Nikah invitation wording and messages

A nikah invitation does two jobs at once: it tells guests where and when to come, and it asks for their duas. The wording on a Muslim marriage card in India follows a familiar order, whether it is printed in English, Urdu or Hindi. Below is that order line by line, full nikah invitation wording you can copy for both families, walima lines, and short nikah invitation SMS and WhatsApp messages. Change the words in [brackets].

• How the wording is ordered
• Nikah invitation wording in English
• In Urdu and Muslim marriage card matter in Hindi
• Walima wording and nikah invitation SMS and WhatsApp messages

How is a nikah invitation worded, line by line?

Most Muslim wedding cards in India follow the same seven parts. Families add or drop lines by custom and region, so treat this as a frame, not a rule.

1. The opening. Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem (بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم), sometimes with its English meaning, “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful”.
2. The hosts. Usually the bride's parents for the nikah, the groom's parents for the walima. Some cards name the grandparents first as a mark of respect.
3. The couple, with their parents. “[Bride], daughter of Janab [Father's name]” and “[Groom], son of Janab [Father's name]”. Urdu cards use بنت (daughter of) and ولد (son of). If a parent has passed away, families often write Marhoom (for a man) or Marhooma (for a woman) after the name.
4. The event. “The nikah will be solemnised, Insha'Allah,” with the day and date.
5. The time. Often given as “after Asr”, “after Maghrib” or “after Isha namaz”. Add an approximate clock time in brackets for guests who won't know when that is that day.
6. The venue. The masjid, hall or home, with the area and city.
7. The closing. A request for presence and duas, and the names of the family members who await the guests. Urdu cards often list them under منتظرین (muntazireen, “those awaiting you”).

Leave the mehr and other private details off the card. If you have separate seating arrangements for women, a short line near the venue saves questions on the day.

Nikah invitation wording in English

English cards suit mixed guest lists, colleagues and friends from other communities. Keep the Bismillah at the top and the tone formal.

• From the bride's parents Copy

  Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem By the grace of Allah, Janab [Father's name] and Begum [Mother's name] request the pleasure of your company at the nikah of their daughter [Bride] with [Groom] son of Janab [Groom's father] The nikah will be solemnised, Insha'Allah, on [Day, Date] after Isha namaz (around [Time]) at [Venue], [City]. Your presence and duas will be our honour.

• From the groom's parents Copy

  Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem With the blessings of Allah, we invite you to the nikah of our son [Groom] with [Bride], daughter of Janab [Bride's father], on [Day, Date] after Maghrib namaz at [Venue], [City]. Walima: [Day, Date], [Time], [Venue] Awaiting you: [Family names]

• From both families Copy

  In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful The families of [Bride's father] and [Groom's father] joyfully invite you to the nikah of [Bride] and [Groom], to be solemnised Insha'Allah on [Date] after Asr namaz at [Masjid / Venue], [City]. Please join us and keep the couple in your duas.

• With a parent who has passed away Copy

  Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem Begum [Mother's name], with the family of the late Janab [Father's name] (Marhoom), invites you to the nikah of her daughter [Bride] with [Groom], son of Janab [Groom's father], on [Date] after Isha namaz at [Venue], [City].

• Nikah and walima on one card Copy

  Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem Nikah of [Bride] and [Groom] [Day, Date], after Maghrib namaz, [Venue] Walima hosted by the family of Janab [Groom's father] [Day, Date], [Time], [Venue] We request the pleasure of your presence at both.

• From the couple, simple Copy

  Bismillah With the blessings of our families, we, [Bride] and [Groom], invite you to our nikah, Insha'Allah, on [Date] at [Venue], [City]. Please join us and remember us in your duas.

Nikah invitation wording in Urdu

For relatives and elders who read Urdu, the traditional wording is warmer. Keep the names spelt the same way on every card and message.

• Bride's family, Urdu Copy

  بسم اللہ الرحمٰن الرحیم بفضلِ تعالیٰ ہماری صاحبزادی [دلہن کا نام] کا نکاح [دولہا کا نام] ولد جناب [والد کا نام] کے ہمراہ ان شاء اللہ [تاریخ] بروز [دن] بعد نمازِ عشاء [مقام]، [شہر] میں طے پایا ہے۔ آپ سے شرکت اور دعاؤں کی گزارش ہے۔ منتظرین: [خاندان کے نام]

• Groom's family, Urdu Copy

  بسم اللہ الرحمٰن الرحیم ہمارے فرزند [دولہا کا نام] کا نکاح [دلہن کا نام] بنت جناب [والد کا نام] کے ساتھ ان شاء اللہ [تاریخ] کو بعد نمازِ مغرب [مقام] میں ہوگا۔ دعوتِ ولیمہ: [تاریخ]، [وقت]، [مقام] آپ کی شرکت ہمارے لیے باعثِ مسرت ہوگی۔

• Short Urdu message Copy

  السلام علیکم! [دلہن] اور [دولہا] کے نکاح میں آپ مدعو ہیں، ان شاء اللہ [تاریخ]، [شہر]۔ تفصیلات: [link]

Muslim marriage card matter in Hindi

Many families in North India print the card in Hindi with Urdu words kept as they are. These read naturally to most relatives. For Hindu wedding card matter, see wedding card matter in Hindi.

