’Ā'ishah (may Allāh be pleased with her), which was recited earlier and is cited by the author regarding the amount of mahr the Prophet ﷺ gave to his daughters and wives. ’Ā'ishah was asked about the Prophet’s mahr and she replied: “The mahr that he gave to his wives was twelve uqiyyah and a nash.” She asked, “Do you know what a nash is?” The narrator said, “No.” She said, “It is half of an uqiyyah, which totals to five hundred dirhams.” As we mentioned in the lesson the day before yesterday, one dirham equals approximately 2.97 grams. Therefore, five hundred dirhams would approximately equal 1,500 grams of silver. At today's silver prices, one gram is roughly equivalent to two riyals, meaning the mahr the Prophet ﷺ gave to his wives and daughters—who are the noblest of women—did not exceed three thousand riyals in value. Whoever believes his daughter is more honourable than the wives of the Prophet ﷺ is deluded and has wronged himself. Yes, customary practice and social norms are separate considerations, but one must not believe such notions. Moreover, Allāh has referred to the mahr as a "gift" (niḥlah)—not as compensation for the woman’s value or beauty. It is a form of offering and generosity, not a strict exchange or transactional compensation. Thus, exaggeration in mahr is prohibited. The most truthful and comprehensive statement on the matter remains the saying of the Prophet ﷺ: “The best among you are those whose burden (in marriage) is the lightest.” Indeed, it is a sign of blessing and good fortune for a woman that her marriage to her husband comes with ease and simplicity. ----------------- Footnote: According to the hadith of ’Ā'ishah (may Allāh be pleased with her), the mahr of the Prophet ﷺ's wives was 500 dirhams of silver. Based on the above, the weight of a dirham is 2.97 grams. 500 dirhams × 2.97 grams/dirham = 1,485 grams As of today (13 Dhul Qa'dah 1445 H/ 11-5-25), the price of silver in the UK is approximately £0.7976 per gram.[CoinGecko] To calculate the current value: 1485 × 0.7976 = £1,184.436 Therefore, the mahr would be approximately £1,184.44 at today's silver prices. Please note that silver prices fluctuate regularly, so it's advisable to check the latest rates for the most accurate calculations.