The Urdu Nikah Nama Explained
The prescribed Nikah Nama in Pakistan is in Urdu, completed in Urdu legal terminology. If you are more comfortable in English — as many overseas Pakistanis are — this guide explains the document's standard terms, and how to obtain a certified English translation for official use abroad.
Quick Answer
The Urdu Nikah Nama records the parties (fatiha details aside): the mehr (mu'ajjal prompt and mu'wajjal deferred), any conditions (shara'it), the delegated-divorce column (Talaq-e-Tafweez), the witnesses (gawahan) and the registrar. For use abroad, a certified English translation accompanies the original.
Key Urdu Terms in the Nikah Nama
| Urdu Term | Meaning | Where It Appears |
|---|---|---|
| Haq Mehr | The dower — the wife's legal right | The mehr columns |
| Mu'ajjal | Prompt mehr — payable on demand | Mehr split |
| Mu'wajjal | Deferred mehr — payable on dissolution or death | Mehr split |
| Shara'it | Conditions agreed by the couple | Conditions column |
| Talaq-e-Tafweez | Delegated right of divorce for the wife | Delegated-divorce column |
| Gawahan | The two witnesses | Witness columns |
| Nikah Khawan / Registrar | The person solemnising and registering | Registrar's seal and signature |
Reading the Document Before Signing
Never sign a document you cannot read. Ask the Nikah Khawan to read and explain each column before you sign — a legitimate registrar will welcome it. Where we conduct the ceremony, we walk both parties through the form in English or Urdu as preferred, so the contract you sign is the contract you intended.
Certified English Translation for Use Abroad
Foreign authorities — the Home Office, USCIS, IRCC and others — require a certified English translation of the Urdu Nikah Nama and MRC. The translation must be accurate and properly certified; a poor translation creates doubts about the underlying document. We arrange certified translation as part of the attestation set for overseas use.
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