A Muslim wedding invitation traditionally opens with the bismillah, often followed by a short verse or prayer, then names the hosts (usually the parents), presents the couple, and gives the details of the Nikah and/or Walima with a clear RSVP. Below is the structure explained, then ready-to-use wording you can copy and adapt.
Nikah vs. Walima — what each invitation is for
The Nikah is the Islamic marriage ceremony itself — the contract, often held at a mosque or family home with a closer circle. The Walima is the celebratory feast the groom's family hosts after the marriage, and is usually the larger public event. Families may send one invitation covering both, or separate invitations with different guest lists — every wording below works for either.
The traditional structure, line by line
- 1Bismillah — بِسْمِ اللَّٰهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ (In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful). In Arabic, transliteration, or translation.
- 2A verse or prayer (optional) — most beloved is Surah Ar-Rum 30:21: “And among His signs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves, that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you love and mercy.”
- 3The hosts — traditionally the parents: “Mr. & Mrs. Ahmed Raza request the honour of your presence…”
- 4The couple — the groom's and bride's full names, often with “son of / daughter of”.
- 5The occasion — Nikah ceremony, Walima reception, or both, each with date (Hijri and/or Gregorian), time and venue.
- 6A closing prayer — “InshaAllah”, or “May Allah bless this union.”
- 7RSVP — how and by when to confirm.
Formal wording (hosted by the parents)
بِسْمِ اللَّٰهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
“And among His signs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves, that you may find tranquility in them.” (Quran 30:21)
Mr. & Mrs. Ahmed Raza
request the honour of your presence at the Nikah of their son
Bilal Raza
with
Sara Ahmed
daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Khalid Ahmed
on Sunday, 27 December 2026 at 12:30 PM
followed by the Walima reception
Varioline Le Grand, Garrison Golf Club, Lahore
InshaAllah — kindly RSVP by 10 December
بِسْمِ اللَّٰهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
With praise to Allah for uniting two hearts,
Mr. & Mrs. Tariq Mahmood
cordially invite you to the Walima reception in honour of their son
Omar Mahmood & his wife Zainab Ali
on Friday, 15 January 2027 at 7:00 PM
The Grand Marquee, Islamabad
Your presence will be a source of great joy and blessing.
Warm & modern wording (from the couple)
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
With hearts full of gratitude,
Sara & Bilal
invite you to celebrate their Nikah
Sunday, 27 December 2026 · 12:30 PM
Varioline Le Grand, Lahore
Dinner to follow · RSVP below, InshaAllah
بِسْمِ اللَّٰهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Two families become one, Alhamdulillah.
Join us for the wedding of
Sara, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Khalid Ahmed
&
Bilal, son of Mr. & Mrs. Ahmed Raza
Nikah at 12:30 PM · Reception at 1:30 PM
Sunday, 27 December 2026 · Lahore
Your prayers are the greatest gift.
Short WhatsApp-style wording
Sending the invitation digitally? Keep the message short and let the invitation itself carry the formality — here's a template, and our WhatsApp invitation guide has the full etiquette.
Assalam-o-Alaikum!
By the grace of Allah, our Sara is getting married, InshaAllah.
We would be honoured to have you with us — the full invitation, venue and RSVP are here:
👉 [your invitation link]
Urdu & bilingual wording
Many families send bilingual invitations — Urdu for elders, English for the younger generation. A digital invitation handles this beautifully: The Cordial Invite supports 30+ languages including Urdu and Arabic with correct right-to-left text, so “بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم” and “آپ کی تشریف آوری ہماری عزت افزائی ہوگی” (your presence would be an honour for us) render exactly as they should.
بِسْمِ اللَّٰهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
ہم اپنے بیٹے بلال رضا کی تقریبِ نکاح میں آپ کو مدعو کرتے ہیں
We joyfully invite you to the Nikah of our son Bilal Raza with Sara Ahmed
Sunday, 27 December 2026 · 12:30 PM · Lahore
دعاؤں کی درخواست ہے — InshaAllah
Wording etiquette: quick rules
- Open with the bismillah — it's the most recognised and cherished element.
- Name the hosts clearly; in traditional families the parents invite, in modern ones the couple may.
- Give both Hijri and Gregorian dates if your family observes both.
- State Nikah and Walima times separately if guests are invited to both.
- Close with a prayer — “InshaAllah” or “May Allah bless this union” — rather than a slogan.
- Keep the RSVP effortless: one tap on a digital invitation beats a phone-number scavenger hunt.
Writing for a mixed audience? Our general wedding invitation wording guide covers formal and casual English styles you can blend with the structures above.
Frequently asked questions
What is the traditional opening of a Muslim wedding invitation?
The bismillah — بِسْمِ اللَّٰهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ, “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful” — in Arabic script, transliteration, or translation, often followed by a short Quranic verse about marriage such as Surah Ar-Rum 30:21.
Should the Nikah and Walima have separate invitations?
They can. The Nikah is often a closer gathering and the Walima the larger public feast, so families frequently send a combined invitation to full guests and a Walima-only invitation to the wider circle. Digital invitations make maintaining two versions trivial.
Who is named as the host on a Nikah invitation?
Traditionally the parents (“Mr. & Mrs. Ahmed Raza request the honour of your presence at the Nikah of their son…”). Modern couples increasingly invite in their own names — both are fully acceptable; choose what fits your family.
Can a digital invitation include the bismillah and Urdu text?
Yes — a proper digital invitation renders Arabic and Urdu with correct right-to-left script. The Cordial Invite includes an optional opening line for the bismillah or a blessing, and supports 30+ languages.
When should Nikah and Walima invitations be sent?
Six to eight weeks before the event for local guests, and two to three months ahead when relatives are flying in — international family needs time for tickets and visas.