The Status of Marriage in Islam
Marriage is counted among the greatest favors of Allah and one of His clear signs. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
{And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect.}
[Ar-Rum 30:21]
Allah also instructed guardians to facilitate marriage for those under their care, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
{And marry those among you who are single (i.e., a man who has no wife and the woman who has no husband) and (also marry) the pious (fit and capable ones) of your (male) slaves and maid-servants (female slaves). If they be poor, Allah will enrich them out of His Bounty. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knowing (about the state of the people).}
[An-Nur 24:32]
The institution of marriage carries immense benefits: it preserves chastity, ensures the continuation of the Ummah, and brings pride to the Prophet ﷺ before the other Prophets, in addition to many other blessings.
Mahr: A Right, Not a Burden
Unfortunately, in some societies, guardians hinder marriage by demanding extravagant dowries, which place unnecessary obstacles before young men and women. This practice often delays or prevents marriages altogether.
The dowry (Mahr) is indeed a right established by Shari‘ah. Allah 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.}
[An-Nisa’ 4:4]
Yet the Mahr is not a price for the bride; rather, it is a token of honor, respect, and responsibility.
Is Reducing the Mahr a Sunnah?
Islam does not set a fixed maximum for Mahr, but the Sunnah strongly encourages moderation and simplicity.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
- “The best of marriage is that which is made easiest.” (Ibn Hibban; authenticated by Al-Albani, Sahih al-Jami‘, 3300)
- “The best of Mahrs is the simplest.” (Al-Hakim, Al-Bayhaqi; authenticated by Al-Albani, Sahih al-Jami‘, 3279)
- And to a man seeking marriage, he ﷺ said: “Look (for something to give as a dowry), even if it is a ring of iron.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
The Example of the Prophet ﷺ and His Family
The Prophet ﷺ himself modeled this principle.
When ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) sought to marry Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her), he said to the Prophet ﷺ that he owned nothing. The Prophet ﷺ asked, “Where is your Hutami shield?” When ‘Ali confirmed that he had it, the Prophet ﷺ told him to give that as her dowry. (Abu Dawud, An-Nasa’i; authenticated by Al-Albani, Sahih An-Nasa’i, 3160)
This shows that even the leader of the women of Paradise, Fatimah, daughter of the Messenger ﷺ, was married with a simple Mahr.
Similarly, ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“Do not go to extremes with regard to the dowries of women, for if that were a sign of honour and dignity in this world or a sign of piety before Allah, then Muhammad ﷺ would have done that before you. But he did not give any of his wives, and none of his daughters were given more than twelve Uqiyah.” (Ibn Majah, 1887; authenticated by Al-Albani, Sahih Ibn Majah, 1532)
Twelve Uqiyah equals approximately 480 dirhams, or around 135 silver riyals.
Scholarly Guidance
- Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah stated that anyone who seeks more than what the Prophet ﷺ gave his daughters or wives is ignorant, even if wealthy. If a man is poor, he should not burden himself with what he cannot afford.
- Imam Ahmad, as reported by Hanbal, considered four hundred dirhams recommended as a dowry when possible, but not beyond that.
- Ibn al-Qayyim noted that hadiths encourage moderation in Mahr, show there is no minimum amount, and emphasize that extravagance diminishes blessings. (Zad al-Ma‘ad, 5/178)
The Wisdom of Keeping Mahr Simple
The wisdom is clear: lowering the dowry makes marriage accessible, prevents delays, and reduces social harm that arises when marriage is avoided. Simplicity in Mahr opens the door to barakah (blessing) and strengthens families from the very beginning.
✨ In summary: Islam honors women by granting them a rightful Mahr, but it is not meant to be an obstacle. The Sunnah teaches us that the most blessed marriages are those made easiest, with modest and affordable dowries.
