Mahr Calculator - Islamic Dowry Guide
Calculate a suitable mahr (dowry) for Islamic marriage from income, savings, gold and silver, with the classical references behind each figure.
About Mahr
Mahr (ู ูุฑ) is a mandatory gift from the groom to the bride in Islamic marriage. It is her right and becomes her exclusive property. There is no fixed amount in Islam - it should be reasonable, within the groom's means, and agreed upon by both parties.
Financial Information
Calculate Custom Mahr
Your Mahr Value
$5,000.00
Suggested Mahr Amounts
Mahr of Fatimah (RA)
Equivalent to ~1.19kg silver
Basis: Historical Sunnah
$1,011.50
Savings-Based (10%)
10% of current savings
Basis: Practical approach
$1,500.00
Savings-Based (20%)
20% of current savings
Basis: Practical approach
$3,000.00
Income-Based (1 Month)
One month's gross income
Basis: Common practice
$5,000.00
Gold (10 Tola)
10 Tola (116.64g) of gold
Basis: South Asian tradition
$7,581.60
Income-Based (3 Months)
Three months' gross income
Basis: Common practice
$15,000.00
Islamic Guidelines for Mahr
No Minimum or Maximum: There is no fixed amount. The Prophet (PBUH) said even an iron ring is acceptable if one cannot afford more.
Within Means: The mahr should not burden the groom or lead to debt. Moderation is preferred in Islam.
Mutual Agreement: Both parties should agree on the amount. It should honor the bride without excessive display.
Her Exclusive Property: The mahr belongs solely to the bride. It is not to be used by parents or given to others.
Prompt or Deferred: Mahr can be given immediately (mu'ajjal) or deferred (mu'akhar), or a combination of both.
Prophetic Guidance
"The best of mahrs is the simplest (or easiest)."
โ Reported by Al-Hakim, graded Sahih
"The most blessed nikah is one with the least expenses."
โ Reported by Ahmad
Mahr is the one term of a Muslim marriage contract that Islamic law fixes and the couple still negotiate: the Quran instructs men to give it (4:4), the amount is agreed between the two people marrying, and once given it belongs to the bride alone. This calculator turns three ordinary facts โ income, savings, and whatever you hold in gold or silver โ into concrete proposals, and shows the classical reference points those proposals sit against. Use the tool above for a number, then use the sections below to judge whether that number is the right one for your situation.
What the calculator derives โ and what it cannot decide
Six figures come out of the tool. None of them is a rule of law; they are starting points drawn from documented practice, and the couple remains free to agree anything of real value that the groom can afford.
| Method | What it produces | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| One month's gross income | Annual income รท 12 | Common contemporary practice; the lowest of the income band |
| Three months' gross income | Annual income รท 4 | Common contemporary practice; a mid-range figure |
| 10% of current savings | Savings ร 0.10 | Practical approach that keeps the mahr affordable |
| 20% of current savings | Savings ร 0.20 | Practical approach; the upper savings figure |
| Silver value of the mahr of Fatimah (RA) | โ1.19 kg silver at the current silver price | Historical sunnah reference (400 dirhams) |
| Ten tola of gold | 116.64 g gold at the current gold price | South Asian convention (1 tola = 11.664 g) |
Metal prices in the tool are approximate and change daily โ for a gold or silver mahr, fix the weight in grams in the contract rather than a cash figure, so the obligation does not drift with the market. A worked example of the same payment logic elsewhere in a household is the zakat calculator, which also converts a metal weight into a current obligation.
The classical reference points, and how to read them
The anchors most often cited in the fiqh literature are the mahr given to Fatimah (RA) and the mahr given to the Mothers of the Believers; the Hanafi school additionally sets a floor. The point of citing them is proportion rather than a price to copy โ silver's market value is not what it was in the first century, and the texts treat the figures as generous-but-attainable, not as a fixed tariff.
| Reference | Classical amount | Approx. silver | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mahr of Fatimah (RA) | 400 dirhams | โ1.19 kg | The most-cited mid-range reference |
| Mahr of the Mothers of the Believers | 500 dirhams | โ1.49 kg | The upper reference in the same tradition |
| Minimum (Hanafi) | 10 dirhams | โ30 g | A floor, not a target โ below it the contract is defective in that school |
The hadith material behind these figures sits in the Book of Marriage in the major collections (Sahih al-Bukhari on sunnah.com); rulings that apply the references to modern contracts are indexed in the AMJA fatwa archive.
Prompt and deferred mahr
A mahr can be split into two obligations, and the split should be written down explicitly โ a deferred portion that never appears in the contract is a portion nobody can enforce.
| Portion | Arabic | When it becomes due | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prompt | mu'ajjal | At or before the wedding | The preferred form; reduces the risk of a disputed debt |
| Deferred | mu'akhar | On demand, on divorce, or on death | Becomes an estate debt if unpaid โ see the inheritance calculator |
Mahr is not a dowry
In the cultures that use the word "dowry", property moves from the bride's family towards the groom's. Mahr runs the other way: it is given by the groom to the bride, and the Quran treats it as hers โ 4:4 instructs men to give it willingly, and then allows her to remit part of it "of her own good pleasure". Because it is her property rather than her family's, it is not a fee paid to acquire a wife, and it does not belong to her parents or guardian.
Writing the mahr into the nikah contract
- Agree the amount and the form โ cash, gold, silver, or property โ before the ceremony, not during it.
- State both portions if the mahr is split, with the deferred part expressed as due on a described event.
- For metal, record the weight in grams; for property, describe it precisely enough to be identified.
- Have the contract witnessed and written; an oral-only mahr is the single most common source of later dispute.
- Keep the figure within the groom's means โ the emphasis in the sunnah is moderation, and a mahr that creates debt defeats the purpose.
The same discipline of writing obligations down and dating them shows up in Islamic home financing (where profit and instalments are fixed at signature) and in the Hijri date converter used to date a contract in the Islamic calendar.
Sources: Quran 4:4 and 4:24 (quran.com); Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Marriage (sunnah.com); AMJA fatwa archive (amjaonline.org). Metal prices in the calculator are approximate.
Types of Mahr
Mahr al-Musamma
The specified mahr - an amount explicitly agreed upon and stated in the marriage contract. This is the most common type and is legally binding.
Mahr al-Mithl
The customary or equivalent mahr - used when no specific amount was agreed upon. It's based on what women of similar status in the family typically receive.
Mahr Mu'ajjal
Prompt mahr - paid immediately at the time of the marriage contract or before consummation. This is the preferred form.
Mahr Mu'akhar
Deferred mahr - payment postponed to a later date, often becoming due upon divorce or death of the husband.
Cultural Considerations
Mahr amounts vary significantly across cultures and regions. While Islam encourages moderation, local customs and family expectations often influence the amount. Common practices include:
- โข South Asia: Often specified in gold (e.g., 10 tola/116g of gold)
- โข Arab World: Monetary amounts are common, often with immediate and deferred portions
- โข Southeast Asia: May include property, land, or symbolic items
- โข Western Muslims: Often based on income or savings, with flexible arrangements
Important Reminder
This calculator provides suggestions for educational purposes. The actual mahr should be mutually agreed upon by the bride and groom, taking into account financial capability, cultural expectations, and Islamic guidelines of moderation. It is recommended to consult with family members and an Islamic scholar to determine an appropriate amount for your specific situation.