Nikkah and Waleema (Walima) Invitation Wording: Examples in English, Arabic and Urdu

Guide · Zippite

A Nikkah invitation has a different feel from other wedding invitations. It usually begins with the name of Allah, it often carries a short verse or dua, and it is careful about how it describes the families involved. Finding the right words, especially in more than one language, can take longer than designing the invitation itself.

Below you will find examples you can adapt for a Nikkah ceremony and a Waleema (also spelled Walima), in English, Arabic and Urdu, with English translations for the Arabic and Urdu. Practices and preferred spellings differ between families and communities, so use these as a starting point and check anything you are unsure about with your elders or your imam.

A simple structure for the invitation

Draft the invitation in this order before choosing fonts or decorative details. A clear structure helps every guest find the information they need, whether they read English, Arabic or Urdu.

1. Opening. Begin with Bismillah, a greeting, or a short family blessing if that suits your household.
2. Invitation sentence. Say who is inviting guests and whether the event is a Nikkah, Waleema (Walima), or both.
3. Names and relationship. List the couple and, where appropriate, their parents or hosting families.
4. Event details. Give the day, full date, arrival time, ceremony time, venue, address and any meal timing.
5. Closing. Ask for guests’ presence, duas or blessings, then add RSVP and practical notes.

Keep one master version with confirmed spellings and times. Translate from that version instead of editing several language versions independently. This reduces the chance that the English card says 6:00 pm while a second-language card says 6:30 pm.

What a Nikkah invitation usually includes

• An opening line. Most invitations start with Bismillah, and many add the greeting “As-salamu alaykum”.
• The names. The bride, the groom and, in most cases, their parents. Use the spelling that appears on official documents.
• The date, time and place. Many families also give the Hijri date. See the note on this further down.
• A dua or verse (optional). Often placed at the top or the end.
• Practical notes. Whether a meal follows, when guests should arrive, parking, and any arrangements for the venue.
• How to reply. A phone number, or a reply form inside the invitation.

An opening verse and dua

Many couples include a verse about marriage from Surah Ar-Rum, or the dua that is traditionally made for a newly married couple. Because these are the words of the Quran and the Prophet ﷺ, copy them exactly and do not shorten or change them. If you are not sure whether to include them, a short Bismillah on its own is also very common.

Native-language example — review with a fluent speaker before publishing.

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا لِّتَسْكُنُوا إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً

Meaning: “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 affection and mercy.” (Surah Ar-Rum, 30:21)

Native-language example — review with a fluent speaker before publishing.

بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ وَبَارَكَ عَلَيْكَ وَجَمَعَ بَيْنَكُمَا فِي خَيْرٍ

Meaning: “May Allah bless you, shower His blessings upon you, and bring you both together in goodness.” This is the dua reported from the Prophet ﷺ for a newly married person. When congratulating a couple together, many people say “lakuma” and “alaykuma” (for both of you) instead of “laka” and “alayka”.

English wording examples

1. Parents hosting, traditional

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Mr. and Mrs. [Bride’s father’s name] request the pleasure of your company at the Nikkah ceremony of their daughter
[Bride’s name]
with [Groom’s name], son of Mr. and Mrs. [Groom’s father’s name],
on [day], [date], at [time],
at [venue and address].
Your presence and duas will complete our joy. Lunch will be served after the Nikkah.

2. From the couple, warm and simple

By the grace of Allah, we are getting married, and we would be honoured to have you with us for our Nikkah.
[Date] at [time], [venue].
Your duas mean the world to us.
[Bride’s name] and [Groom’s name]

3. Groom’s family inviting

Alhamdulillah, with the blessings of Allah, we joyfully invite you to the Nikkah of our son [Groom’s name] to [Bride’s name], daughter of [Bride’s father’s name].
[Day], [date] · [time] · [venue].
Kindly join us and make dua for the couple.

4. A Waleema (Walima) invitation

Together with their families, [Groom’s name] and [Bride’s name] invite you to join them for their Waleema (Walima).
[Day], [date] at [time]
[Venue and address]
Dinner will be served. We look forward to celebrating with you.

Nikkah and Waleema (Walima): choose the right wording

A Nikkah invitation announces the marriage contract ceremony. It may be hosted by one or both families and can include a request for duas, the officiant’s name, or a note about a meal afterwards. A Waleema (Walima) invitation is for the celebratory meal or reception, often hosted after the marriage. It should name the Waleema clearly so guests do not confuse it with the ceremony.

If both events are on the same day, separate the times in a short schedule: “Nikkah at 4:00 pm · Dinner at 6:00 pm.” If they are on different dates, use two distinct event blocks with their own venues and RSVP instructions. Avoid calling every gathering a reception if your family prefers the more specific terms Nikkah and Waleema.

Urdu wording examples

Native-language example — review with a fluent speaker before publishing.

