Muslim group announces “model” marriage contract

Potential Muslim married couples in India have a new “model” contract they may want to adopt, according to the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, which unveiled its new “model” nikhanama (marriage contract) yesterday.

The agreement, which is optional for couples, provides that the wife is the “owner” of the household and specifies that the husband’s job is to earn money and “run” the family.  It also covers such things as the payment of mehar (security money) to the bride’s family (“preferably in gold or immovable assets”), requires written records of the marriage, and specifies that the parents of the bride and groom must be present. The authors say they accepted the suggestions of several women’s groups in drawing up the new model.