Question :
What is the best thing to give as Mahr?
Answer :
Imam Ahmad and Ibn Maajah narrated from Aaishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allaah (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him) said:
“One of the signs of a woman being blessed is that the process of proposing to her is made easy and the dowry is made affordable and she bears children easily.”
Classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami
In the hadeeth of Uqbah ibn Aamir radiallaahu anhu, the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said:
“The best dowry is that which is easy.”
This was narrated by Abu Daawood and al-Haakim who authenticated it.
And once a woman offered herself to the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam for marriage. However, one of his Companions desired to marry her, so the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said (regarding the mahr): “Bring something, even if it be an iron ring”. So when he could not find even this, the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam married them for the dowry that the man would teach whatever of the Qur’aan he knew to her.
Related by Abu Daawood in his Sunnan
Imam Al-Tirmidhi narrated that Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“Do not go to extremes with regard to women’s dowries. If that were something honorable in this world or a sign of piety before Allah, then the Prophet of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) would have been the most entitled to it, but I never heard that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) offered as a dowry for any of his wives or accepted as a dowry for any of his daughters anything more than twelve uqiyah.”
Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.