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:

Assalamualaikum...i would like to know as in Malaysia and Singapore there is "Hantaran" and "Mas Kawin" during the nikah time...which one of this is consider "Mehr"

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Answer:

Malay culture local rituals

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.

Although we are not very familiar with the Malay culture, to the best of our knowledge the nominal ‘Mas-Kawin’ is supposedly the obligatory ‘mehr’ which the groom pays to the bride at the solemnization of ‘nikaah’; and the usually substantial ‘Hantaran’ or what is sometimes called ‘Belanja Hantaran’ or ‘Belanja Hangus’ is a customary practice.

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