mahr-ul-musamma
Meaning. Specified dower: the mahr fixed by agreement at or after the marriage.
Mahr-ul-musamma is the dower expressly settled between the parties, either before, at the time of, or after the marriage. The husband may fix any amount, however large, even if it is beyond his means. Hanafi law sets a minimum of ten dirhams and Maliki law three dirhams; there is no maximum.
Specified dower is usually split into a prompt part (mu'ajjal), payable on demand, and a deferred part (mu'wajjal), payable on dissolution by death or divorce. If the contract does not say which, Shia law presumes it is prompt; Hanafi law looks to custom.
Example
The mahr-ul-musamma of Rs 5 lakh was recorded in the nikahnama, half prompt and half deferred.
See also
mahr · mahr-ul-misl · prompt dower · deferred dower
Read more in the study notes
- Dower (mahr) (Family Law II - Mohammedan Law)