Use this Mahr calculator to work out a cash Mahr, the current value of a Mahr set in gold or silver, and the silver value of traditional references such as Mahr Fatimi, Mahr Azwaj an-Nabi and the Hanafi minimum Mahr. Enter an amount paid now and the calculator splits the total into prompt and deferred Mahr, with the percentage each portion represents.
Mahr is also written Mehr or Haq Mehr. Gold and silver values use your own metal price, weight unit (grams, kilograms, troy ounces or tola) and purity, and every traditional reference shows its dirham and grams-per-dirham assumption. The formulas, weight conversions, differing views on Mahr Fatimi, worked examples and common mistakes are explained below.
Mahr Calculator
Value cash, gold or silver Mahr and traditional references, then split it into prompt and deferred portions.
Important: This calculator performs mathematical estimates from the inputs and reference assumptions you select. It does not determine a legally enforceable or universally required Mahr amount.
How to Use the Mahr Calculator
Pick a currency, then choose the tab that matches how the Mahr is specified. The currency only changes the symbol shown; no exchange rates are applied.
Cash, Gold and Silver Modes
- Cash Mahr: enter the Total Mahr and the amount Paid Now.
- Gold Mahr: enter the gold weight and unit, the karat (24K, 22K, 21K, 18K, 14K or 10K), the 24K price per gram and the amount Paid Now.
- Silver Mahr: enter the silver weight and unit, the purity (fine .999, sterling .925 or 90% silver), the fine-silver price per gram and the amount Paid Now.
Paid Now is optional. Leave it blank if nothing is paid at the time of the Nikah and the whole Mahr is treated as deferred. Paid Now cannot be greater than the total.
Traditional Reference Mode
Choose a reference, check the grams per dirham (2.975 g by default), enter the fine-silver price per gram and, optionally, the amount Paid Now. The options are:
- Hanafi minimum reference: 10 silver dirhams
- Mahr Fatimi reference: 480 silver dirhams
- Mahr Fatimi reference (alternative view): 500 silver dirhams
- Mahr Azwaj an-Nabi reference: 500 silver dirhams
- Custom silver-dirham reference: enter any number of dirhams
The results show the Total Mahr, Paid Now, Deferred Mahr, Paid Now %, Deferred % and a line showing the exact calculation used.
What Is Mahr?
Mahr is the financial right agreed for the wife as part of a Muslim marriage. It can be money, gold, silver, property or another permissible asset with an identifiable value, and it belongs to the wife. It is not a purchase price. The Qur’an (4:4) instructs believers to give women their bridal gifts willingly.
No single formula fixes the amount for every marriage. It depends on the agreement between the spouses, the school of jurisprudence followed, local custom and the form the Mahr takes. This calculator does the arithmetic; it is not a substitute for qualified religious or legal advice.
Mahr, Mehr and Haq Mehr
These are transliterations of the same Arabic term. Mehr and Haq Mehr (or Haq Mahr) are common in South Asian usage.
Mahr Calculation Formula
Deferred Mahr
Deferred Mahr = Total Mahr − Paid Now
If the total Mahr is $15,000 and $5,000 is paid immediately:
Deferred Mahr = $15,000 − $5,000 = $10,000
Paid Now and Deferred Percentages
Paid Now % = (Paid Now ÷ Total Mahr) × 100
Deferred % = (Deferred Mahr ÷ Total Mahr) × 100
For the same example:
Paid Now % = ($5,000 ÷ $15,000) × 100 = 33.3%
Deferred % = ($10,000 ÷ $15,000) × 100 = 66.7%
The two percentages always add up to 100%. The calculator rounds them to one decimal place.
Prompt Mahr and Deferred Mahr
Mahr can be paid immediately, later, or split between the two. The prompt portion is paid at or around the time of the marriage; the deferred portion remains payable according to the agreed terms.
Terms You May See
| Portion | Other names |
|---|---|
| Prompt Mahr | Mu’ajjal, Muqaddam |
| Deferred Mahr | Mu’akhkhar, Muwajjal |
Terminology and legal consequences vary between fiqh and legal contexts, so the marriage contract should state the amount of each portion and the payment terms clearly.
