# Nikah and walima invitation wording, in English and Urdu

By Zaroor Aana. Last updated 15 November 2026. Page: https://zarooraana.com/blog/nikah-walima-invitation-wording

> A Muslim wedding invitation in India opens with Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim, then names the hosts, requests “the honour of your presence”, and names the couple with their fathers. The nikah, rukhsati and dawat-e-walima follow, each with its date, time and place, often with “insha’Allah”. It closes with the names of those waiting to welcome you.

## In brief

- A Muslim wedding card begins with the Bismillah, in Arabic or in English letters, and often a verse or a dua about marriage below it.
- The nikah is usually hosted by the bride’s family and the walima by the groom’s family, so many weddings send two cards or one card with two parts.
- Urdu cards close with words such as منتظر (muntazir), متمنیِ شرکت (mutamanni-e-shirkat) and الداعی (al-daai), each followed by family names.
- Insha’Allah, “if Allah wills”, is written with the date or the request, because the event is still in the future.
- Mehndi and manjha are family customs, not part of the nikah, so they go on a separate line or a separate card.

## What is written at the top of a Muslim wedding card?

A Muslim wedding card opens with the Bismillah. It is printed in Arabic at the top, or written in English letters on an English card.

> بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In Roman letters this is Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim. It means “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful”.

Some families in India print the number 786 in its place. It is the total of the letters of the Bismillah in the old abjad way of counting. Not every family accepts the number in place of the words, so ask your elders or your imam which to use.

Below the opening, many cards carry one line about marriage. These three are widely printed. Copy the Arabic exactly, with its marks, or leave it to the printer’s calligraphy.

**Lines often printed under the Bismillah**

| Arabic | In Roman letters | Meaning | From |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا لِّتَسْكُنُوا إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً | Wa min ayatihi an khalaqa lakum min anfusikum azwajan li-taskunu ilayha wa ja’ala baynakum mawaddatan wa rahmah | Among His signs is that He created spouses for you from among yourselves, so that you may find peace with them, and He placed love and mercy between you | Quran, Surah Ar-Rum 30:21 (first part of the verse) |
| النِّكَاحُ مِنْ سُنَّتِي | An-nikahu min sunnati | Marriage is part of my sunnah | Hadith, Sunan Ibn Majah 1846 (opening words) |
| بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ وَبَارَكَ عَلَيْكَ وَجَمَعَ بَيْنَكُمَا فِي خَيْرٍ | Barakallahu laka wa baraka alayka wa jama’a baynakuma fi khayr | May Allah bless you, send blessings upon you, and join you both in goodness | Hadith, Sunan Abi Dawud 2130. The dua said to someone newly married |

After the opening the card follows the usual order of an Indian wedding card: hosts, request, couple, programme, closing names. If you want to compare, see [wedding card matter in Hindi and English](https://zarooraana.com/blog/wedding-card-matter-hindi-english).

## What are the parts of a nikah invitation, in order?

A nikah invitation has six parts. The order is the same in English and in Urdu.

**The parts of a Muslim wedding invitation**

| Part | What is written | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Opening | The Bismillah, sometimes with a verse or dua | Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim |
| 2. Greeting | Salaam to the guest. Common on Urdu cards and in messages | Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh |
| 3. Hosts | The parents who invite, often the father’s name with “Mr and Mrs” | Mr and Mrs [Father] |
| 4. Request | A formal line asking the guest to come | request the honour of your presence |
| 5. The couple | The host’s child first, then the other, each with the father’s name | [Bride], daughter of Mr [Father], with [Groom], son of Mr [Father] |
| 6. Programme and closing | Nikah, rukhsati and walima with date, time and place, then the family names | Nikah: [Date], after Asr prayers, at [Venue] |

Who hosts what matters for the wording. The nikah is usually hosted by the bride’s family. The walima is the feast given by the groom’s family after the marriage. So the bride’s parents send the nikah card, the groom’s parents send the walima card, and many families now print both parts on one card.

