Mahr Muajjal vs. Mahr Muakkhar

Mahr is an Islamic term that refers to the mandatory gift or payment given by a husband to his wife at the time of marriage. It is considered an essential element of a Muslim marriage contract, and its purpose is to provide financial security to the wife. There are two types of mahr: muajjal (immediate) and muakkhar (deferred).

  1. Muajjal: Muajjal is the type of mahr that is given to the wife immediately after the nikah (marriage contract) is completed. The payment can be in the form of money, property, or any other valuable item that has been agreed upon by the husband and wife. The benefit of muajjal is that the wife can use the gift as soon as she receives it and can have financial independence from her husband.

  2. Muakkhar: Muakkhar is the type of mahr that is deferred or postponed until a later date. The payment is usually made at the time of divorce, or the death of the husband. This type of mahr is usually used to provide financial security to the wife in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

Muakkhar can be further divided into two subcategories:

a) Muakkhar al-Musamma: This type of muakkhar specifies a particular time or event when the mahr will be paid. For example, the husband may agree to pay the mahr after a certain number of years, or after the birth of a child.

b) Muakkhar al-Muallaq: This type of muakkhar does not specify a particular time or event when the mahr will be paid. Instead, the payment is left to the discretion of the husband. However, it is important to note that the wife can request the payment at any time, and the husband is obligated to pay it.

In conclusion, mahr is an essential part of a Muslim marriage contract, and there are two types of mahr: muajjal (immediate) and muakkhar (deferred). Muakkhar can be further divided into two subcategories: muakkhar al-musamma (specified) and muakkhar al-muallaq (unspecified).