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The mahr (dowry) is a mandatory financial right that Islam grants to the wife upon marriage. It is a binding debt upon the husband and must be paid as agreed, whether immediately or deferred. Allah ﷻ says in the Qur’an:
“And give the women their dowries graciously. But if they willingly give up a portion of it to you, then consume it in satisfaction and ease.”
(Surat an-Nisa’ 4:4)
This verse confirms two essential points: firstly, the mahr is an obligation that must be honored by the husband; and secondly, the wife has the right to voluntarily forgo all or part of her mahr, only if she does so willingly and without compulsion.
Accordingly, if the wife chooses, out of genuine free will, to pardon her husband from paying some or all of the mahr, this is permissible and the husband may accept it lawfully. This is considered a form of ihsan (kindness) and she will be rewarded for it, provided it is not the result of pressure, guilt, coercion, or manipulation.
The scholars from all four major Sunni madhhabs agree that a wife has the right to waive her mahr, either before or after its payment, as long as she is of sound mind and does so knowingly and willingly.
However, if she is pressured or made to feel emotionally forced, or is unaware of her right to demand the mahr, such forgiveness is not valid in the eyes of Shari‘ah. In such a case, the obligation to pay the mahr remains upon the husband.
Furthermore, if the wife dies before receiving her mahr and has not pardoned it, then the unpaid mahr becomes a debt owed to her estate and must be paid to her heirs from the husband’s wealth, just like any other financial obligation.
In conclusion, it is permissible for a woman to voluntarily forgive her husband from paying the mahr, in part or in full, as long as this forgiveness is genuine, unpressured, and freely offered. This is in accordance with the teachings of the Qur’an and is accepted by the majority of Islamic scholars.
