Q 4: Is it permissible for a person to marry his daughter off to a person as a type of charity, without a Mahr (mandatory gift to a bride from her groom)?

A: It is impermissible for a person to marry off his daughter to a person without Mahr, as this will not be considered a valid marriage for whoever concludes the marriage contract for his daughter with the intention of not taking Mahr. The girl deserves the same amount of Mahr paid to her peers, because she is not a possession of her father (i.e. to give her in charity. Trans.) and the Mahr is one of her rights. The Qur'an and the Sunnah have denoted the obligation of paying Mahr in marriage, as Allah (Exalted be He) says: All others are lawful, provided you seek (them in marriage) with Mahr (bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) from your property, desiring chastity, not committing illegal sexual intercourse as stated in the Ayah of Surah Al-Nisa'. (Part No. 19; Page No. 79) Moreover, the marriage that depends on the bride offering herself without a Mahr to her husband is one of the special privileges only for the Prophet (peace be upon him), and it is clarified in Allah's Saying (Glorified and Exalted be He): ...and a believing woman if she offers herself to the Prophet, and the Prophet wishes to marry her —a privilege for you only, not for the (rest of) the believers. As mentioned in the Ayah of Surah Al-Ahzab. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.