Mahr can be either granted immediately or be given on credit.

Mahr can be either granted immediately or be given on credit. It can be the responsibility of the husband or any other person who agrees to pay it, and depends on the mutual agreement of the couple. If the Mahr was agreed to be paid on demand, the woman may request it before consummation of her marriage. If the husband has the means to pay it, he must do so. If he declines, the wife may abstain from sexual relations.

This refusal is not considered nushuz [^5] and thus her husband cannot withhold her financial support. If the Mahr is on credit and a specific time has been agreed for reimbursement, the woman may not demand it before its time and if no date has been set, the wife may ask for it at any time. If the husband has the means to pay, he must immediately do so. The true owner of Mahr , regardless of the type of property, is the wife.

No one has the right to use or take possession of her property without her consent; even her father, mother, or husband. The profits of a woman’s properties also belong to herself.

The Prophet of Allah (S) has stated: قال رسول الله (ص): «إنّ الله لیغفر کلّ ذنب یوم القیامة إلّا مهر إمرأة، و من اغتصب أجیراً أجره، و من باع حراً.» Surely Allah will forgive any sin on the Day of Resurrection save the sin of one who misappropriates the Mahr of a woman or the wages of a hired person, or who sells a free person (as a slave).[^6] It was asked of Imam Musa ibn Ja‘far (‘a): احمد بن ابی نصر قال سأل ابوالحسن الاول (ع) عن الرجل یزوج ابنته، اله ان یأکل صداقها؟ قال: «لا، لیس ذلک له.» ‘May a father consume the Mahr of his daughter?’ He replied, ‘No, he does not have such right.’[^7] If Mahr is on credit and the responsibility of the husband, he must pay it on demand and as soon as possible.

Regarding a man who had married a woman but did not intend to pay her Mahr , Imam Sadiq (‘a) declared: فضیل بن یسار، عن أبی عبدالله (ع) في الرجل یتزوّج المرأة و لا یجعل فی نفسه أن یعطیها مهرها: فهو زنا.

This is [considered] fornication.[^8] Imam Sadiq (‘a) has also declared: عن أبی عبدالله (ع) قال: «من أمهر مهراً ثمّ لا ینوی قضاءه کان بمنزلة السارق.» He who designates Mihr for his wife but does not intend to honor it is equivalent to a thief.[^9] The noble Imam Sadiq (‘a) thus cited the Prophet of Allah through his forefathers: عن الصادق، عن آبائه (ع) عن النبیّ (ص) – فی حدیث المناهي – قال: «من ظلم امرأة مهرها فهو عند الله زنا، یقول الله عزّوجلّ یوم القیامة: عبدی!

زوّجتک أمتي علی عهدي فلم توف بعهدي، و ظلمت أمتی.