Mehr/Dower in a Muslim Marriage

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During a Muslim marriage ceremony, a sum of money or property will be decided to be paid to you by your husband, known as mehr or dower. Traditionally mehr is understood as an amount reserved for the wife for when she needs it the most, that is either after divorce or death of the husband.

Even if no specific amount is fixed at the time of the marriage, legally you have a right to mehr. It can either be paid in full at the time of marriage or in parts, i.e. half at the time of marriage and the rest upon divorce or death of your husband.

Once your divorce is final, and your iddat period has been completed, if you haven’t received your mehr amount from your husband then your husband has to give it to you.

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