At engagement, the groom presents a 'mahr' (dowry) to the bride's family. The price of mahr varies between families, but is limited to no more than 50,000 riyals (about US3,300) by the government. The couple will then spend a lot of time together getting to know one another once they are engaged.
According to Islamic teachings in the hadith (sayings of Muhammad), mahr is the amount to be paid by the groom to the bride at the time of marriage, some of which may be delayed according to what is agreed upon by the spouses. The mahr is for her to spend as she wishes.
A dowry is a payment such as land, property, money, livestock, or a commercial asset that is paid by the bride's (woman's) family to the groom (man) or his family at the time of marriage.
In Dubai, the average cost ranges from $80,000 to $135,000. And the average cost of a Saudi wedding ranges from $185,000 to $2m. In Saudi Arabia and GCC countries, around $1bn are spent every year on wedding jewellery and bridal dresses.
According to the Holy Quran, the mehr is given as a free gift by the husband to the wife at the time of contracting the marriage. The settling of a dowry on the woman at the time of the marriage is obligatory. It could take the form of money or kind.
Demanding a high mahr could mean that women do not get married. There is no minumum or maximum but the average in the UK is about £1,000-5,000 if paid straightaway, or £10,000 if deferred. Some people have made a cat the mahr, but I would not recommend this practice.
Al-Assadi said that the average dowry for Saudi women is between SR40,000 and SR50,000, and may include the gold given to the bride according to traditions in various parts of the country.
Polygamous marriages are legally recognized for men in Saudi Arabia, in accordance with Islamic Sharia law, which allows for Muslim men to marry up to four wives, provided that he treats them equally and shares all his wealth equally.
The largest recorded dowry was that of Elena Patiño, daughter of Don Simón Iturbi Patiño (1861-1947), a Bolivian tin millionaire, who in 1929 bestowed £8 million ($22 million) from a fortune at one time estimated to be worth £125 million ($606 million).
The person responsible for paying the dowry varies culture to culture. For example, a Hindu bride's family typically gives the groom a dowry. However, in Muslim cultures, it's the groom that offers a gift to the bride. The dowry amount may shift as well, as it often depends on the family's class and income.
A marriage settlement was a means of ensuring the proper use of a dowry provided by a bride's father to be used for his daughter's financial support throughout her married life and into her widowhood, and also a means by which the bride's father was able to obtain from the bridegroom's father a financial commitment to ...
Bridewealth is often one part of a reciprocal exchange, in which case it is accompanied by the provision of a dowry—a payment presented by the bride's family to that of the groom. Bridewealth may consist of money or goods, and it may be paid in one sum or in installments over a period of time.
Give those you have consummated marriage with their due dowries. It is permissible to be mutually gracious regarding the set dowry. Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. But if any of you cannot afford to marry a free believing woman, then ˹let him marry˺ a believing bondwoman possessed by one of you.
The husband has the financial responsibility for his family in Islam, however a wife, especially one that works, should contribute to the expenses as much as she thinks is appropriate (though she mustn't feel like she should from her husband's side).
The husband's first duty is to pay an agreed-upon dower (mahr or sadaq) to his wife; this property, which can range from a token sum to a substantial amount of wealth, is legally hers and she may save, spend, or invest it however she chooses.
Most of the world's highest dowry-related violence and deaths are reported in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. The dowry custom in South Asia is many centuries old. A gift in cash or jewelry was given to a bride by her family to maintain her independence after marriage because women were not entitled to an inheritance.
Islam honours women as it requires every man to pay a dowry to the woman he proposes to marry, so that she can manage her affairs and get ready for the marriage. It thus opens a way for the marriage of women who are poor, who will be content with a modest dowry. Thus marriage becomes easier for men who are not rich.
What is the average cost of marriage in Saudi Arabia?
Experts estimate the average cost of marriage in Saudi at 150,000 riyals ($40,000) per person. This amount is divided between the dowry, the wedding, housing, and personal items.
What is an acceptable Mahr? In theory, one could ask for anything. Any amount of money, any type of (halal) gift–clothing, jewelry, cars, plane tickets.
However, if the Mahr is not specified or mentioned at the time of marriage, the marriage contract is still considered valid and a Mahr is still due. This is why the Mahr has been called an 'inalienable' right of the wife.
A dowry is the wealth that the bride brings to her husband. A bride price is the wealth that the groom pays to the family of the bride. The mahr is the wealth, financial or education, that is given to the bride and without its acceptance by the bride the marriage is not considered valid.
