what is haq mehr in islam

Haq Mehr is a mandatory gift or token of respect given by the husband to the wife in the Islamic marriage contract. It is a religious requirement according to Sharia and is part of many Muslim marriage contracts. The word "mahr" implies a gift given voluntarily and not as a result of a contract, but in Muslim religious law, it was declared a gift which the bridegroom has to give. While the mahr is often money, it can also be anything agreed upon by the bride such as jewelry, home goods, furniture, a dwelling, or some land. The mahr may be separated into two parts. First, there is the muqaddam, or the prompt mahr, which the wife must receive at or immediately after the marriage ceremony. The second part of the mahr, called the muakhar, is a deferred and promised amount, payable at any agreed-upon date following the consummation of the marriage. Often the deferred amount is larger than the amount paid at marriage. The purpose of Haq Mehr is to ensure that if the couple divorces, the woman has money to stand on her own two feet.