Dower refers to financial assets or property given by a husband to his wife at the time of marriage. There are two types of dower under Islamic law: specified dower, where an amount is fixed in the marriage contract, and unspecified dower, where the wife's social status and qualifications determine the amount. Specified dower can be prompt, paid immediately, or deferred, paid later after divorce or the husband's death. The objectives of dower include imposing an obligation on the husband to respect his wife, limiting a husband's ability to divorce capriciously, and providing for the wife's security if the marriage ends.

1. Definition of Dower
Dower is the financial gain which is, a wife received from her husband by the virtue of the
marriage contract. Otherwise Dower is a sum of money or other property which the wife is
received from her husband in consideration of the marriage.
According to Ameer Ali, “A certain sum of money given by the husband in consideration of
the marriage is dower”
According to Islamic Law, “where there is a marriage there is a dower. It is a bridal gift and
it is a token of respect to the wife.”
Classification of Dower
In the Islamic law, there are two kinds of dower.
1. Specified Dower
2. Unspecified Dower
Specified Dower: Specified dower is fixed at the time of the marriage and the Kazi
performing the ceremony enters the amount in the register, or there may be a regular
contract, which name is Kabin Nama. If the amount of dower is fixed in the marriage
contract, it is called the specified dower. Otherwise if the amount of dower may be fixed by
the parties before the marriage or at the time of the marriage, even after the marriage.
Specified dower are two kinds:
1. Prompt Specified Dower
2. Deferred Specified Dower
Prompt Specified Dower
Promopt specified dower normally fixed at the time of marriage, which is mentioned in
Kabin Nama. After marriage if a wife wants to get money of the dower then the husband
obey to his wife to give money of the dower, which is mentioned in Kabin Nama. Example:
At the time of the marriage, it is mentioned that 50% money will be paid instant and other
50% money will be paid after the death or divorce. This is called prompt specified dower.
Deferred Specified Dower
Deferred specified dower normally fixed after the death or divorce. If by the divorce it may
be realized by compromise in the family court. If by death deferred dower can be acquired
from her husband’s estate by compromise in the family court.
(P.T.O)

2. Unspecified Dower: Unspecified dower normally is not fixed at the time of marriage. In
the unspecified dower, a women is to be fixed dower with reference to the social position of
her father’s family and her own personal qualifications. The social position of the husband
and his means are of little account.
Subject Matter of Dower
Subject matter of dower is not only confined to a sum of money or property, it includes
personal services and other things. The following were recognized as the subject matter of
dower:
i. A handful of dates.
ii. A pair of shoes.
iii. If the husband is a slave, his services to his wife.
iv. The services of the husband’s slaves to the wife.
v. Husband’s services executed to the guardian of a minor wife.
vi. Teaching Quran to the wife.
Increase/Decrease of Dower
The husband may increase dower after marriage at any time. Example: A wife may remit
the dower partially in favour of the husband or his heirs. Such a remission is valid through
made without any consideration and the remission made by the wife, should be with free
consent. The remission of the dower by a wife is called Hibe-e-Mahr. Otherwise the
husband will not be able to decrease dower after marriage.
The Object of Dower
Dower is the financial gain which is, a wife received from her husband by the virtue of the
marriage contract. Dower in fact, is the name of that financial gain, that saved
(collect/gather/deposit/credit/income) in marriage to woman, in exchange of the pleasure to
be enjoyed of her, though the marriage be either valid or irregular. The object of dower is
three fold:
(i) To impose an obligation on the husband as a mark of respect of the wife.
(ii) To place a check on the capricious/moody use of divorce on the part of husband
and
(iii) To provide for her exixtence after dissolution of her marriage, so that she may not
become helpless after the death of the husband or termination of marriage by
divorce.