Question Summary:
Mahr Query.

Question Detail:

I have a question with regards to the value of the mehr which should be stated for the nikaah:Eg. If I purchase an item of jewelry for R20 000, but the actual gold value of the item  is only R10 000 (in terms of the item weight multiplied by the cost of gold per gram), which value should be used for the mehr value?

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
 
There is a difference between gold and jewellery. Jewellery is gold shaped in a particular design. If jewellery worth a market value of 20,000 Rands is given as mahr, then it should be explicitly stated that jewellery equivalent to the market value of 20,000 is being given as mahr.
Note: Dowry does not necessarily have to be given in gold or silver. Rather, it can be anything which is agreed upon between the spouses and deemed permissible according to Shari'ah.   
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Abdullah Ghadai
Student Darul Iftaa
Michigan, U.S.A 
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.