All India Muslim Personal Law Board on Sunday unveiled a model 'nikahnama' granting extensive rights to women.

The board said its "voluntary" guidelines would go a long way in enhancing harmony between couples.

The main objective of the model 'nikahnama', purely voluntary without any binding force, is to bring uniformity in procedure for marriages as Muslims are following different systems across the country, AIMPLB Convenor Shamshuddin Afridi said.

The guidelines were adopted unanimously at the two-day general council meeting of the board in Bhopal.

Aiming to end possible disputes arising out of marriages, the 'nikahnama' provides for preparing written records of all marriages with copies of agreement handed over to the groom and the bride. Another copy of the agreement can be kept for record by the government, if required.

The guidelines also make it mandatory for parents or guardians of the couple to be present during the marriage. Both these provisions discourage forced marriages, Afridi said.