Rare Ahadith about Mahr

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع- عَنْ رَجُلٍ تَزَوَّجَ امْرَأَةً عَلَى حُكْمِهَا قَالَ لَا يُجَاوِزْ حُكْمُهَا مُهُورَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ع اثْنَتَيْ عَشْرَةَ أُوقِيَّةً وَ نَشّاً وَ هُوَ وَزْنُ خَمْسِمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ مِنَ الْفِضَّةِ قُلْتُ أَ رَأَيْتَ إِنْ تَزَوَّجَهَا عَلَى حُكْمِهِ وَ رَضِيَتْ بِذَلِكَ قَالَ فَقَالَ مَا حَكَمَ مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ فَهُوَ جَائِزٌ عَلَيْهَا قَلِيلًا كَانَ أَوْ كَثِيراً قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ فَكَيْفَ لَم

“This is concerning my question before abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who marries a woman following her command to form the marriage contract. He (the Imam) said, ‘Her command in the matters of mahr (dower) must stay within the amount of mahr (dower) of the family of Muhammad (SAW), which is twelve Awqiyah

لَهَا الْمُتْعَةُ وَ الْمِيرَاثُ وَ لَا مَهْرَ لَهَا قُلْتُ فَإِنْ طَلَّقَهَا وَ قَدْ تَزَوَّجَهَا عَلَى حُكْمِهَا قَالَ إِذَا طَلَّقَهَا وَ قَدْ تَزَوَّجَهَا عَلَى حُكْمِهَا لَا يُجَاوِزُ حُكْمُهَا عَلَيْهِ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ وَزْنِ خَمْسِمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ‌[2] فِضَّةً مُهُورِ نِسَاءِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص.

“About the case of a man who marries a woman on her command and decision or according to his decision and command then he or she dies before they go to bed with each other, abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘She can have advantage and inheritance but has no mahr (dower)/ I then asked what happens if he divorces her after ma

سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ أَنَا حَاضِرٌ عَنْ رَجُلٍ تَزَوَّجَ امْرَأَةً عَلَى جَارِيَةٍ لَهُ مُدَبَّرَةٍ قَدْ عَرَفَتْهَا الْمَرْأَةُ وَ تَقَدَّمَتْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ طَلَّقَهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ بِهَا قَالَ فَقَالَ أَرَى أَنَّ لِلْمَرْأَةِ نِصْفَ خِدْمَةِ الْمُدَبَّرَةِ يَكُونُ لِلْمَرْأَةِ مِنَ الْمُدَبَّرَةِ يَوْمٌ فِي الْخِدْمَةِ وَ يَكُونُ لِسَيِّدِهَا الَّذِي كَانَ دَبَّرَهَا يَوْمٌ فِي الْخِدْمَةِ ق

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked, when I was present, about the case of a man who married a woman as the second wife, the first being al-Mudabbarah, a slave-girl (a slave whose freedom is agreed to take place after the death of the master) which was known to the woman but she executed the marriage and then he div

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ تَزَوَّجَ امْرَأَةً عَلَى أَنْ يُعَلِّمَهَا سُورَةً مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَقَالَ مَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ بِهَا[1] حَتَّى يُعَلِّمَهَا السُّورَةَ وَ يُعْطِيَهَا شَيْئاً قُلْتُ أَ يَجُوزُ أَنْ يُعْطِيَهَا تَمْراً أَوْ زَبِيباً قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ إِذَا رَضِيَتْ بِهِ كَائِناً مَا كَانَ.