Times are often tied to prayer: “after Asr prayers”, “after Maghrib”, “after Isha”. In Urdu this is written بعد نمازِ عصر, بعد نمازِ مغرب or بعد نمازِ عشاء. Add the clock time in brackets for guests who are travelling.

Practice differs between regions and communities. A Hyderabadi card, a Malabar card and a Lucknow card will not read alike, and Bohra, Shia and Sunni families each have their own customs and preferred lines. Use this as the common frame and keep what your family prints.

## What do muntazir, al-daai and the other Urdu terms mean?

The Urdu terms on a Muslim wedding card are short and formal. Most of them sit at the bottom of the card, each followed by a list of names.

**Urdu and Arabic terms on a Muslim wedding card**

| Term | In Urdu | Meaning | Where it goes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nikah | نکاح | The marriage contract and ceremony | Programme |
| Rukhsati | رخصتی | The bride’s formal farewell to the groom’s home | Programme, after the nikah |
| Walima, Dawat-e-Walima | ولیمہ، دعوتِ ولیمہ | The feast given by the groom’s side after the marriage | Programme or its own card |
| Insha’Allah | ان شاء اللہ | If Allah wills | After the date or the request line |
| Muntazir, Muntazireen | منتظر، منتظرین | The one, or the ones, waiting for you | Closing, before family names |
| Mutamanni-e-shirkat | متمنیِ شرکت | Those who wish for your presence | Closing, before family names |
| Chashm-ba-raah | چشم براہ | “Eyes on the road”: looking out for your arrival | Closing, before family names |
| Al-Daai | الداعی | The one who invites: the host | Closing, before the host’s own name |
| Noor-e-chashm | نورِ چشم | “Light of the eyes”: a beloved child. Often written before the groom’s name | The couple’s lines |
| Dukhtar-e-nek-akhtar | دخترِ نیک اختر | “Daughter of good fortune”. Written before the bride’s name | The couple’s lines |
| Ma’a ahl-o-ayaal | مع اہل و عیال | With your family | Request line |
| With best compliments |   | Family members or the family firm who join in the invitation | Closing, on English cards |

Some Urdu cards do not print the bride’s name at all and write only “the daughter of” with her father’s name. That is a family choice, and it is less common on English cards. For the Hindi closing words used on Hindu cards, see [what the terms on a wedding card mean](https://zarooraana.com/blog/wedding-card-terms-meaning).

## What is a complete nikah invitation wording in English?

A complete nikah invitation in English uses “request the honour of your presence”, names the nikah as the occasion, and gives the walima its own line. This sample is from the bride’s parents.

> Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim.
> Mr and Mrs [Father]
> request the honour of your presence
> on the auspicious occasion of the nikah of their beloved daughter
> [Bride]
> with
> [Groom]
> (son of Mr and Mrs [Father], [City])
> on [Day], [Date], insha’Allah.
> Nikah: after Asr prayers ([Time]), at [Venue], [City].
> Dinner: [Time] onwards.
> Rukhsati: after dinner.

This sample is from the groom’s parents and covers both the nikah and the walima.

> Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim.
> By the grace of Almighty Allah,
> Mr and Mrs [Father]
> cordially invite you and your family
> to the wedding of their son
> [Groom]
> with
> [Bride]
> (daughter of Mr and Mrs [Father], [City]).
> Nikah: [Day], [Date], [Time], at [Venue], [City].
> Dawat-e-Walima: [Day], [Date], [Time] onwards, at [Venue], [City].
> Your presence and duas will be our honour.
> With best compliments from: [Name], [Name] and the [Surname] family.

A walima card on its own can be short.

> Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim.
> Mr and Mrs [Father]
> request the pleasure of your company
> at the Dawat-e-Walima of their son
> [Groom]
> and his bride
> [Bride]
> on [Day], [Date], at [Time],
> at [Venue], [City].
> RSVP: [Name], [Phone number].

## What is the same wording in Urdu and in Roman Urdu?

The Urdu wording is more compact than the English. It uses set words for date, time and place: بتاریخ (on the date), بروز (on the day), بوقت (at the time) and بمقام (at the place). This sample is from the groom’s father.

> بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
> السلام علیکم ورحمۃ اللہ وبرکاتہ
> اللہ تعالیٰ کے فضل و کرم سے
> ہمارے فرزند
> [Groom]
> کا نکاح
> [Bride]
> (دختر جناب [Father]، [City])
> کے ساتھ ہونا قرار پایا ہے۔
> اس تقریبِ سعید میں آپ مع اہل و عیال شرکت فرما کر مسرت و افتخار بخشیں۔
> نکاح: بتاریخ [Date]، بروز [Day]، بوقت [Time]، بمقام [Venue]، [City]
> دعوتِ ولیمہ: بتاریخ [Date]، بوقت [Time]، بمقام [Venue]، [City]
> متمنیِ شرکت: [Name]، [Name]
> الداعی: [Father]

The same in Roman Urdu, which many families use on WhatsApp and which reads the same in Hindi:

> Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim.
> Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
> Allah Ta’ala ke fazl-o-karam se
> hamare farzand
> [Groom]
> ka nikah
> [Bride]
> (dukhtar Janab [Father], [City])
> ke saath hona qaraar paaya hai.
> Is taqreeb-e-saeed mein aap ma’a ahl-o-ayaal shirkat farma kar masarrat-o-iftikhar bakhshein.
> Nikah: ba-tareekh [Date], ba-roz [Day], ba-waqt [Time], ba-maqaam [Venue], [City].
> Dawat-e-Walima: ba-tareekh [Date], ba-waqt [Time], ba-maqaam [Venue], [City].
> Mutamanni-e-shirkat: [Name], [Name].
> Al-Daai: [Father].

It means: by the grace of Allah, the nikah of our son [Groom] with [Bride], daughter of Mr [Father] of [City], has been fixed. Please give us joy and honour by joining this blessed occasion with your family. The nikah and walima lines follow, then “wishing for your presence” with the family’s names and “the one who invites” with the host’s name.

For a card from the bride’s father, change the middle lines. Rukhsati gets its own line.

> ہماری دختر
> [Bride]
> کا نکاح
> [Groom]
> (فرزند جناب [Father]، [City])
> کے ساتھ ہونا قرار پایا ہے۔
> نکاح: بتاریخ [Date]، بعد نمازِ عصر، بمقام [Venue]، [City]
> رخصتی: بعد نکاح، ان شاء اللہ

In Roman Urdu: Hamari dukhtar [Bride] ka nikah [Groom] (farzand Janab [Father], [City]) ke saath hona qaraar paaya hai. Nikah: ba-tareekh [Date], baad namaz-e-Asr, ba-maqaam [Venue], [City]. Rukhsati: baad nikah, insha’Allah.

## How are mehndi and manjha written on the invitation?

Mehndi and manjha are written as separate lines, apart from the nikah. They are family customs of the region, not part of the nikah itself, and some families do not hold them or do not print them. Manjha is the turmeric and yellow-dress custom before the wedding, called haldi, ubtan or mayun in other places. Mehndi is also printed as Rasm-e-Hina.

> Manjha: [Day], [Date], [Time], at [Venue].
> Mehndi (Rasm-e-Hina): [Day], [Date], [Time], at [Venue].

> مانجھا: بتاریخ [Date]، بوقت [Time]، بمقام [Venue]
> رسمِ حنا (مہندی): بتاریخ [Date]، بوقت [Time]، بمقام [Venue]

These two are often ladies’ functions, so many families leave them off the main card and send a short message to the women of the family. For friendly notes for each function, see [haldi, mehendi and sangeet invitation messages](https://zarooraana.com/blog/haldi-mehendi-sangeet-invitation-messages).

## What can you send on WhatsApp for a nikah or walima?

A WhatsApp message for a nikah or walima starts with salaam and stays short: the names, the occasion, the date and place, and a request for duas.

Nikah, in English:

> Assalamu alaikum.
> By the grace of Allah, the nikah of [Groom] and [Bride] will be held on [Day], [Date], at [Venue], [City], insha’Allah.
> Please join us with your family and remember the couple in your duas.

Nikah, in Roman Urdu:

> Assalamu alaikum.
> Allah ke fazl-o-karam se [Groom] aur [Bride] ka nikah [Date] ko [Venue], [City] mein hai, insha’Allah.
> Aap ki shirkat aur duaon ke muntazir hain.

Nikah, in Urdu:

> السلام علیکم۔
> اللہ کے فضل و کرم سے [Groom] اور [Bride] کا نکاح [Date] کو [Venue]، [City] میں ہے، ان شاء اللہ۔
> آپ کی شرکت اور دعاؤں کے منتظر ہیں۔

Walima, in Roman Urdu:

> Assalamu alaikum.
> [Groom] aur [Bride] ki dawat-e-walima [Date] ko [Time] baje [Venue], [City] mein hai, insha’Allah.
> Aap ma’a ahl-o-ayaal zaroor tashreef laayein.

Walima, in English:

> Assalamu alaikum.
> You and your family are warmly invited to the walima of [Groom] and [Bride] on [Date], [Time] onwards, at [Venue], [City]. Your presence will be our honour.

For more messages in English and Hindi, see [wedding invitation messages for WhatsApp](https://zarooraana.com/blog/wedding-invitation-message-for-whatsapp). At Zaroor Aana a wedding invite is ₹2,999 and opens as a link with a screen for each function, so the nikah and the walima can each have their own time and map. The shop does not have a Bismillah opening or Urdu script built in yet, so [write to us](https://zarooraana.com/contact) before you order if you want them on the invite. You can [see the wedding invites](https://zarooraana.com/invites) with sample names first.

## Questions families ask

### What is the first line of a Muslim wedding invitation?

The first line of a Muslim wedding invitation is the Bismillah: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ, “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful”. English cards write it as Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim. Some families in India print the number 786 in its place.

### What is the difference between nikah and walima on an invitation?

The nikah is the marriage contract and ceremony, usually hosted by the bride’s family. The walima is the feast given by the groom’s family after the marriage. An invitation lists them as two events with their own date, time and venue, or the families send two cards.

### What does muntazir mean on a wedding card?

Muntazir (منتظر) on a wedding card means “the one who is waiting”. It is printed near the end of an Urdu card, followed by the names of family members who look forward to welcoming the guest. The plural, for several names, is muntazireen.

### What does al-daai mean on a nikah card?

Al-Daai (الداعی) on a nikah card means “the one who invites”, that is, the host. It is printed at the foot of an Urdu card before the name of the person sending the invitation, usually the father of the groom or of the bride.

### Why is insha’Allah written on a nikah invitation?

Insha’Allah means “if Allah wills”. It is written on a nikah invitation because the wedding is still in the future, and Muslims add it when speaking of anything they plan to do. It usually follows the date or the line that announces the nikah.

### Should mehndi and haldi be on a Muslim wedding card?

Mehndi and haldi, also called manjha or mayun, are family customs and not part of the nikah. Families who hold them usually list them on a separate line or send a separate message to close family. Families who do not hold them simply leave them out.

### Is the bride’s name written on a Muslim wedding card?

Most cards today print the bride’s name with her father’s name. Some families, mainly on traditional Urdu cards, write only “daughter of” and her father’s name. Both are accepted; the two families should agree on one way before the card is printed.

## See it for yourself

- [See the wedding invites](https://zarooraana.com/invites)
- [How ordering works](https://zarooraana.com/how-it-works)
- [Wedding card matter in Hindi and English](https://zarooraana.com/blog/wedding-card-matter-hindi-english)
- [Wedding invitation messages for WhatsApp](https://zarooraana.com/blog/wedding-invitation-message-for-whatsapp)

