What are the rulings regarding the specified and unspecified dowry, and what is their relationship to the ruling and amount of the marriage contract? Is a gift considered part of the dowry, and is there a book in the Hanbali school of thought that addresses the topic of dowry or dower?

If the mahr (dowry) is specified in the contract, the woman is entitled to it in full upon consummation. If separation occurs before consummation due to the death of either spouse, she is entitled to the full specified mahr. However, if the separation is caused by the husband (such as through talaq (divorce), khul' (divorce at the wife's instance), or riddah (apostasy)), she is entitled to half the mahr. If the separation is caused by the wife (such as her apostasy), her entire mahr is forfeited.

If the mahr is not specified, she is entitled to mahr al-mithl (a dowry equivalent to that given to women of her status) when the full specified mahr would otherwise be due, and she is entitled to mut'ah (a compensatory gift) when half would otherwise be due.

Khalwah (private seclusion), cohabitation, and kissing are considered equivalent to consummation in terms of entitlement to the mahr.

In a fasid (irregular) contract (one whose validity is disputed), the woman is entitled to the full specified mahr or mahr al-mithl only upon consummation, and she is not entitled to anything before it.

In a batil (void) contract (one whose invalidity is agreed upon), she is only entitled to mahr al-mithl upon consummation.

A gift is not considered part of the mahr unless custom or circumstantial evidence indicates that it is.