Can a Burial Shroud Be Stipulated as Mahr?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

I believe that this world is temporary and that every soul will return to Allah one day. I wish for my shroud to be provided by my husband.

May I include this as part of my mahr?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

Yes, she can do this, but it can be stated as an earnest request, as she doesn’t need to make it part of the mahr, as it might be redundant; the husband often already provides his wife’s shroud if she dies while married to him. [Kasani, Bada’i al-Sana‘i]

I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction in sha Allah.

Allah knows best

Related Answers 

• mahr Archives
  A collection of answers and articles exploring the rulings, wisdoms, etiquettes, and contemporary questions related to mahr in Islamic marriage.
• What Are the Sunnas Related to the Mahr? – Shaykh Faraz …
  An overview of the Prophetic guidance regarding mahr, including moderation, simplicity, timely payment, and spiritual etiquette in marriage.

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersAcademy (seekersguidance.org), such as those offered in the Islamic Studies Curriculum (seekersguidance.org), and build your way up, completing each course as you progress?

I pray this helps answer your question.

[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.

“وجملة الكلام فيه أن المهر في الأصل لا يخلو إما أن يكون معينا مشارا إليه، وإما أن يكون مسمى غير معين مشارا إليه، فإن كان معينا مشارا إليه صحت تسميته، سواء كان مما يتعين بالتعيين في عقود المعاوضات من العروض والعقار والحيوان وسائر المكيلات والموزونات سوى الدراهم والدنانير أو كان مما لا يتعين بالتعيين في عقود المعاوضات كالدراهم؛ لأنه مال لا جهالة فيه إلا أنه كان مما يتعين بالتعيين ليس للزوج أن يحبس العين ويدفع غيرها من غير رضا المرأة؛ لأن المشار إليه قد تعين للعقد فتعلق حقها بالعين فوجب عليه تسليم عينه، وإن كان مما لا يتعين له أن يحبسه ويدفع مثله جنسا ونوعا وقدرا وصفة؛ لأن التعيين إذا لم يصح صار مجازا عوضا من الجنس والنوع والقدر والصفة”.

(بدائع الصنائع: كتاب النكاح، فصل ومنها أن لا يكون مجهولا جهالة تزيد على جهالة مهر المثل   (2/ 282)، ط.  دار الكتاب العربي، سنة النشر