Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

GIRL SAYS ,SHE NEED MEHR OF 5000 RS BUT HER FATHER SAY`S MEHR WOULD BE 100000 RS.WHAT SHOULD I DO.IF I DON`T PAY MEHR 100000 MARRIAGE WILL NOT TAKE PLACE.WHAT WILL BE THE APPLICABLE MEHR FOR ME. 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Who decides the Mehr

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The amount of ‘Mehr’ in Islam is either offered by the groom and accepted by the bride (with consent and agreement of her guardians), or an amount demanded by the bride (with consent and agreement of her guardians). Although in Islamic Law the final decision of how much ‘mehr’ is acceptable is the decision and sole right of the bride alone, this decision is best taken by the bride with the consent of her father or guardians. The bride alone has the sole rights to the ‘mehr’ amount, and she may spend that amount on whoever and whatever she wills and pleases.

Your Question: WHAT WILL BE THE APPLICABLE MEHR FOR ME. 

In reality, the amount of ‘mehr’ applicable for you to pay is what your bride-to-be demands and accepts; and it would be best if the bride and her father could come to an agreement regarding its amount.

Whatever the situation and regardless whether the bride and her father reach an agreement on the amount or not, what is stated and declared in front of witnesses at the time of marriage as the ‘mehr’ amount would be the applicable ‘mehr’ amount in the Sight of Islamic Law and of Allah Subhanah. It would neither be permissible nor considered righteousness for a believer to pay less than the ‘mehr’ amount which was stated and declared at the time of ‘nikaah’.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan