Fatwa #267982 September 2013Pakistan
What should I do if my wife does not want to take back her mahr after divorce?
Question
I got married and subsequently a child was born, however my wife and I had lots of fights over petty issues and that resulted in a separation of about 16 months. After that divorce was given to her in the court. She refused to take her Haq Mahr money and send a message that she will take it when she will go to Allah.
Now my question is that in this case when she had not accepted her haq mahr what should I do?
Can I just give it to a charity (sadqa) which essentially means I am giving it to Allah.
I am having difficulty marrying again. Can this issue be a hurdle?
Please suggest me what should I do. It would be good if your answer it within few days.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
In principle, mahr is the independent right of the wife immediately upon Nikah. You did not state the basis for the mahr being by you.
Nevertheless, based on your current situation, there are various ways of sending the mahr to her. For example, you may deposit the mahr into her bank account. Or, you may send the mahr to her via her parents and family. Keep in mind, mahr should be given in such a way whereby she has full possession and access to it.
Once you have done this, you are absolved of your responsibility and will not be held liable regardless of what she does with it afterwards. [i]
We also advise you to make istighfar (repent) for any shortcomings in the marriage that eventually lead to a divorce, especially in view of you fathering a child from her. It is also part of the istighfar (repent) that you follow all the injunctions of Shariah regarding your child, maintenance and visitation, etc.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Fahad Abdul Wahab
Student Darul Iftaa
New York, U.S.A
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
وَحَاصِلُهُ: أَنَّ التَّخْلِيَةَ قَبْضٌ حُكْمًا لَوْ مَعَ الْقُدْرَةِ عَلَيْهِ بِلَا كُلْفَةٍ لَكِنَّ ذَلِكَ يَخْتَلِفُ بِحَسَبِ حَالِ الْمَبِيعِ، فَفِي نَحْوِ حِنْطَةٍ فِي بَيْتٍ مَثَلًا فَدَفْعُ الْمِفْتَاحِ إذَا أَمْكَنَهُ الْفَتْحُ بِلَا كُلْفَةٍ قَبْضٌ، وَفِي نَحْوِ دَارٍ فَالْقُدْرَةُ عَلَى إغْلَاقِهَا قَبْضٌ أَيْ بِأَنْ يَكُونَ فِي الْبَلَدِ فِيمَا يَظْهَرُ، وَفِي نَحْوِ بَقَرٍ فِي مَرْعًى فَكَوْنُهُ بِحَيْثُ يُرَى وَيُشَارُ إلَيْهِ قَبْضٌ وَفِي نَحْوِ ثَوْبٍ، فَكَوْنُهُ بِحَيْثُ لَوْ مَدَّ يَدَهُ تَصِلُ إلَيْهِ قَبْضٌ
رد المحتار ج4 ص562 مطلب في شروط التخلية، سعيد
(وَالتَّمَكُّنُ مِنْ الْقَبْضِ كَالْقَبْضِ فَلَوْ وَهَبَ لِرَجُلٍ ثِيَابًا فِي صُنْدُوقٍ مُقْفَلٍ وَدَفَعَ إلَيْهِ الصُّنْدُوقَ لَمْ يَكُنْ قَبْضًا)
الدر المختار مع رد المحتار ج5 ص690 كتاب الهبة, سعيد
فتاوى محمودية ج12 ص98 جامعة فاروقية