Unpaid mahr after divorce

Q: I divorced my wife two years a go. I still have not paid her dowry. I can not afford it. Is it possible if I pay her whatever I can?

A: The full amount is a debt upon you. Hence you should pay her the full amount unless she is prepared to forgive you and wave off the debt. 

And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

وَإِن طَلَّقْتُمُوهُنَّ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَمَسُّوهُنَّ وَقَدْ فَرَضْتُمْ لَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً فَنِصْفُ مَا فَرَضْتُمْ إِلَّا أَن يَعْفُونَ أَوْ يَعْفُوَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ عُقْدَةُ النِّكَاحِ وَأَن تَعْفُوا أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ وَلَا تَنسَوُا الْفَضْلَ بَيْنَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ ﴿البقرة: ٢٣٧﴾

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)