What is the ruling on marrying a daughter to a man of religion or a shaykh as a gift to him without a mahr?

The questioner : He says: In the past, in some countries, people used to marry their daughters to students of knowledge or a shaykh as a mahr, as a gift and in appreciation of his status, and so that he would not move from one place to another. So, is the mahr obligatory now for one who married fifty years ago without a mahr, and on whom is the mahr obligatory, the husband or the father? The father is seventy years old.

The Shaykh : And how old is his father? Yes. That means he is ten years old.

The questioner : May Allah make you happy.

The Shaykh : Yes, hmm?

The questioner : Our shaykh is present, if Allah wills.

The Shaykh : There is only a ten-year difference between me and him.

The questioner : There is a ten-year difference between him and his relative.

The Shaykh : That means the one who is seventy years old, his father is ninety years old.

The questioner : Yes, yes, yes.

The Shaykh : This is present.

The questioner : And seventy, how is it, meaning the citizen?

The Shaykh : It is possible, but it is not present, is it not?

The questioner : It appears to be present, it appears so.

The Shaykh : It appears so. Concede a little. In any case, did they stipulate the absence of the mahr or did they remain silent? If they stipulated the absence of the mahr, then the contract must be renewed according to the stronger position. However, there is no sin in the past enjoyment of the wife and the protection of the children, as long as they were in ignorance. So now, if you know someone, you must call him on the phone tonight and say: "Divorce your wife" if the absence of the mahr has occurred. Is that finished? Did you understand? Good.

The questioner : People still do this. If they see a student of knowledge, they say: "I will marry you my daughter because you are a student of knowledge."

The Shaykh : It does not contradict, if so.

The questioner : It is not on you, it is not on you. This is a boy, meaning he asked for your permission.

The Shaykh : No, this is not permissible, this is not permissible. But better than this is to say: "Give me just ten riyals." Or take them from one person. Verify the issue, and you must point it out.

The presenter : Prepared by the Project of the Senior Scholars of Kuwait, may Allah honor it with tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and the Sunnah.