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who married a woman to teach her a chapter from the book of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. He (the Imam) said, ‘I do not like his going with her to bed before teaching her the Chapter and giving her something.’ I then asked if giving dates or raisins is eno

جَاءَتِ امْرَأَةٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ص فَقَالَتْ زَوِّجْنِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَنْ لِهَذِهِ فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ أَنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ زَوِّجْنِيهَا فَقَالَ مَا تُعْطِيهَا فَقَالَ مَا لِي شَيْ‌ءٌ فَقَالَ لَا قَالَ فَأَعَادَتْ فَأَعَادَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْكَلَامَ فَلَمْ يَقُمْ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُ الرَّجُلِ ثُمَّ أَعَادَتْ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فِي الْمَرَّةِ الثَّالِثَةِ أَ تُحْسِنُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ شَيْئاً

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that once a woman came to the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and said, ‘You must give me in marriage.’ The Messenger of Allah, asked, ‘Is there anyone for her?’ A man stood up and said, ‘I am for her, O Messenger

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ رَجُلٍ تَزَوَّجَ امْرَأَةً بِأَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ فَأَعْطَاهَا عَبْداً لَهُ آبِقاً وَ بُرْداً حِبَرَةً بِأَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ الَّتِي أَصْدَقَهَا قَالَ إِذَا رَضِيَتْ بِالْعَبْدِ وَ كَانَتْ قَدْ عَرَفَتْهُ فَلَا بَأْسَ إِذَا هِيَ قَبَضَتِ الثَّوْبَ وَ رَضِيَتْ بِالْعَبْدِ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ طَلَّقَهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ بِهَا قَالَ لَا مَهْرَ لَهَا وَ تَرُدُّ عَلَيْهِ خَمْسَمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ و

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who marries a woman for one thousand dirham. He then gives her a runaway slave and a gown made of silk for one thousand dirham for her mahr (dower). He (the Imam) said, ‘If she agrees for the slave and knows his condition, then it is

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع تَزَوَّجَ رَجُلٌ امْرَأَةً عَلَى خَادِمٍ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي وَسَطٌ مِنْ الْخَدَمِ قَالَ قُلْتُ عَلَى بَيْتٍ قَالَ وَسَطٌ مِنَ الْبُيُوتِ‌[1].

‘The servant must be of average and medium condition.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if it is a house?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It must be of average and medium condition.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع- عَنْ رَجُلٍ زَوَّجَ ابْنَتَهُ ابْنَ أَخِيهِ وَ أَمْهَرَهَا بَيْتاً وَ خَادِماً ثُمَّ مَاتَ الرَّجُلُ قَالَ يُؤْخَذُ الْمَهْرُ مِنْ وَسَطِ الْمَالِ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَالْبَيْتُ وَ الْخَادِمُ قَالَ وَسَطٌ مِنَ الْبُيُوتِ‌[2] وَ الْخَادِمُ وَسَطٌ مِنَ الْخَدَمِ قُلْتُ ثَلَاثِينَ أَرْبَعِينَ دِينَاراً وَ الْبَيْتُ نَحْوٌ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ هَذَا سَبْعِينَ ثَمَانِينَ دِينَاراً أَوْ مِائَةً نَحْ

“I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about the case of a man who gave his daughter in marriage to the son of his brother with a mahr (dower) of a house and a servant and the man died. He (the Imam) said, ‘Mahr (dower) is paid from medium kinds of assets.’ I (the narrator) than asked, ‘What is the condition of the house an

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ تَزَوَّجَ امْرَأَةً وَ شَرَطَ لَهَا أَنْ لَا يَتَزَوَّجَ عَلَيْهَا وَ رَضِيَتْ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ مَهْرُهَا قَالَتْ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع هَذَا شَرْطٌ فَاسِدٌ لَا يَكُونُ النِّكَاحُ إِلَّا عَلَى دِرْهَمٍ أَوْ دِرْهَمَيْنِ‌[3].

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who marries a woman with a condition not to marry any other woman with her and she agrees for that as her mahr (dower). He (the Imam) said, ‘This condition is not valid because mahr (dower) can only be like one or two dirham.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ فِي رَجُلٍ تَزَوَّجَ امْرَأَةً وَ لَمْ يَفْرِضْ لَهَا صَدَاقاً ثُمَّ دَخَلَ بِهَا قَالَ لَهَا صَدَاقُ نِسَائِهَا.

