Milad invitation card and Dua ceremony invitation: wording in Urdu and English

Not every dawat is a wedding. Families hold a Mehfil-e-Milad in Rabi-ul-Awwal, a Mehfil-e-Naat for a wish fulfilled, a dua on return from Hajj or Umrah, a Quran Khwani for the isaal-e-sawab of someone who has passed away, a Khatm or a shukrana after an illness, and sometimes a plain dinner dawat for the biradri. A 'milad invitation card' or a 'dua ceremony invitation' is a quiet, respectful card, and this guide gives you the wording for each.

The samples below are written to be pasted into a digital card and sent as one link on WhatsApp, so the time after Maghrib, the address and a map reach everyone the same evening. Practices differ between families and schools of thought; use the wording that matches your own, and leave out what your family does not do.

When families send these cards

• Mehfil-e-Milad or Mehfil-e-Naat: in Rabi-ul-Awwal, on moving into a new home, or as thanks for a wish granted.
• Dua: on return from Hajj or Umrah, before a child goes abroad, after recovery from illness.
• Quran Khwani: for isaal-e-sawab on the third day, the fortieth day or the anniversary of a death; the card is plain and the message is short.
• Khatm or shukrana: after an engagement, a new job, a new business or a new car, often with a dinner.
• A general dawat: a biradri dinner, a daughter-in-law's first visit, a farewell before Hajj.

What the card should say

• The occasion in one clear line: مَحفلِ میلاد، دعا، قرآن خوانی، ختم، شکرانہ.
• Who is hosting, with the family name.
• Day, date and time; 'بعد نمازِ مغرب' or 'بعد نمازِ عشاء' is clearer than a clock time alone, and the card can carry both.
• The venue with a map, and whether it is ladies only, gents only or both in separate rooms.
• Whether there is dinner (عشائیہ) or tea after the dua.
• A dua request instead of a gift line, and a contact number.

1. Ladies-only Milad, in Urdu

بسم اللہ الرحمٰن الرحیم۔ محترمہ! ماہِ ربیع الاول کی مناسبت سے ہمارے گھر محفلِ میلاد مصطفیٰ ﷺ کا اہتمام کیا گیا ہے۔ آپ سے التماس ہے کہ [دن، تاریخ] کو بعد نمازِ عصر [پتہ] پر تشریف لا کر محفل کی رونق بڑھائیں۔ خواتین کے لیے۔ بعد از محفل عشائیہ۔ منجانب: [میزبان کا نام] و اہلِ خانہ

2. Mehfil-e-Naat, in Urdu

الحمدللہ، [موقع، مثلاً بیٹے کی کامیابی] پر شکرانے کے طور پر محفلِ نعت رکھی گئی ہے۔ [دن، تاریخ]، بعد نمازِ مغرب، [جگہ]۔ آپ کی شرکت ہمارے لیے باعثِ سعادت ہوگی۔ دعاگو: [خاندان کا نام]

3. Quran Khwani for isaal-e-sawab, in Urdu

ہمارے والد محترم [نام] مرحوم کے ایصالِ ثواب کے لیے قرآن خوانی [دن، تاریخ] کو بعد نمازِ عصر [جگہ] پر ہوگی۔ آپ سے دعائے مغفرت کی درخواست ہے۔ منجانب: [بیٹوں کے نام]

Keep this card plain: no music, no bright colours, and a short WhatsApp message. On a digital card choose the ivory or night palette and leave the song off.

4. Dua on return from Hajj or Umrah, in Roman Urdu

Alhamdulillah, Allah ne hamein Hajj ki saadat ata farmai. Shukrane ke taur par dua aur zam zam ki dawat [din, tareekh] ko baad Maghrib [jagah] par hai. Aap tashreef la kar hamari khushi mein shareek hon. Manjanib: [naam] aur ghar wale.

5. Khatm and shukrana dinner, in English

By the grace of Allah, [Name] has [the occasion: recovered fully / started his new business]. We are holding a Khatm-e-Quran and dua of thanks on [Day, Date] after Maghrib at [Venue], followed by dinner. We would be grateful for your presence and your prayers. [Family name].

6. A general dinner dawat, in English and Urdu

Mr. and Mrs. [Name] request the pleasure of your company at dinner on [Day, Date] at [Time], [Venue], on the occasion of [the occasion]. Kindly confirm by [date]. — [نام] اور اہلِ خانہ آپ کو [موقع] کے سلسلے میں [تاریخ]، [وقت] بجے [جگہ] پر عشائیے پر مدعو کرتے ہیں۔ آپ کی آمد کا انتظار رہے گا۔

WhatsApp line

السلام علیکم! [تاریخ] کو بعد مغرب ہمارے گھر محفلِ میلاد ہے۔ کارڈ اور لوکیشن اس لنک پر: [لنک]۔ ضرور تشریف لائیں۔ For a Quran Khwani write only: [نام] مرحوم کے لیے قرآن خوانی [تاریخ] بعد عصر۔ لنک: [لنک]۔

Sending a dawat card as a link

A digital dawat card is one link with the date, the prayer-time note, the address with a map button and a calendar button, in Urdu and English. If the time moves because of the Maghrib timing or the room changes to the lawn, every link you have sent updates. Each family can have a private link with their name and the seats you have kept, which is how you count for dinner without phone calls. Noor is the design most families use for a Milad or dua; try it with your own names first. The price is one payment of Rs. 1,999, listed on pricing.

Common questions

• Should a Quran Khwani card have a design at all? A plain ivory card with the name and the time is enough; the card's job is only to make sure people have the address.
• Milad for ladies in the afternoon and gents after Isha? Write both times in the card and each guest's link can show the one for them.
• Can the card play a Naat? The card can play a sound when it opens, but for a Milad most families leave it off; the card should be quiet.
• Do we write 'no gifts'? A line like 'آپ کی دعا ہی ہمارے لیے تحفہ ہے' does it politely.

Related wording: the housewarming invitation for the Milad or dua held in a new home, the Bismillah and Ameen ceremony invitation and the Aqiqah invitation card. Nine more Urdu dawat namas are in دعوت نامہ کیسے لکھیں.