Mahr Calculator
Work out the value of your Mahr (Islamic marriage gift) based on gold, silver, Mahr Fatimi, or a fixed cash amount — and split it into prompt and deferred portions.
Mahr Calculator
Choose a basis for your Mahr, confirm the metal price if relevant, and set your prompt/deferred split.
Prefilled with the approximate spot price as of late June 2026 — precious metal prices move daily, so update this field with today's rate from a live spot price source before relying on the result.
Understanding Mahr in Islam
✓ Mahr Fatimi figure, minimum amounts and metal-price defaults verified against multiple Islamic finance and fiqh sources, plus live bullion pricing — last checked June 2026.
Mahr is the bridal gift a husband is obligated to give his wife as part of the Islamic marriage contract (Nikah), established in the Qur'an (Surah An-Nisa, 4:4). It belongs exclusively to the wife — not her father, family, or guardian — and she is free to spend, save, invest, or gift it however she chooses. Mahr is not the same as a dowry in the sense practised in some cultures; in Islam it flows from the groom to the bride, never the reverse.
Mahr can be paid in two parts. Mahr Mu'ajjal (prompt Mahr) is paid at or shortly after the Nikah. Mahr Mu'akhar (deferred Mahr) is agreed to be paid later — often at divorce or the husband's death — and becomes a debt the husband owes his wife until settled. Many couples agree on a split between the two: a portion paid immediately, with the remainder deferred as a long-term financial safeguard for the wife.
Common Mahr Benchmarks
| Benchmark | Basis | Approx. weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mahr Fatimi | Silver | ~480–500 dirhams (~1,430–1,490g) | Modelled on the Mahr given by Ali (RA) to Fatimah (RA); widely cited as a simple, blessed standard |
| Hanafi minimum | Silver | 10 dirhams (~29.75g) | The minimum Mahr recognised in the Hanafi school |
| Maliki minimum | Gold | 1.06g | The minimum Mahr recognised in the Maliki school |
| Mahr Mithl | Custom / cash | — | Set by comparison to the customary Mahr of similar women in the bride's family or community |
← Swipe to see all columns
Figures for Mahr Fatimi vary slightly between scholars and regions — some cite 480 dirhams, others 500 — and the silver dirham weight itself is given as anywhere from roughly 2.975g to 3.06g depending on the source. This calculator uses 500 dirhams at 2.975g (the commonly cited Hanafi dirham weight) as its default, which you can override with a custom gram amount if your local scholar or community uses a different figure.
Worked Example
Mahr Fatimi in AUD, 60% Prompt / 40% Deferred
500 dirhams × 2.975g = 1,487.5g silver
1,487.5g × $2.78/g (AUD spot) = $4,135 total Mahr
Prompt (60%): $2,481
Deferred (40%): $1,654If a Deferred Mahr Was Fixed Years Ago
A common real-world problem: a deferred Mahr agreed as a fixed cash figure decades ago has lost real value to inflation by the time it's actually paid. Islamic scholars are divided on whether the nominal amount or an inflation-adjusted equivalent should be honoured — that's a fiqh question for a qualified scholar, not something a calculator can answer. What this calculator can help with is the practical side: use our Inflation Calculator to see what an old fixed amount would be worth in today's money, as a starting point for that conversation.
This tool is provided for general financial reference only and is not a substitute for guidance from a qualified Islamic scholar, particularly for matters of fiqh around what counts as a valid or sufficient Mahr in your specific school of thought. For background reading, see this overview of what Mahr is and why it's given, or speak with your local imam or marriage celebrant. If you're also organising other parts of married life financially, our Savings Goal Calculator and Budget Planner can help with the practical side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mahr is a mandatory gift the husband gives his wife as part of the Islamic marriage contract, established in the Qur'an (Surah An-Nisa 4:4). It belongs solely to the wife and can be cash, gold, silver, property, or another item of agreed value.
Mahr Fatimi is commonly cited as 480–500 silver dirhams, roughly 1,430–1,490 grams of silver depending on which dirham weight is used. Its cash value changes daily with the silver spot price — at current rates it's roughly a few thousand dollars, but always check today's silver price before relying on a figure.
Prompt Mahr (Mu'ajjal) is paid at or shortly after the Nikah. Deferred Mahr (Mu'akhar) is agreed to be paid later, commonly at divorce or the husband's death, and is treated as a debt the husband owes his wife until it's settled.
No. Mahr can be a fixed cash amount, property, or any item of real, halal, deliverable value — gold and silver are simply traditional and commonly used benchmarks, not a requirement.
Unpaid Mahr is treated as a debt against the husband's estate and is settled from his wealth before the rest is distributed to heirs, even if he made no specific provision for it in a will.
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