husband not giving mahr

Question:

I have been married for 22 years. Until now I have not received my mahr from my husband. I have asked him for it many times but he says that I do not need it. What can I do?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Name

If it was agreed at the time of the marriage that the mahr will be payable immediately and your husband has not paid you until now even after you have asked him for it, you have the right to refuse sexual relationship with him and to refuse to travel with him until he pays you the mahr.

If, however, at the time of marriage it was agreed that the mahr will be payable upon death or upon separation or at some other time in the future, then you have the right to ask your husband for the mahr, but not to refuse sexual relationship with him.

It may also be prudent to involve a trustworthy and sensible third party to try to resolve the issue.

في الإختيار: قال : ( وللمرأة أن تمنع نفسها وأن يسافر بها حتى يعطيها مهرها ) لأن حقه قد تعين في المبدل فوجب أن يتعين حقها في البدل تسوية بينهما ، وإن كان المهر كله مؤجلا ليس لها ذلك لأنها رضيت بتأخير حقها وعند أبي يوسف لها ذلك كما في المسألة الأولى ، وكذلك إن دخل بها عند أبي حنيفة لها أن تمنع ، وقالا: ليس لها ذلك لأنها سلمت إليه فليس لها أن تمتنع بعده كالبائع إذا سلم المبيع ليس له حبسه بعد ذلك ، وله أن المهر مقابل بجميع الوطآت لئلا يخلو الوطء عن العوض إظهارا لخطر البضع إلا إنه تأكد بوطأة الأولى لجهالة ما وراءها ، والمجهول لا يزاحم المعلوم فإذا وجد بعده وطء آخر صار معلوما فتحققت المزاحمة فصار بالمهر مقابلا بالكل ، ونظيره العبد الجاني إذا جنى جناية يدفع بها ، فإن لم يدفع حتى جنى أخرى وأخرى دفع بالكل

( الإختيار لتعليل المختار: 2/127 )

( رد المحتار: 3/143، سعيد )

( فتاوى دار العلوم ديوبند: 8/179 )

( إمداد الأحكام: 2/363 )

And Allah knows best.

Mufti Faizal Riza
9/9/2011
Darul Ifta Australia
www.mufti-online.net

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