I got married four years ago and it was written in the marriage contract that I had received the mahr. But in fact that is not true and I did not receive anything from him. Deep down in my heart I feel inferior because I have not got it and everyone around me has got their mahrs, and I have started to resent my husband. What is the ruling on this issue? What should I do to avoid haraam? Please note that my husband’s financial situation is better than before.<\/p>","answer":"
The mahr is \tthe woman’s right in her marriage, because Allah, may He be exalted, says \t(interpretation of the meaning):<\/p>\r\n
“And give \tto the women (whom you marry) their Mahr (obligatory bridal money given by \tthe husband to his wife at the time of marriage) with a good heart”<\/em><\/p>\r\n [an-Nisa’ \t4:4]<\/em><\/p>\r\n “so with \tthose of whom you have enjoyed sexual relations, give them their Mahr as \tprescribed”<\/em><\/p>\r\n [an-Nisa’ \t4:24]<\/em>. <\/p>\r\n Agreement \tshould be made on the mahr and it should be mentioned in the marriage \tcontract; if no agreement has been reached and it is not mentioned in the \tmarriage contract, the marriage is still valid and the woman should have a \tmahr like that of her peers. <\/p>\r\n You did not \texplain in your question whether agreement had been reached on a specific \tmahr or nor, or whether it was to be paid immediately or deferred. If there \twas agreement on something specific, it is obligatory to adhere to that and \tin that case what was written in the contract about you having received the \tmahr does not count for anything. <\/p>\r\n The wife has \tthe right to demand her immediate mahr and to refuse to let her husband be \tintimate with her until he has given her her mahr. As for the deferred \tportion, she should not demand it unless the time for it comes. <\/p>\r\n Ibn Qudaamah \t(may Allah have mercy on him) said: If she refuses to let her husband be \tintimate with her until she has received her mahr, and it is due to be paid \timmediately, she has the right to do that. Ibn al-Mundhir said: All of the \tscholars from whom we acquired knowledge are agreed that the woman has the \tright to refuse to let the husband consummate the marriage with her until he \tgives her her mahr. … if some of it is to be paid immediately and some is \tdeferred, then she has the right to refuse to let him be intimate with her \tbefore receiving the immediate portion, but not the deferred portion.<\/p>\r\n