KONSEP MAHAR DALAM AL-QUR’AN: RELEVANSINYA DALAM KONTEKS KONTEMPORER

Abstract

This study discusses the concept of dowry in the Qur'an using a thematic interpretation approach (tafsīr al-mawḍū‘ī) and analyses its relevance in contemporary Muslim society. In the Qur'an, although the term ‘mahar’ is not explicitly mentioned, there are other terms such as ṣaduqāt, ujūr, and niḥlah that describe the concept of a gift from the prospective husband to the wife as a form of responsibility, sincerity, and respect. This study found that normatively, the Qur’an emphasises the principles of justice and ease in the giving of mahar, but in practice, there is often a shift in meaning towards a symbol of social status, prestige, and even family prestige. This phenomenon raises a number of issues such as economic burdens, delayed marriage age, and marriage practices that deviate from sharia. By combining a textual approach (tafsir and fiqh) and a sociological approach, this study reveals that the understanding of dowry needs to be contextualised within the framework of maqāṣid al-syarī‘ah, which is to maintain honour, lineage, and family welfare. This study recommends strengthening marriage fiqh literacy through premarital counselling, educational campaigns, and collaboration between religious leaders, traditional figures, and state institutions so that Islamic values such as honesty, simplicity, and blessings can once again become the main foundation for the practice of giving dowry in the modern era.