Q: Please be advised that I am a young man about to graduate. I proposed to a girl six months ago, and her father agreed to our marriage. I agreed with them to pay her 100,000 Rupees as Mahr (mandatory gift to a bride from her groom). Our customs are that the mentioned sum of money is written in the contract, but only half of it is paid in the form of jewels and clothes. Due to my (Part No. 19; Page No. 41) financial situation, I do not have this sum of money, so I cannot pay it. I have read in some books that if a man marries while owing part of the Mahr (mandatory gift to a bride from her groom), while he does not intend to pay it, he will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment as an adulterer. Please advise concerning the following:First:Is this Hadith Sahih (authentic)?Second:If it is Sahih, what should I do? Should I break the engagement or continue? Please note, that the marriage has not yet taken place.Third:Given the situation, does the previously-mentioned Hadith apply to my case?Please advise. May Allah guide you.

A: First, it was mentioned by Al-Mundhiry in his book entitled "Al-Targhib wal-Tarhib", on the authority of Suhayb Al-Khayr (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said, "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, Any man who marries a woman while he intends not to give her part of the Mahr will die as an adulterer. Any man who buys an item while he intends not to give the seller part of its price will die as a traitor, and traitors are in Hellfire. (Part No. 19; Page No. 42)  Narrated by Al-Tabarany in his book entitled "Al-Kabir". Al-Mudhiry said that its Sanad (chain of narrators) includes `Amr ibn Dinar who is Matruk (a narrator whose transmission of Hadith was discarded due to unreliability). Thus, the Hadith is considered Da`if (weak). Second, Mahr is one of the wife's rights that should be fulfilled, according to Allah's saying (Exalted be He), And give to the women (whom you marry) their Mahr (obligatory bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) with a good heart; but if they, of their own good pleasure, remit any part of it to you, take it, and enjoy it without fear of any harm (as Allâh has made it lawful). Third, if you intend to pay her Mahr and the rest of her rights later, you may continue and marry her. May Allah guide you in your marriage. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.