Stipulating `Umrah as Mahr

Q 2: I wish that Allah blesses me with performing `Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) or Hajj. Since the financial conditions of my family do not allow me to perform Hajj or `Umrah, I had an idea; namely to stipulate for the man who may propose to me and whom I hope will be a righteous man to make my Mahr (mandatory gift to a bride from her groom) enough money to allow me to perform `Umrah if possible. Is this condition against any of the rulings of the Shari`ah pertinent to marriage?

A: There is no harm if you stipulate for the potential husband to make your Mahr enough for your performance of `Umrah. It is authentically reported in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) that: The Prophet (peace be upon him) gave a woman in marriage to a man for what he memorizes of the Qur'an. May Allah bless you with a righteous husband and bless us and you with adherence to the Truth; truly Allah is All-Hearing, Close and Answering invocations! May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.