Is the dowry a right for the wife or for her father?

The Mahr (dowry) is an exclusive right of the woman, and there is no difference between the prompt (mu'ajjal) and deferred (mu'ajjal) portions. Scholars differed on the permissibility of a father stipulating to take a portion of the Mahr. The Hanafis and Hanbalis permitted it. Malik said: If he stipulates it at the time of the marriage contract, it is for his daughter. If he stipulates it after the marriage contract, it is for him. He based this on the Almighty's saying in the story of the man of Midian: (Indeed, I want to marry you to one of these two daughters of mine on condition that you hire yourself to me for eight years) [Quran 28:27]. A father may take from his son's wealth under certain conditions: that he only takes according to his need, that he does not harm the son, that he does not take something to which the son's need is attached, and that he does not take his son's wealth to give it to another.