Question:

Country: United Kingdom

Salaam, I wanted to ask a question regarding Mahr.

Is it permissible to pay in instalments if both the husband and wife agree and neither are coerced? If so, is it permissible to not disclose to the rest of the family that the mahr will be paid in instalments if the couple decide they do not want other to know, or does the bride’s family have to be made aware?

(Question published as received)

Answer:

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

It is permissible for the husband to pay the mahr in instalments if both parties mutually consent to this arrangement and an Islamic date is fixed for the final payment. It is advisable to inform the bride’s walī of this arrangement to avoid any issues.

And Allah knows best

(Mufti) Bilal al-Mahmudi 

1 Dhū ’l-Qaʿdah 1446 / 29 April 2025

Concurred by: Mufti Faisal al-Mahmudi

وَحَاصِلُهُ أَنَّهُ إمَّا أَنْ يُصَرِّحَا بِحُلُولِهِ، أَوْ بِتَعْجِيلِهِ، أَوْ بِتَأْجِيلِهِ كُلِّهِ، أَوْ بِحُلُولِ بَعْضِهِ وَتَأْجِيلِ بَعْضِهِ أَوْ يَسْكُتَا فَإِنْ شَرَطَا حُلُولَهُ أَوْ تَعْجِيلَهُ كُلَّهُ فَلَهَا الِامْتِنَاعُ حَتَّى تَسْتَوْفِيَهُ كُلَّهُ وَالْحُلُولُ وَالتَّعْجِيلُ مُتَرَادِفَانِ وَلَا اعْتِبَارَ بِالْعُرْفِ إذَا جَاءَ الصَّرِيحُ بِخِلَافِهِ، وَكَذَا إذَا شَرَطَا حُلُولَ الْبَعْضِ فَلَهَا الِامْتِنَاعُ حَتَّى تَقْبِضَ الْمَشْرُوطَ فَقَطْ. وَأَمَّا إذَا شُرِطَ تَأْجِيلُ الْكُلِّ فَلَيْسَ لَهَا الِامْتِنَاعُ أَصْلًا؛ لِأَنَّهَا أَسْقَطَتْ حَقَّهَا بِالتَّأْجِيلِ كَمَا فِي الْبَيْعِ.(البحر الرائق شرح كنز الدقائق)

(فتاوی محمودیہ، ج ۱۲، ص ۸٦، ۹۰، ۹۲۰)