• Bride's family, Hindi Copy

  बिस्मिल्लाहिर्रहमानिर्रहीम अल्लाह के फ़ज़्ल-ओ-करम से हमारी साहबज़ादी [दुल्हन का नाम] का निकाह [दूल्हे का नाम] वल्द जनाब [पिता का नाम] के साथ इंशाअल्लाह [तारीख़] को बाद नमाज़-ए-इशा [स्थान], [शहर] में होना तय पाया है। आप तशरीफ़ लाकर दूल्हा-दुल्हन को अपनी दुआओं से नवाज़ें। मुंतज़िरीन: [परिवार के नाम]

• Groom's family, Hindi Copy

  बिस्मिल्लाहिर्रहमानिर्रहीम हमारे साहबज़ादे [दूल्हे का नाम] का निकाह [दुल्हन का नाम] बिन्त जनाब [पिता का नाम] के साथ इंशाअल्लाह [तारीख़] को बाद नमाज़-ए-मग़रिब होगा। दावत-ए-वलीमा: [तारीख़], [समय], [स्थान] आपकी शिरकत हमारे लिए बाइस-ए-मसर्रत होगी।

• Short Hindi message Copy

  अस्सलामु अलैकुम! [दुल्हन] और [दूल्हा] के निकाह में आप मदऊ हैं, इंशाअल्लाह [तारीख़], [शहर]। सारी जानकारी: [link]

How do you word a walima invitation?

The walima is the feast the groom's family hosts after the nikah, often the next day or a few days later. If it shares a card with the nikah, give it its own heading. If it has its own card, the groom's parents are the hosts and the couple are named as newly married.

• Walima, formal Copy

  Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem Janab [Groom's father] and Begum [Groom's mother] request the pleasure of your company at the walima of their son [Groom] and [Bride] on [Day, Date] at [Time], [Venue], [City].

• Walima, after a small nikah Copy

  Alhamdulillah, [Bride] and [Groom]'s nikah took place in the presence of close family. We would now love to celebrate with you at the walima on [Date] at [Venue], from [Time].

• Walima, WhatsApp Copy

  Assalamu alaikum! You are invited to the walima of [Groom] and [Bride] on [Date], [Time], at [Venue]. Directions: [link]

Nikah invitation SMS and WhatsApp messages

Send the card or link with a short line, not on its own. Start with salaam and put the names and date first, since that is what shows in the notification. For general wording that works across families, see wedding invitation messages.

• Simple SMS Copy

  Assalamu alaikum. By the grace of Allah, the nikah of [Bride] and [Groom] is on [Date] after Isha namaz at [Venue], [City]. Your presence and duas are requested.

• Family group Copy

  Assalamu alaikum sabko 🤲 [Bride] aur [Groom] ka nikah Insha'Allah [Date] ko hai. Nikah aur walima, dono ki details is link par: [link]

• To elders Copy

  Assalamu alaikum [Name] sahab. Insha'Allah [Bride/Groom] ka nikah [Date] ko hai. Aapki dua aur shirkat dono chahiye. Card ghar bhej rahe hain, details yahan bhi hain: [link]

• To friends Copy

  It's happening, Insha'Allah! [Bride] and [Groom], nikah on [Date] in [City]. Come for the nikah, stay for the biryani. [link]

• To colleagues Copy

  Hi all, I'm getting married on [Date]. You're warmly invited to the walima on [Date] at [Venue], [Time]. Details: [link]

• Reminder Copy

  Reminder: the nikah is tomorrow after Isha namaz (around [Time]) at [Venue]. Map: [link]. JazakAllah khair for coming.

What should you double-check on a Muslim wedding card?

• Spellings. Names in English, Urdu and Hindi should match across the card, the messages and any link. Ask both families to check their own names.
• Prayer and clock time together. “After Maghrib namaz (around 6:15 pm)” helps guests who come from far and those who don't track prayer times.
• Which event is where. If the nikah is at a masjid and the walima at a hall, write both addresses in full.
• Who is invited. “With family” or a named list avoids awkward guesses at the door.
• Seating. If there are separate arrangements for women, say so near the venue line.

For reception-style wording and messages from the couple, the reception invitation guide has more, and how to invite people for a wedding covers who to call first and when to send.

If you'd rather send one link than a stack of cards, an Aaiyega invite has a Bismillah blessing line built in, and room for your own words, the nikah and walima as separate functions with their maps, and RSVP. See the designs.