Islam has made Nikah one of the most beautiful moments of your life. Someone you can care for, nurture, and protect. Someone you could call your partner, or better yet, soulmate! And a Nikah does exactly that! A Nikah nama is an Islamic contract paper that reinforces the role and responsibilities of both the wife and husband. In Muslim countries, it’s also considered one of the legal forms to initiate marriage.
And just like any other legal document, you read it before signing it! Especially if it’s the most impatient decision of your entire life. In the hustle and bustle of Shaadi preparations, most Pakistani women don’t get the time to actually sit and read their Nikah Nama. Most of the time, it does not arrive until the very end, when you are actually signing it.
But a contract is a contract, and rights are rights! And a wedding is more than just glitz and glamour! It’s the start of a new journey in your life, and you should do it on the right note. Here are 3 of the things that you should definitely know about your Nikah nama before signing it.
3 Most Important Points That You Shouldn’t Skip on Your Nikah Nama.
For starters, that’s what Nikah nama looks like. We don’t want you to see it for the first time on your actual wedding day.
You can get it directly from the court or from your trusty wedding registrars, who also have copies available in advance.
You can also pull off your parents’ Nikah Nama (from God knows where it might be) to see what clauses are mentioned in it.
Now that you’re ready, let’s discuss them.
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Your Mahar is Yours!
One of the best parts of getting married is getting that sweet-sweet Mahar.
Am I right?
Mahar is actually a gift that is given as a gesture of respect to the wife at the time of getting married.
It can either be paid before the consummation of your marriage (Moajjal) or paid after (Mowajjal).
The date, timing, and everything are already decided by you on the Nikah nama.
It can either be cash or anything of monetary value. (Yaee!!)
It acts as financial protection in the event of any divorce initiated by the woman. (Yup, that’s also mentioned in the Nikah nama!)
For this reason, the Mahar should be something that has value. It should be a sufficient amount for the bride to receive and for the groom to pull out of his bank account.
And remember, your Mahar is yours! It’s not your in-laws, mother, or even your husband.
You decide what to do with it!
Try not to refuse it while trying to be an obedient wife, as it is one of the mandatory rights of a woman.
Clauses:
13: The amount of Mahar
14: The amount of Mahar Moajjal and the amount of Mahar Mowajjal
15: Was any part of the amount of Mahar paid at the time of the marriage? If paid, how much?
16: If a property is given in her Maharor, if given, the details of the property fixed among parties should be mentioned.
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Special Conditions
There may be a few things you and your husband would have agreed on before saying yes to the proposal. (We hope so!)
One thing to know about Nikah Nama is that it allows you to either keep those conditions verbal or add them as a legal part of the contract.
Both parties can go all-in as long as they follow Shariah law.
It could be for monthly maintenance, if the husband wants to marry more than once, or if the wife wants to work after marriage, among other things. The list is endless!
Clauses:
17: Invite parties to enumerate special conditions within the bounds of Shariah law and Pakistani Law.
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The Right to Divorce
Okay, we know that you probably don’t want to hear about divorce while preparing for your wedding.
But remember, a Nikah Nama covers it all! From happy days to the rainy ones!
And remember, it’s all about your legal rights, so avail them without feeling bad.
The woman has the same right to divorce as a man (but only in certain conditions).
You have to fill in the clauses to simplify the legal process if any unexpected challenges do come.
Taking this step now can save you time and effort in the long run, making the process smoother and more efficient!
You can specify the divorce right in which you are comfortable. You can indicate whether you want to have the right to divorce the groom and under what conditions you can and cannot.
And the same goes for the husband.
Worry not, as this is only done to establish a mutual understanding between both partners.
Another thing you should know about the Nikah Nama is that you can also mention whether the groom is allowed to marry multiple wives.
If he has already been married, he must provide proper documentation from the court. This should confirm that he has the “blessing” of his existing wives.
If not, the woman can invoke her right to divorce in such conditions.
The sad part is that the clauses supporting this right have already been crossed by either a family member or the Qazi. As it’s way to protect you from having such negative thoughts on such auspicious occasions.
Clauses:
18: Has the bridegroom been given the right to divorce the wife? If given on what condition
19: Is there any restriction on the right of divorce by the bridegroom?
20: Is there any document of living her life, etc.? If prepared, a brief note should be mentioned here.
21: Does the bridegroom have another wife also? If he has any, has he obtained permission via, Rule Nos. 8 and 10 of the Muslim Family Ordinance of 1961 to have 2nd wife?
Wrapping it up!
Girl, now take a seat back and breathe! We know you have been overthinking and stressing a lot because of all the wedding pressure. Remember these clauses on the Nikah Nama are just for a better understanding of your future partner. It is to set both of you on a better note without any false expectations. Discuss this with your partner and family, and make the right decision. (No pressure whatsoever!) We know this might be a bit stressful, so go to a spa and get those bridal services done—a great way to rewind from what you just read. And once you do that, get back to the wedding planning. Visit Shaaditayari, a one-stop hub to plan every tiny detail of your wedding. We’ve got you covered on everything from the floral backdrop to your honeymoon planning. Now that you are all excited, let’s get planning!