Filipino Wedding Glossary › Mahr
Mahr
Pronunciation: MAH-her
Origin: Arabic, Islamic marriage tradition observed in Bangsamoro and Filipino-Muslim communities
The mandatory bridal gift named openly during the Nikah, given by the groom to the bride as her own property.
Mahr is the gift the groom commits to the bride as part of the Nikah contract. It is the bride's personal property; the family does not receive it on her behalf.
The mahr can be cash, gold, real property, or anything of agreed value. Amounts vary widely by family and community; many Filipino-Muslim couples settle on a sum that reflects affection rather than wealth.
The mahr is sometimes paid in two parts: a portion at the Nikah and the remainder later, agreed in the contract. This is informational only; specific arrangements are between the couple and their imam.