How to Calculate Gold Mahr
Gold Value Formula
Gold Value = Weight in Grams × 24K Price per Gram × (Karat ÷ 24)
Where:
- Weight in Grams = the gold weight converted to grams
- 24K Price per Gram = the current price of pure gold
- Karat ÷ 24 = the purity factor (22K = 0.9167, 18K = 0.75)
For 100 grams of 22K gold at a 24K price of $115 per gram:
Gold Value = 100 × $115 × (22 ÷ 24) = $10,541.67
Gold Weight Units
The calculator converts every unit to grams first:
| Unit | Grams |
|---|---|
| 1 gram | 1 |
| 1 kilogram | 1,000 |
| 1 troy ounce | 31.1034768 |
| 1 tola | 11.6638038 |
Converting Tola to Grams
Grams = Tola × 11.6638038
For 2 tola of gold: 2 × 11.6638038 = 23.3276 grams. The calculator then applies the gold price and the karat you select.
Avoid Applying Purity Twice
The price field is always the 24K price. If you enter a 22K price and also select 22K, the purity adjustment is applied twice and the result is too low. If you only have a 22K price, select 24K instead.
How to Calculate Silver Mahr
Silver Value Formula
Silver Value = Weight in Grams × Fine-Silver Price per Gram × Purity Factor
For 500 grams of fine silver at $1.30 per gram:
Silver Value = 500 × $1.30 × 1 = $650
Silver Purity Options
| Option | Purity factor |
|---|---|
| Fine (.999) | 1 |
| Sterling (.925) | 0.925 |
| 90% silver | 0.9 |
The fine option uses a factor of 1, so .999 silver is valued at the full fine-silver price.
Mahr Fatimi Calculator
Mahr Fatimi is the Mahr associated with Sayyidah Fatimah رضي الله عنها. It is widely used as a reference, but sources do not agree on one figure, so the calculator treats it as a reference calculation rather than a single universally binding amount.
480 or 500 Dirhams?
Some scholars give Mahr Fatimi as 480 dirhams, others as 500 dirhams, and further figures are also recorded. The calculator offers both 480 and 500 dirhams. For any other figure, use the custom reference and enter the number of dirhams your scholar uses.
Mahr Fatimi Formula
Silver Weight = Number of Dirhams × Grams per Dirham
Mahr Fatimi Value = Silver Weight × Fine-Silver Price per Gram
With the default 2.975 g per dirham and silver at $1.30 per gram:
| Reference | Silver weight | Value at $1.30/g |
|---|---|---|
| 480 dirhams | 480 × 2.975 = 1,428 g | $1,856.40 |
| 500 dirhams | 500 × 2.975 = 1,487.5 g | $1,933.75 |
Mahr Azwaj an-Nabi
Mahr Azwaj an-Nabi is the Mahr reported for the wives of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. A commonly cited figure is 500 dirhams.
Silver Weight = 500 × 2.975 = 1,487.5 grams
Mahr Value = 1,487.5 × $1.30 = $1,933.75
The result changes whenever the silver price or the grams-per-dirham assumption changes.
Hanafi Minimum Mahr
Hanafi sources commonly state the minimum Mahr as 10 dirhams. It is labeled as a Hanafi reference because minimum-Mahr rules differ between schools of jurisprudence.
Silver Weight = 10 × 2.975 = 29.75 grams
Value at $1.30 per gram = 29.75 × $1.30 = $38.68
Grams per Dirham Assumption
Historical weights do not convert to grams by one universally accepted figure. Some sources use about 2.975 g per dirham; others use about 3.06 g (3.0618 g). The calculator defaults to 2.975 g and lets you change it, so the result always shows which conversion was used.
Traditional References Compared
| Reference | Dirhams | At 2.975 g/dirham | At 3.0618 g/dirham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanafi minimum | 10 | 29.75 g | 30.618 g |
| Mahr Fatimi | 480 | 1,428 g | 1,469.664 g |
| Mahr Fatimi (alternative view) | 500 | 1,487.5 g | 1,530.9 g |
| Mahr Azwaj an-Nabi | 500 | 1,487.5 g | 1,530.9 g |
If a qualified scholar has advised a particular conversion, enter it in the grams-per-dirham field.
Worked Examples
Cash Mahr with a Prompt Portion
Total Mahr = $20,000, Paid Now = $7,500.
Deferred Mahr = $20,000 − $7,500 = $12,500
Paid Now % = ($7,500 ÷ $20,000) × 100 = 37.5%
Deferred % = ($12,500 ÷ $20,000) × 100 = 62.5%
Gold Mahr in Tola
The Mahr is 5 tola of 22K gold, the 24K price is $115 per gram and $2,000 is paid now.
Grams = 5 × 11.6638038 = 58.319 g
Gold Value = 58.319 × $115 × (22 ÷ 24) = $6,147.80
Deferred Mahr = $6,147.80 − $2,000 = $4,147.80
Sterling Silver Mahr
The Mahr is 500 grams of sterling silver, the fine-silver price is $1.30 per gram and $200 is paid now.
