Preferred amount for dowry
Question
What is the preferred amount for dowry?
بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم
Answer
The preferred amount for dowry is 500 dirhams, as this was the amount the Prophet g gave to most of his wives, as mentioned in a narration of Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (1462). 500 dirhams according to most ḥanafī scholars of the sub-continent is 1531g of silver. According to Mufti Rashīd Aḥmad Ludyānwī (d. 1422/2002), it is 1701g of silver. Many Arab scholars are of the view that it is 1488g of silver.
If a person decides to give the value of the silver, he should use the retail purchase price including VAT, enabling the wife to purchase the amount of silver if she wishes to do so.
For further information, refer to our detailed Fatwa in relation to this.
عن أبي سلمة بن عبد الرحمن أنه قال: سألت عائشة زوج النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: كم كان صداق رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم؟ قالت: كان صداقه لأزواجه ثنتي عشرة أوقية ونشا. قالت: أتدري ما النش؟ قال: قلت: لا. قالت: نصف أوقية، فتلك خمسمائة درهم، فهذا صداق رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لأزواجه، رواه مسلم (١٤٢٦)۔
Allah knows best
Yusuf Shabbir
8 Rabīʿ al-Awwal 1440 / 16 November 2018
Approved by: Mufti Shabbir Ahmed and Mufti Muhammad Tahir