Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

My wife has died after two year of marriage, Mehr is still outstanding against me. Please guide me whom the mehr paid to her family or...? 

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Answer:

Mehr debt to dead wife

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

If you indeed did not fulfill your pledged ‘mehr’ unto your wife before her death, nor did you get it forgiven by your wife….then indeed it would remain a debt upon you until you fulfill it.

Because your wife has died and you have a debt to fulfill unto her, it would only be prudent and akin to piety and righteousness that you fulfill this debt unto her legal surviving heirs according to their prescribed shares.

If you could write back to us regarding the exact amount owed as ‘mehr’ and who exactly amongst the legal heirs survived your deceased wife, we would be more than glad to inform you regarding the exact shares of each of her legal heirs according to the Quran and the Sunnah, Insha Allah.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan