Thursday 18 Ramadan 1445 - 28 March 2024
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Ruling on including a list of furniture in the mahr

102507

Publication : 14-01-2008

Views : 22789

Question

What is the ruling on making a list of furniture and making it a basic thing in marriage? Does it replace the dowry? What should be written in this list? Is it for all what the flat will contain or what exactly?
I need the answer as soon as possible please. My marriage may fail because of this list and its contents.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

The mahr or dowry is essential in marriage, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And give to the women (whom you marry) their Mahr (obligatory bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) with a good heart”

[al-Nisa’ 5:4]

i.e., it is an obligation. 

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Go and look for something even if it is a ring of iron.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5121) and Muslim (1425).  

People vary in their dowries according to custom. Some of them make the mahr cash, and some offer gold, and some make it include three things: gold and cash to be paid later, and a list of furniture or household effects, and there is nothing wrong with that. 

The list is regarded as part of the mahr, and it becomes the property of the bride, and its specific details depend on the agreement between the husband and the wife’s guardian, who may agree to write down all the furniture that is there, so that it becomes the property of the wife, and she takes it in the event of separation from the husband; or they may agree to write down some of the furniture, and she will not have anything more than that. 

The wife’s guardian should not be too strict with regard to this list, because it is mustahabb to make the mahr simple and easy, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The best of dowries is the simplest.” Narrated by al-Haakim and al-Bayhaqi and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’ (3279). And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The best of marriage is the simplest.” Narrated by Ibn Hibbaan and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’ (3300). 

See also questions no. 10525 and 12572

And Allaah knows best.

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Source: Islam Q&A