A woman’s mahr may not be deducted from without her consent
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Fatwa No. ( 17328 )
Q: There is a custom that has existed since ancient times and continues to this day in some villages in the southern part of the Kingdom. It is taking a sum of money from the father of the bride when she marries outside the village, and this sum is taken in exchange for the participation of the villagers in the wedding, and accompanying the bride's father to the groom's village. This sum is collected from some of the villagers who are known for their trustworthiness, and we do not doubt their integrity. According to them, this sum is used to address the problems the village faces, or to protect certain important properties, the village's agricultural areas, or the village's guests, or to provide some assistance in opening roads, wedding expenses, and similar matters. However, the villagers do not know how much money has been collected, as no account of expenses and the remaining balance has been presented for years. This does not mean that there is any doubt whatsoever about the integrity of those in charge of collecting these sums, but it is for the sake of being informed about the matter. I also inform your Excellency that if the bride's father refuses to pay the sum, the villagers refuse to accompany him to the location of the celebration, i.e., the groom's village. He is then placed in an extremely difficult position, which forces him to pay the sum so that it is not said of him that he has no community, and that he is an unwanted person among the villagers. There are those who threaten
to cut off ties with him, not visit him, or not attend his funeral if he does not pay the amount. The question here is: How valid is this? Is there a sin on those who collect the amount? Are these amounts forbidden? We hope that Your Excellency will provide us with an answer to these questions. May Allah place that in your scale of good deeds, and may He benefit Islam and Muslims through you. And Allah is the One who guides to the purpose.
A: The custom mentioned is a bad custom, contrary to the Shari'ah. The mahr is a right of the woman, and it is not permissible to deduct anything from it except with her consent. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: There is a custom that has existed since ancient times and continues to this day in some villages in the southern part of the Kingdom. It is taking a sum of money from the father of the bride when she marries outside the village, and this sum is taken in exchange for the participation of the villagers in the wedding, and accompanying the bride's father to the groom's village. This sum is collected from some of the villagers who are known for their trustworthiness, and we do not doubt their integrity. According to them, this sum is used to address the problems the village faces, or to protect certain important properties, the village's agricultural areas, or the village's guests, or to provide some assistance in opening roads, wedding expenses, and similar matters. However, the villagers do not know how much money has been collected, as no account of expenses and the remaining balance has been presented for years. This does not mean that there is any doubt whatsoever about the integrity of those in charge of collecting these sums, but it is for the sake of being informed about the matter. I also inform your Excellency that if the bride's father refuses to pay the sum, the villagers refuse to accompany him to the location of the celebration, i.e., the groom's village. He is then placed in an extremely difficult position, which forces him to pay the sum so that it is not said of him that he has no community, and that he is an unwanted person among the villagers. There are those who threaten
to cut off ties with him, not visit him, or not attend his funeral if he does not pay the amount. The question here is: How valid is this? Is there a sin on those who collect the amount? Are these amounts forbidden? We hope that Your Excellency will provide us with an answer to these questions. May Allah place that in your scale of good deeds, and may He benefit Islam and Muslims through you. And Allah is the One who guides to the purpose.
A: The custom mentioned is a bad custom, contrary to the Shari'ah. The mahr is a right of the woman, and it is not permissible to deduct anything from it except with her consent. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.