The nikahnama (synonyms: marriage contract, aqd-nama, kabin-nama, and many other names in different languages) has been a traditional Islamic document that has been used for centuries at the time of nikah (marriage). Unlike other common Islamic legal documents, nikahnamas were often much more colorful and decorated: before the era of photographs, nikahnamas were often the only piece of memorabilia from a wedding. While not a required document for a nikah, they’ve been used in several Islamic societies from Iran to Kashmir.

The nikahnama text generally begins with the basmala and a qur’anic verse pertaining to marriage. It follows its the details about the couple along with the agreed upon mahr (or dowry.)

Nikahnamas would always be attested by at least two witnesses (as required by Islamic law) with their signature and seals. The contracts were usually a page long though the actual page could reach almost a meter in length!) If they were more than a page, the first page would generally be the most ornate. The designs would usually consist of flowers, diamonds, or other shapes and would be embellished with different colored inks and gold.