Knowing the Quiddity of Bridal Gift (mahr) in Permanent and Temporary Marriage

There are different viewpoints concerning the quiddity of mahr; some have viewed mahr as exchange and some as gift. With an analytical and jurisprudential approach and with respect to the legal opinions, this article seeks to give a realistic explanation of this category consistent with the Qur’an, traditions, and standards of jurisprudence and Islamic law. First, with respect to the synonyms of the term mahr by definition and in the Qur’an and traditions, it gives the reader a preliminary portray of mahr and then with a deep and argumentative discussion of the nature of marriage contract undertakes to answer the question as to whether marriage is an exchange contract so that mahr would find a color of exchange or is it a non-exchange contract. Then it enters the discussion of getting to know the quiddity of mahr by referring to the Islamic jurisprudence sources, especially the Qur’an and traditions of Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.) and critically reviews them; after exploring into this concept, it touches upon the nature of
mahr in temporary marriage, which is legitimate and endorsed by the Prophet of Islam (S.A.W.). Discussing the nature of mahr would yield not only theoretical but also practical benefits as well, as it appears in discussion about the quality of dividing a mahr for two spouses