In New Jersey’s first substantive decision on Islamic Law, a Passaic County judge ruled last Monday that a religious, dowry-style contract signed by two Muslims at their marriage is enforceable upon their divorce.

Superior Court Judge John Selser enforced the “mahr” (MAH-her) that Houida Saadeh and her husband Zuhair Odatalla signed on their wedding day, finding that aspects of the religious code were acceptable under “neutral principles of law.” Odatalla v. Odatalla, FM-000366-01.