Is the father required to consult his daughter in determining her dowry, or does he have the right to determine it without referring to her?
Determining the dowry (mahr) is the prerogative of the guardian (wali) or the woman if they do not disagree. If they disagree: for a virgin, the guardian's word prevails unless she agrees to a dowry similar to hers. For a non-virgin (thayyib), her word prevails absolutely. The dowry is the right of the woman, and the father's disposal of it is wrong, hence it is permissible to object to it. It is permissible to make Qur'anic manuscripts the dowry, but the guardian's condition that they be spent in the way of Allah is void and invalidates the specified amount, and the woman then receives a dowry befitting her status (mahr al-mithl).
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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