Silver Value = 500 × $1.30 × 0.925 = $601.25
Deferred Mahr = $601.25 − $200 = $401.25
How Much Mahr Should You Give?
No calculator formula can determine the “correct” Mahr for every marriage. The amount can depend on:
- the agreement between the spouses
- the school of jurisprudence followed
- local custom and the financial circumstances of the parties
- whether the Mahr is cash, gold, silver, property or another asset
- whether it is prompt, deferred or split, and how the contract is worded
Some Islamic legal sources emphasize that Mahr should not be made unnecessarily burdensome while still recognizing the wife’s right to it. The calculator therefore does not suggest a percentage of salary or savings; it calculates the amount you enter and the references you select.
What Is Mahr Mithl?
Mahr Mithl is a customary reference rather than a metal-price calculation. In Hanafi discussions it can involve looking at the Mahr received by comparable women in the bride’s family. Because it requires factual and jurisprudential judgment, the calculator does not produce a Mahr Mithl amount, and an average of family Mahr amounts should not be treated as an authoritative determination.
Deferred Mahr and Inflation
The calculator does not apply inflation, investment returns, interest or future metal-price changes to deferred Mahr. A fixed cash Mahr and a metal-based Mahr can be treated differently when years have passed:
- An inflation calculation asks what an old cash amount, such as $10,000, is worth today using a price index.
- A gold-equivalent calculation takes the quantity of gold originally associated with the Mahr and values it at today’s price.
These are different calculations and are not interchangeable. The legal treatment of an old deferred Mahr depends on the original contract and the applicable framework, so the calculator only values the inputs you enter today.
Common Mahr Calculation Mistakes
- Treating a salary percentage as a religious rule: salary-based figures can help with personal planning but are not religious formulas.
- Mixing up total and prompt Mahr: the total and the amount paid now are separate figures; Deferred Mahr = Total Mahr − Paid Now.
- Entering a 22K price and selecting 22K: the gold price field expects the 24K price per gram.
- Ignoring the weight unit: grams, kilograms, troy ounces and tola are not interchangeable.
- Treating a traditional reference as a universal ruling: dirham counts and gram conversions differ between sources.
- Using today’s metal price to settle an old contract: a current price gives the present market value of the metal, not the legal treatment of an old deferred Mahr.
Frequently Asked Questions
Calculation Questions
How do I calculate deferred Mahr?
Subtract the amount paid now from the total: Deferred Mahr = Total Mahr − Paid Now. A $15,000 Mahr with $5,000 paid leaves $10,000 deferred.
How do I calculate Mahr in gold?
Convert the weight to grams and use Gold Value = Weight in Grams × 24K Price per Gram × (Karat ÷ 24). For example, 50 g of 24K gold at $115 per gram is 50 × $115 × 1 = $5,750.
How many grams are in 1 tola?
The calculator uses 1 tola = 11.6638038 grams, so 10 tola is about 116.64 grams.
Can Mahr be paid partly now and partly later?
Yes. A Mahr can have a prompt portion and a deferred portion. Enter the prompt amount as Paid Now and the calculator shows the deferred balance. The terms should be documented clearly in the contract.
Traditional Reference Questions
How much is Mahr Fatimi in grams of silver?
It depends on the view and conversion used. At 2.975 g per dirham, 480 dirhams is 1,428 g and 500 dirhams is 1,487.5 g. At 3.0618 g per dirham, they are about 1,469.7 g and 1,530.9 g.
What is the Hanafi minimum Mahr in grams?
Hanafi sources commonly give 10 dirhams, which is 29.75 g of silver at 2.975 g per dirham or about 30.6 g at 3.0618 g per dirham.
Is Mahr the same as Mehr?
Yes. Mahr, Mehr and Haq Mehr are transliterations of the same term.
Using the Calculator
Does the calculator tell me how much Mahr to give?
No. It calculates amounts from the values and assumptions you enter. It does not determine a required or recommended Mahr.
Does the calculator account for inflation?
No. It does not apply inflation, interest, investment returns or future price changes to deferred Mahr.
Which silver price should I enter?
Enter the current price per gram of fine silver in your chosen currency. For sterling or 90% silver, keep the fine-silver price and select the purity; the calculator applies the factor.
Important Note
The Mahr Calculator is a mathematical estimation tool. Traditional references, historical weights, terminology and minimum amounts differ between schools of jurisprudence and sources. For an actual marriage contract, especially where there is disagreement about Mahr, deferred payment or the applicable fiqh position, consult a qualified scholar and, where relevant, a legal professional. The calculator does not provide a fatwa or legal advice.