How to Calculate Mahr in Islam: Complete Guide
This guide explains what mahr is, how to think through a fair amount, and how to structure payment—up-front (muqaddam), deferred (muʾakhkhar), or both—so it's practical, ethical, and enforceable. For hands-on calculation, try our interactive mahr calculator or explore our deferred mahr comparison tool.
What is Mahr? Islamic Definition and Purpose
What is mahr (ṣadaq)?
Mahr—also called ṣadaq—is a binding right of the bride and an obligation upon the groom. It must be something of real value (not merely symbolic), and there is no fixed upper or lower limit in Islamic law.
Why was mahr legislated?
To let the groom demonstrate his capacity to provide and to give the bride financial security. A named amount isn't strictly required at the time of nikāḥ for the marriage's validity, but the right to mahr remains and must be fulfilled—even posthumously. Learn more about Islamic marriage laws in our comprehensive Nikah Masterclass course.
Is "low mahr good" and "high mahr bad"?
Not inherently. The best mahr is the easiest for the groom to provide (i.e., practical and uncomplicated), not necessarily the smallest number.
Step-by-Step Mahr Calculation Process
- Clarify your security window. Estimate months you'd need to stabilize after divorce, death, or prolonged absence—consider job readiness, housing, and support network.
- Choose a reasonable range. Set a starting range that reflects your needs and his realistic ability.
- Decide the "type". Cash, gold, jewelry, stocks, equity, real estate, or other valuable assets—even teaching Qur'an where appropriate.
- Allocate the mix. Example: 40% cash at nikāḥ, 40% installments to the bride's long-term account, 20% pegged to gold.
- Protect against inflation. Peg deferred amounts to grams of gold.
- Choose timing. Up-front (muqaddam), deferred (muʾakhkhar), or hybrid.
- Codify & enforce. Use a promissory note for nikāḥ-only; in civil marriages, use a prenup to encode terms. Consider using our nikah contract template to properly document your mahr agreement. Deferred mahr is a debt on the estate before inheritance is divided.
Factors to Consider When Setting Mahr
- Security, not symbolism — it must be objectively valuable.
- Ability & ease of payment — avoid structures that create resentment.
- Life context — studies, debt, savings, and earnings stability.
- Legal layer — nikāḥ-only vs. nikāḥ + civil vs. nikāḥ + civil + prenup.
- Inflation hedge — peg deferred portions to gold. Use our deferred mahr calculator to compare cash vs. gold-pegged mahr over time.
Common Mahr Calculation Methods
- Fixed cash (up-front or hybrid) — calculate amounts with our mahr calculator
- Gold-pegged deferred amount — compare scenarios with our deferred mahr tool
- Asset mix (cash + jewelry + equities/real estate; installment contributions)
- Mahr al-Mithl (comparable mahr if none was named)
- Value-in-kind (e.g., teaching Qur'an) where appropriate