In Islam, mahr is an amount of money paid by the groom to the bride at the time of marriage (nikah

Nikah

Marriage in Islam is an Islamic prenuptial contract between a man and woman to live as husband and wife. It is a formal, binding contract considered integral to a religiously valid Islamic marriage, and outlines the rights and responsibilities of the groom and bride involved in marriage proceedings...

) which she can spend as she wishes. The English concept of "dower

Dower

Dower or morning gift was a provision accorded by law to a wife for her support in the event that she should survive her husband...

", the gift of funds to the wife in the event she becomes widowed, closely approximates mahr. The terms "dowry

Dowry

A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...

" and "bride price

Bride price

Bride price, also known as bride wealth, is an amount of money or property or wealth paid by the groom or his family to the parents of a woman upon the marriage of their daughter to the groom...

" are sometimes used to translate mahr, but these are misleading. There is no concept of dowry in Islam.

Modern Purposes

In 2003, Rubya Mehdi published an article in which the culture of mahr among Muslims was thoroughly reviewed.

Mahr is a means of sustenance in case of a sudden death, divorce or other emergency.