Question 042: Is paying khums obligatory on my wife’s dowry? For instance, is paying khums obligatory on dishes kept in showcase that may not be used?

Answer 042: According to most of maraja’, since dowry is considered as gift or it will be used in the future, payment of khums is not obligatory on it. It is regarded as those things on which payment of khums is obligatory, according to some of maraja’.

The grand maraja’ answer regarding this question is as follows:

Grand Ayatollah Khamenei (ha): Paying khums is not obligatory on dowry.

Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi (ha): Khums is not obligatory on those things which are usually regarded as necessities of life, though they have never used yet.

Grand Ayatollah Sistani (ha): Yes, Khums is payable on it. But, if the things that haven’t used yet are usually regarded as necessities of life by which people entertain their guests there would be no need to pay their khums.[1]

Note: There is no Khums liability on Mahr which a wife receives, nor on the property, which a husband gets in exchange of divorcing his wife by way of Khula, and the same rule applies to the property which one inherits according to the genuine laws of inheritance[2].[3]

[1] . The official website of Sayyid Sistani (ha), q&a, Khums, Q. 67.

[2] . Ibid, rules regarding Khums: Profit from earning, Q. 1763.

[3] . For further information in this regards, please refer to: Tahrir al-Wasilah of Imam Khomeini, Vol. 1, Pgs. 359-360, Q 177; Tawzih al-Masael of maraja’, Vol. 1, Pg. 253, Q 1777; Istiftaat, Vol. 1, Pg. 353, Q 28; Istiftaat of Ayatollah Bahjat (ra), Vol. 3, Pgs. 35-36, Q 3498-3499; Ajwabat al-Istiftaat, Pg. 191.