The Islamic marriage contract: what goes in a nikah nama, and what is said on the day.

At the heart of every nikah is a contract — the nikah nama, or ‘aqd an-nikah. It is short, but it carries real rights and responsibilities. This guide explains what it records, the conditions you can add, a plain-English outline of a typical contract, and the words actually spoken at the ceremony.

A contract, not a sacrament

In Islam, marriage is a contract between two people, made before Allah and witnessed publicly. The Quran calls it a mithaqan ghaliza — a firm, solemn covenant. It is not a sacrament administered by clergy: no priesthood is needed, and an imam’s role is to guide and record, not to “make” the marriage.

That is why the contract matters so much. What is agreed and written down — the mahr, any conditions, the names of the wali and witnesses — shapes the rights of both spouses for the rest of the marriage. It is worth agreeing every detail calmly, before the day, rather than in the last minutes before the ceremony. For the conditions that make a nikah valid in the first place, see what is nikah?

What a nikah contract records

Forms differ between mosques and countries — in Pakistan it is the nikah nama, in the Arab world the ‘aqd az-zawaj or katb al-kitab — but most record the same essentials:

• The bride and groom: full names, dates of birth, addresses and, often, identification details.
• The wali: the bride’s guardian (usually her father), or the person acting in that role.
• Two witnesses: named and signing, so the marriage is public rather than secret.
• The mahr: what it is, how much, and which part is prompt (given at the nikah) and which is deferred (owed later). Read our guide on what mahr is.
• Date and place of the nikah.
• The officiant: the imam or person who conducted and recorded the nikah.
• Conditions agreed by both sides, if any.
• Signatures of the bride, groom, wali, witnesses and officiant.

Conditions you can add (shurut)

Islamic law allows the couple to add conditions to the contract, as long as they do not contradict the basic purpose of marriage. Common examples include:

• The wife’s right to continue her studies or career.
• Where the couple will live — for example, in their own home rather than with extended family, or in a particular city or country.
• A delegated right of divorce (talaq tafwid), recognised in some traditions and common in South Asian nikah namas.
• Arrangements around a future second marriage, in schools that permit such a condition.

Scholars and schools of thought differ on which conditions are binding and what happens if one is broken — the Hanbali school, for example, is known for giving conditions particular weight. Discuss any conditions with a qualified imam, agree them openly with your family and future spouse beforehand, and write them clearly in plain words. Vague promises made verbally are easily forgotten; written ones are not.

A plain-English template outline

This is a guide to what a nikah contract usually contains, not a legal document. Ask your imam or mosque for their official form, and register a civil marriage where required — see is a nikah legally recognised?

1. Title: Islamic Marriage Contract (Nikah).
2. Bride: full name, date of birth, address.
3. Groom: full name, date of birth, address.
4. Wali: name and relationship to the bride.
5. Witness 1 and Witness 2: names and addresses.
6. Mahr: description and amount; prompt portion; deferred portion and when it is due.
7. Conditions agreed by both parties: listed one by one, or “none”.
8. Declaration of consent: a statement that both bride and groom consent freely.
9. Offer and acceptance: a record that the ijab and qabul took place in one sitting.
10. Date and place of the nikah.
11. Officiant: name and mosque or organisation.
12. Signatures: bride, groom, wali, both witnesses and officiant.

The “vows”: what is actually said

Islam has no fixed exchange of vows like some wedding traditions. The essential words are the offer and acceptance (ijab and qabul), made clearly and in the same sitting, in any language both sides understand.

Typically the wali — or the bride’s representative — makes the offer: “Zawwajtuka [name] ‘ala al-mahr al-musamma” — “I marry [name] to you for the agreed mahr.” The groom replies: “Qabiltu” — “I accept,” often adding “the marriage, for the agreed mahr.”

In many South Asian ceremonies, the bride is asked whether she accepts the marriage and replies “qubool hai” (“I accept”), usually three times, and the groom does the same. Repeating it three times is a cultural practice for clarity, not a requirement — once is enough when it is clear. What matters is genuine, free consent from both.

The nikah khutbah

Before the offer and acceptance, the imam usually gives a short sermon, the khutbat al-hajah, taught by the Prophet ﷺ. It typically includes three passages of the Quran:

• Surah an-Nisa 4:1 — be mindful of your Lord, who created you from a single soul and created from it its mate.
• Surah Al ‘Imran 3:102 — be mindful of Allah as He deserves, and die only as Muslims.
• Surah al-Ahzab 33:70–71 — be mindful of Allah and speak words that are upright; He will set right your deeds and forgive your sins.

The khutbah is a recommended sunnah rather than a condition of validity. Many imams add a few words of advice on the rights of husbands and wives, kindness and patience.

Mosque certificate or civil certificate?

Many mosques issue a nikah certificate after the ceremony. It records the religious marriage, but in many countries — including England and Wales, France, Germany and parts of the US — it is not a legal marriage certificate on its own. A civil marriage certificate comes from the state registrar or a legally authorised officiant, and it is what protects both spouses in law, for example over inheritance, maintenance and divorce.

Some imams are authorised to conduct both at once; others will ask to see your civil certificate first. Check before the day so you are not caught out.

Before the contract comes the person

A well-written contract protects a marriage, but it cannot create compatibility. The most important decisions happen long before the nikah: who you choose, what you agree on, and how your families are involved.

If you are still searching, Zawaj is a Muslim marriage app built around that path — written proposals instead of swiping, and a built-in Chaperone/Wali feature so family can be part of the process. It is free to join.

Frequently asked questions

Keep reading

More guides: what is nikah?, what is mahr?, is a nikah legally recognised? and what is walima? Or browse all marriage guides.