Q:
A man married his daughter to the son of another man for a specified Mahr (mandatory gift to a bride from her groom); half of which was paid in advance. After the marriage was consummated the wife became pregnant. The husband then died in a car accident before his wife gave birth to a son. Is the unpaid half of the Mahr considered as a debt that is still owed to the wife,
and should it be paid before the distribution of his estate or is it not considered as a debt so that all the blood money can be distributed among the heirs? Please advise us.
A:
If the situation is as described, the remaining half of the Mahr remains a debt on the husband for his wife, as he consummated the marriage. (Part No. 19; Page No. 57) As he did not give it to her during his lifetime, it is obligatory that it should be paid to her from the estate he left after his death, before the inheritance is distributed among the heirs who are entitled to the blood money or any other property that he may have owned. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet, his family, and Companions.