Vaneeza Ahmed urges women to read Nikahnamas before marriage

Former Pakistani model and actor Vaneeza Ahmed has encouraged women to carefully review their Nikahnamas before marriage stressing that understanding the terms of the Islamic marriage contract can help them protect their rights.

Former Pakistani model and actor Vaneeza Ahmed has encouraged women to carefully review their Nikahnamas before marriage stressing that understanding the terms of the Islamic marriage contract can help them protect their rights.

Speaking on Vasay Chaudhry’s show Ahmed revealed that she had not read her own Nikahnama despite considering herself well-educated. She said she only examined the document when she was going through a divorce a realisation that prompted her to urge other women to avoid making the same mistake.

Ahmed emphasised that women should feel comfortable asking questions about their marriage contracts. She also called on parents to help their daughters understand the document and the provisions that may affect their rights during marriage or if disputes arise.

According to the actor families should not treat the Nikahnama as a routine formality. Instead they should carefully review its clauses before signing. She also raised concerns about reports of provisions being removed from marriage documents urging families to check the paperwork thoroughly.

Ahmed further highlighted financial terms that may be overlooked including provisions relating to financial support. She encouraged both women and men to learn about the clauses in the Nikahnama rather than assuming they have no practical significance.

She acknowledged that marriage is often viewed as a matter of destiny in South Asian families. However she argued that believing in destiny should not prevent people from taking sensible steps to safeguard their interests. Her central message was that women should not feel ashamed or hesitant about asking questions concerning their rights.

Ahmed has previously spoken about the importance of understanding marriage contracts. In 2023 she discussed the subject in connection with the television drama Kuch Ankahi, which explored issues surrounding divorce, custody and clauses in the Nikahnama.

She has also spoken about haq mehr the dower agreed upon in an Islamic marriage contract, and the social pressures that can discourage women from asserting their rights.

Ahmed first gained recognition as one of Pakistan’s prominent models before moving into acting. Her screen credits include the film Jinnah (1998) in which she portrayed Dina Jinnah, as well as television dramas such as Ehd-e-Wafa and Kuch Ankahi.

Her latest comments have renewed attention on the importance of understanding marriage documents and ensuring that women are aware of the rights and conditions recorded in their contracts.