What is the wife's right to dower if separation occurs before consummation due to the wife's conversion to Islam?
Chapter on Marriage of Polytheists
Al-Mughni
Book of Marriage
Primary text
If separation occurs before consummation because the wife embraced Islam, she is entitled to nothing of the dower. This is the position of Al-Hasan, Malik, Al-Zuhri, Al-Awza'i, Ibn Shubruma, and Al-Shafi'i, as the separation originated from her side.
Supporting text
There is another narration from Ahmad, favored by Abu Bakr, stating that she is entitled to half the dower even if she was the one who converted. Al-Qatadah and Al-Thawri hold this view. This is also implied by the position of Abu Hanifa, who argues that the separation arose from his refusal to accept Islam, and since she fulfilled what God obligated upon her, she should receive half of what God obligated for her, analogous to a situation where divorce is conditional upon prayer and she prays.