What Does Mahr (Dowry) Mean in Arabic?
مَهْر
mahr
Root: م ه ر
Mahr (Dowry) Mahr is the obligatory gift of wealth that a husband gives to his wife as part of the nikah contract. The Quran commands: 'Give women their mahr as a free gift' (4:4). It is the wife's exclusive right — she may demand it, defer it, or voluntarily return it. No minimum or maximum amount is fixed in most schools; what matters is mutual agreement. Mahr is a symbol of honor and commitment.
The root of Mahr (Dowry) (mahr) appears 4 times in the Quran, reflecting its foundational importance in Islamic theology and practice.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mahr (Dowry)
What does Mahr (Dowry) mean in Islam?
Mahr is the obligatory gift of wealth that a husband gives to his wife as part of the nikah contract. The Quran commands: 'Give women their mahr as a free gift' (4:4). It is the wife's exclusive right — she may demand it, defer it, or voluntarily return it. No minimum or maximum amount is fixed in most schools; what matters is mutual agreement. Mahr is a symbol of honor and commitment.
How many times is Mahr (Dowry) mentioned in the Quran?
The root of the word Mahr (Dowry) appears 4 times in the Quran, underscoring its central importance in Islamic theology and practice.
What is the Arabic root of Mahr (Dowry)?
The Arabic root letters of Mahr (Dowry) are م ه ر.
Related Words
حَلَال
Halal (Permissible)
Halal refers to anything permissible or lawful under Islamic law. It applies to food, drink, financial transactions, and behavior. The Quran repeatedly instructs believers to eat from what is halal and good (tayyib). Halal is the opposite of haram (forbidden) and forms one of the five rulings (ahkam) of Islamic jurisprudence.
حَرَام
Haram (Forbidden)
Haram refers to anything strictly forbidden by Islamic law. Committing a haram act is a sin deserving punishment in both this world and the hereafter. Major categories include pork, alcohol, usury (riba), adultery, and murder. Islamic jurisprudence identifies five rulings (ahkam); haram is the most severe prohibition.
فَرْض
Fard (Obligatory)
Fard is an obligatory religious duty in Islam whose performance is rewarded and whose neglect is sinful. The five pillars of Islam — shahada, salah, zakat, sawm, and hajj — are all fard. Fard is divided into fard ayn (individual obligation) and fard kifaya (collective obligation fulfilled when enough people perform it).
وَاجِب
Wajib (Necessary)
Wajib in Hanafi jurisprudence is an obligatory act slightly below fard in rank, established by probable (zanni) rather than definitive (qati) evidence. Neglecting it is sinful but less severe than neglecting fard. Examples include witr prayer, udhiyya (sacrifice), and sadaqat al-fitr. In Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali schools, wajib and fard are synonymous.