Nikkah invitation

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
السلام علیکم ورحمۃ اللہ وبرکاتہ
الحمد للہ، ہمارے بیٹے [دولہا کا نام] کا نکاح [دلہن کا نام] بنتِ [والد کا نام] کے ساتھ [تاریخ] بروز [دن] کو [مقام] پر ہونا قرار پایا ہے۔
آپ سے گزارش ہے کہ تشریف لا کر دولہا دلہن کو اپنی دعاؤں سے نوازیں۔
منجانب: [نام]

Translation: “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Peace be upon you. Alhamdulillah, the Nikkah of our son [groom’s name] to [bride’s name], daughter of [father’s name], has been arranged for [date], [day], at [venue]. We request that you come and bless the couple with your duas. From: [name].”

Native-language example — review with a fluent speaker before publishing.

Walima invitation

ہم آپ کو اپنے بیٹے [دولہا کا نام] کے ولیمے کی دعوت میں شرکت کی دعوت دیتے ہیں۔
تاریخ: [تاریخ]   وقت: [وقت]   مقام: [مقام]
آپ کی تشریف آوری ہمارے لیے باعثِ مسرت ہوگی۔

Translation: “We invite you to attend the Walima of our son [groom’s name]. Date: [date]. Time: [time]. Venue: [venue]. Your presence will be a source of joy for us.”

Arabic wording example

Native-language example — review with a fluent speaker before publishing.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
يتشرف [اسم الأب] وعائلته بدعوتكم لحضور حفل عقد قران نجلهم [اسم العريس] على كريمة [اسم والد العروس] [اسم العروس]
وذلك يوم [اليوم]، الموافق [التاريخ]، في [المكان]، الساعة [الوقت]
بحضوركم تكتمل فرحتنا

Translation: “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. [Father’s name] and his family are honoured to invite you to the Nikkah ceremony of their son [groom’s name] to the daughter of [bride’s father’s name], [bride’s name], on [day], corresponding to [date], at [place], at [time]. Our joy is complete with your presence.”

Bilingual and trilingual layout advice

Give each language enough breathing room. A two-column layout can work for short English and Urdu or Arabic versions, but it becomes crowded when names, addresses and a dua are long. A stacked layout is usually easier to read on a phone: English first, then the right-to-left version, with the same headings and order in both.

Use dir="rtl" for Arabic and Urdu text, and choose a typeface that supports every character. Do not rely on an automatic translation for religious wording, names, or family relationships. Keep numerals and dates consistent, and test the invitation on a small phone screen before sending it. If the languages use different calendars or date conventions, write the month out in full to avoid ambiguity.

A note on Hijri dates

Some families like to write both the Gregorian and the Hijri date. The Hijri date can differ by a day depending on the moon sighting in your country, so if you include it, confirm it with your local mosque or a calendar your community follows.

Details checklist before you publish

• The time of the Nikkah itself, and the time the meal begins, if they are different.
• Whether children are welcome, and any seating or arrangements for the venue that guests should know about.
• A map link and the nearest landmark, so guests can find the place easily.
• A phone number for questions on the day.
• Correct spellings for both names, parents’ names, venue and street.
• Dress guidance, prayer or wudu facilities, accessibility information, and parking instructions when relevant.
• RSVP deadline, reply method, dietary contact, and whether the invitation is for the named guest only.

Send a proof to one person from each family before sharing widely. Ask them to check names, honorifics, Arabic or Urdu direction, dates, and whether the tone reflects the hosts. Then open the final link yourself and test every RSVP or map button.

Respectful adaptation

There is no single universal Nikkah format. Some families prefer formal parent-hosted language; others speak in the couple’s voice. Some include a verse, while others use only Bismillah or a warm English welcome. Adapt the wording to your family’s custom without presenting one style as the only correct one.

Ask before naming a parent, guardian, imam or family member as host. Use the couple’s preferred names and pronouns, and confirm whether a family uses “Waleema” or “Walima.” If the event is women-only, men-only, adults-only, or has separate seating, state that plainly and courteously. Religious text deserves special care: copy it from a reliable source, have a fluent reader review it, and avoid decorative edits that alter the words.

Setting it up on Zippite

In the builder, choose Nikkah or Waleema as the event, then pick the invitation language: English, Arabic or Urdu among others. You can add a line above and below the names, so Bismillah can sit at the top. The “Your own words” box is meant for a dua, blessing or verse in any language, and it appears at the end of the invitation, which is a good place for the verses above.

Background music is optional, and you can leave it off. If you would like music, the list includes a nasheed. You can also let guests reply inside the invitation. Our guide to adding RSVP to your invitation explains how, and our guide to sending an invitation on WhatsApp covers sharing it.

Questions people ask

Do I have to include a verse or dua? No. Many invitations only have Bismillah, and some have nothing before the names. It is a matter of family preference.

Should the wording be in one language or several? Use the language your guests read most comfortably. Some families send one version in English and another in Urdu or Arabic, using the same guest list.

Is a Nikkah invitation different from a Waleema (Walima) invitation? They are usually separate events, so they often have separate wording, a separate date and sometimes a separate guest list. You can add more than one event to a single Zippite invitation.

Please check religious text before you publish. If you copy Quranic verses or duas, check the spelling against a reliable source or ask someone who reads Arabic to look it over.