Mehr can be paid before Nikkah, but it is not mandatory.
The payment of Mehr in Islam has flexibility. According to the reference provided:
- Immediate Payment (Muajjal): The mehr can be paid immediately to the wife upon completion of the nikah (marriage contract).
- Deferred Payment (Muakkar): The mehr can be agreed upon to be paid at a later date.
Therefore, while immediate payment is an option, it is also permissible to defer the mehr to a later, agreed-upon time.
