All praise is due only to Allaah. We laud Him and beseech His

Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) 
never stipulated the 
mehr
for any of his noble wives or 
beloved daughters to be more than 500 dirhams. Five 
hundred dirhams is about 131 and a quarter tolas of silver 
(1.75kg).
The equivalent amount in currency (rands) varies and 
fluctuates. The average amount in present times would be in the 
region of R4800 (if we consider silver to cost R2725/kilo). 
Mehr
should be stipulated at this amount, i.e. 1.75kgs of silver. 
This is also called ‘
Mehr-e-Faatimi’
. (Call it Mehr-e-Azwajun 
Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) it is better – Mufti Elias) 
It was the noble habit of many of our seniors that if they were 
requested to perform a Nikah, they would only do so on the 
condition that the 
mehr
be set at the value of 
Mehr-e-Faatimi
, 
otherwise they would refuse to perform the Nikah.
In essence, the Sunnat of our beloved Nabi (sallallahu alayhi 
wasallam) should be something to advertise and be proud 
about. We should endeavour to stipulate our dowries in 
accordance to what Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had 
stipulated for his wives and daughters. Is there anyone more 
honourable and respectable than Nabi (sallallahu alayhi 
wasallam)? Although there is no real sin in stipulating a higher 

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31
Respected Readers, if this Kitaab comes into your hands after 
you have already entered into a marriage union, then too it is 
not too late. Whatever has been mentioned already can be 
rectified and remembered. 
The right of dowry (mehr) 
Among the rights of wives the first is the 
mehr
(dowry), which 
is necessary upon the husband. Generally, no Nikah is 
performed without a dowry being stipulated, but many 
shortcomings and deficiencies are being perpetrated in this 
regard. We will list these, and make dua that Allaah Ta`ala 
guide us all in rectifying and reforming ourselves and also that 
He grant us the taufeeq to follow the blessed Sunnat of Nabi 
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam), in every respect. 
When a Muslim makes up his mind to lead a life whereby he 
wants to please only Allaah Ta`ala, and not to consider or give 
preference to customs, family and traditions, that his attention 
will be focussed solely and wholly towards pleasing Allaah 
Ta`ala and following the Sunnah of Nabi (sallallahu alayhi 
wasallam), and he makes an effort by speaking to his family in 
bringing alive the Sunnat of Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), 
then Allaah Ta`ala will come to the aid of such a person, and 
make him the means of the guidance of people where his every 
action will make alive a Sunnat.
May Allaah Ta'ala use us all to bring alive the Sunnah of Nabi 
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and also grant us death on this.
Generally, the following shortcomings are found with regard to 
dowry: 
32
1). 
One shortcoming originates from the side of the girl’s 
parents and close relatives, that when they stipulate the 
mehr
, 
they do not consider the rank and status of the girl. They try to 
get the largest amount possible, which sometimes leads to 
acrimony and arguments. In the worst cases we even sometimes 
see these arguments lead to the termination of the entire Nikah 
arrangement. People regard seeking an exorbitant 
mehr
as a 
tool of superiority and honour, whereas in reality this is 
foolhardiness and ignorance. If the amount of 
mehr
signified 
honour and nobility, then the dowries of Nabi (sallallahu alayhi 
wasallam) and the Sahaabah (radhiallahu anhum) would have 
been exorbitant and steep.