I am married man and want to pay the amount of mahr to my wife but she is not willing to take it and says I will take it later time. This is a huge debt to a man and life has no guarantee, so I want to be free from this grave responsibility. Then my question is, can I give this much of amount as gift to her and not telling her that this is from the mahr amount and she knows only that this is just a gift for her but for me this the mahr that I have paid and become free from great debt. Is it allowed in Islam or not? If not then tell me the right way to pay the mahr.
Answer
(Fatwa: 297/241/B=1433)
Mahr shall not be paid merely by giving money in gift without being specified. It is necessary to specify it as mahr. If she does not want to take it now, then you should deposit in bank in her name. She can withdraw it when she will need it.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband