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

amount for 
mehr
, which they call 
Shara` Mohammadi
.
This 
is a grossly erroneous belief which they hold, believing this to 
be part of the Shariah, when their dowries do not even equal the 
minimum stipulated amount for 
mehr
. Allaah Ta`ala Alone 
know where this custom originated, but the sad part is that even 
the 
Mullah Jees
(local Molvies) do not teach the people 
differently. 
According to Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahmatullah 
alayh), the minimum amount which can be given for 
mehr
 
should not be less than 10 dirhams (this would be 
equivalent to around 40g of silver--+
 R110 (2007)). It is not 
permissible to stipulate a 
mehr
 less than this and if anyone 
does stipulate less than this, then the equivalent of 10 
dirhams will become binding.
 
3). 
Another major shortcoming is that people actually 
do not regard the discharging of the 
mehr
as necessary.
It 
has become customary for many wives to forgive the 
mehr
. It 
should be well understood that the 
mehr
is a debt upon the 
husband just like all other debts. Just as any other debt is 
binding, so too is the 
mehr
. However, if the wife forgives the 
entire or part 
mehr
, then it will be valid, but to regard its 
discharge right from the beginning is an evil belief and 
incorrect notion. 
It is stated in a Hadith that the man who 
marries and does not have any intention to pay the 
mehr
 is 
like an adulterer.
34 
4).