What is the ruling on the *mahr* (dower) when separation occurs due to an action originating from the wife before consummation?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Dowry (Mahr)

Book 36 · Issue 1 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If the dissolution of the marriage arises from the wife's actions prior to consummation—such as her becoming Muslim, apostatizing, breastfeeding someone resulting in invalidation of the marriage, breastfeeding while a minor, judicial dissolution due to her financial inability (*i'sar*), judicial dissolution due to her defect, her being freed while married to a slave, or dissolution due to her defect—the entire *mahr* is forfeited, and there is no obligatory compensatory gift (*mut'ah*). This is because she destroyed the object of exchange before delivery, causing the entire price to lapse, similar to a seller who destroys the sold item before handing it over.