## Sources

- [Quran.com: Al-Fatihah 1:1, the Arabic text of the Bismillah](https://quran.com/1/1)
- [Al Quran Cloud: Al-Fatihah 1:1, the Arabic text (second check)](https://api.alquran.cloud/v1/ayah/1:1/quran-simple)
- [Quran.com: Ar-Rum 30:21, the Arabic text](https://quran.com/30/21)
- [Al Quran Cloud: Ar-Rum 30:21, the Arabic text (second check)](https://api.alquran.cloud/v1/ayah/30:21/quran-simple)
- [Hadith API (open hadith dataset): Sunan Ibn Majah 1846, “marriage is part of my sunnah”](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/fawazahmed0/hadith-api@1/editions/ara-ibnmajah/1846.json)
- [Hadith Unlocked: Sunan Abi Dawud 2130, the dua said to a newly married person](https://hadithunlocked.com/abudawud:2130)
- [Hadith API (open hadith dataset): Sunan Abi Dawud 2130, Arabic text and grading](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/fawazahmed0/hadith-api@1/editions/ara-abudawud/2130.json)
- [Wikipedia: Basmala (on the number 786)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basmala)
- [Rekhta Dictionary: وَلِیمَہ (walima), the feast given on behalf of the bridegroom](https://www.rekhtadictionary.com/meaning-of-valiima?lang=en)
- [Rekhta Dictionary: رُخْصَتی (rukhsati), the bride’s formal departure to the groom’s home](https://www.rekhtadictionary.com/meaning-of-ruKHsatii?lang=en)
- [Rekhta Dictionary: اِنْشَاءَ اللّٰہ (insha’Allah), if God wills](https://www.rekhtadictionary.com/meaning-of-inshaa-allaah?lang=en)
- [Rekhta Dictionary: مُنتَظِر (muntazir), one who waits](https://www.rekhtadictionary.com/meaning-of-muntazir?lang=en)
- [Rekhta Dictionary: مُتَمَنِّی (mutamanni), desirous, wishing](https://www.rekhtadictionary.com/meaning-of-mutamannii?lang=en)
- [Rekhta Dictionary: چَشْم بَراہ (chashm-ba-raah), looking out for someone](https://www.rekhtadictionary.com/meaning-of-chashm-ba-raah?lang=en)
- [Rekhta Dictionary: داعی (daa’i), one who invites](https://www.rekhtadictionary.com/meaning-of-daa-ii?lang=en)
- [Rekhta Dictionary: نُور چَشم (noor-e-chashm), light of the eyes, a beloved child](https://www.rekhtadictionary.com/meaning-of-nuur-e-chashm?lang=en)
- [Rekhta Dictionary: دُخْتَرِ نیک اَخْتَر (dukhtar-e-nek-akhtar), fortunate daughter](https://www.rekhtadictionary.com/meaning-of-duKHtar-e-nek-aKHtar?lang=en)
- [Rekhta Dictionary: مانجھا (manjha), the yellow dress and custom before a wedding](https://www.rekhtadictionary.com/meaning-of-maanjhaa?lang=en)
- [Urdu Notes: شادی کا دعوت نامہ اردو, a model wedding invitation letter from Jammu and Kashmir](https://urdunotes.com/lesson/%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D8%A7-%D8%AF%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AA-%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%81-%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%88/)
- [Qaumi Awaz: the Urdu text of three 1916 wedding cards (بتاریخ, بوقت, بمقام, شرکت فرما کر مسرت و افتخار بخشیں)](https://www.qaumiawaz.com/national/jawahar-lal-nehru-marriage-card-printed-in-urdu)
- [ETV Bharat Urdu: a handwritten 1933 Delhi wedding invitation that opens with praise of Allah and does not name the bride](https://www.etvbharat.com/urdu/national/bharat/old-invitation-card-in-urdu-from-1933-goes-viral/na20230101170945755755692)
- [UrduGhar: دعوت نامہ لکھنے کا طریقہ, how an Urdu invitation is set out, with a nikah sample](https://urdughar.com/how-to-write-an-invitation-letter/)
- [Urban Company: RSVP, “with best compliments” and gift lines on Indian wedding cards](https://www.urbancompany.com/blog/wedding-invite-wordings-guide-rsvp-compliments-gifts-with-examples-from-real-wedding-cards)