“About the case of a man who marries a woman without assigning any mahr (dower) and goes to bed with her, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘She has a mahr (dower) similar to that for the women of her family.’”

الْآجِلُ إِلَى مَوْتٍ أَوْ فُرْقَةٍ.

‘The due date for payment of what is on credit of mahr (dower) is on their separation or death.’”

هُوَ الَّذِي أَسَرَّ وَ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ النِّكَاحُ‌[1].

“About the case of a man who hides the amount of mahr (dower) and in public shows it more, abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘It ( mahr (dower)) is what he hides.’”

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ تَدْرِي مِنْ أَيْنَ صَارَ مُهُورُ النِّسَاءِ أَرْبَعَةَ آلَافٍ قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ أُمَّ حَبِيبٍ بِنْتَ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ كَانَتْ بِالْحَبَشَةِ فَخَطَبَهَا النَّبِيُّ ص وَ سَاقَ إِلَيْهَا عَنْهُ النَّجَاشِيُّ أَرْبَعَةَ آلَافٍ فَمِنْ ثَمَّ يَأْخُذُونَ بِهِ فَأَمَّا الْمَهْرُ فَاثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ أُوقِيَّةً وَ نَشٌّ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), once asked, ‘Do you know why mahr (dower) of women has become four thousand?’ I replied, ‘No, I do not know.’ He (the Imam) said, “Umm Habibah, daughter of abu Sufyan was in al-Habashah (Ethiopia) and the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services t

بِنِصْفِ مَا يُعَلَّمُ بِهِ مِثْلُ تِلْكَ السُّورَةِ.

“About the case of a man who marries a woman for teaching her a chapter from the book of Allah, then divorces her before going to bed with her and what she must receive, abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘He owes to teach her half as much of that chapter.’”

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌ أَيُّمَا امْرَأَةٍ تَصَدَّقَتْ عَلَى زَوْجِهَا بِمَهْرِهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ بِهَا إِلَّا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهَا بِكُلِّ دِينَارٍ عِتْقَ رَقَبَةٍ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَكَيْفَ بِالْهِبَةِ بَعْدَ الدُّخُولِ قَالَ إِنَّمَا ذَلِكَ مِنَ الْمَوَدَّةِ وَ الْأُلْفَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘If a woman gives her mahr (dower) as charity to her husband before going to bed with her, Allah writes for her for every dinar freeing of a slave.’ It was ask

قُلْتُ لَهُ مَا أَدْنَى مَا يُجْزِئُ مِنَ الْمَهْرِ قَالَ تِمْثَالٌ مِنْ سُكَّرٍ.

‘It can be a figure of sugar.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ كُلَّ ذَنْبٍ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِلَّا مَهْرَ امْرَأَةٍ وَ مَنِ اغْتَصَبَ أَجِيراً أَجْرَهُ وَ مَنْ بَاعَ حُرّاً.

‘Allah forgives every sin on the Day of Judgment except non-payment of mahr (dower), usurpation of wages and selling free people.’”

قَالَ إِنَّ الْإِمَامَ يَقْضِي عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الدُّيُونَ مَا خَلَا مُهُورَ النِّسَاءِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Imam pays debts of believing people except mahr (dower) of women.’”

دُخُولُ الرَّجُلِ عَلَى الْمَرْأَةِ يَهْدِمُ الْعَاجِلَ‌[1].

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A man’s going to bed with his woman destroys immediate payability of mahr (dower) which was for immediate payment.’”

إِذَا دَخَلَ بِهَا فَقَدْ هَدَمَ الْعَاجِلَ.

“About the case of a man who marries a woman and goes to bed with her, then she asks for payment of mahr (dower), abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘His going to bed with her destroys immediate payability of mahr (dower) which was for immediate payment.’”