Her husband gave her a ring instead of the dowry agreed upon with her parents

11-3-2014 | IslamWeb

Question:

My husband bought me a diamond ring the day following our Nikaah and told me that this is my dowry although the agreement he had with my parents was to pay in dollars and not jewelry. Can I request the agreed dowry from him or not?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

If you accepted the ring as Mahr (dowry), then your husband is acquitted from giving you the Mahr and you have no right to ask him for it as you are the one who is entitled for this right and you have accepted the ring as your right. This is if you are an adult and have sound judgment, as appears from your question.

However, if you did not accept the ring or are prevented from making that decision (because you are not yet of age or do not have sound judgment), then your husband has to give you the Mahr that was agreed upon and his ring is to be given back to him. Allaah says (what means): {And give the women [upon marriage] their [bridal] gifts graciously. But if they give up willingly to you anything of it, then take it in satisfaction and ease.}[Quran 4:4]

Allaah Knows best.