Aqiqah invitation wording: 12 examples, formal to family

An aqiqah is the meal a family gives to welcome a new baby: the sacrifice on the seventh day, the baby's name announced, the hair shaved, and relatives, neighbours and friends fed. In Britain it is usually a lunch or dinner at a hall or a restaurant a few weeks after the birth, and the invitation goes out by WhatsApp. Here is what it needs to say, the lines families use, and twelve examples to copy.

What an aqiqah invitation needs

1. The Bismillah, بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ, or the shorter "In the name of Allah". Some families open with Alhamdulillah instead, since the occasion is one of thanks.
2. Who is inviting. The parents, often with the grandparents named: "Hamza and Ayesha Malik, with their families".
3. Whose aqiqah. The baby's full name, and that it is their aqiqah. Many families add the date of birth, which doubles as the announcement.
4. The meal. Lunch or dinner, the time food is served, and the venue with a postcode. If the aqiqah meat is part of the meal, say so, so guests can make dua for the child.
5. Who is welcome. Families with children, ladies and gents together or seated separately.
6. Gifts. "Your duas are the only gift we ask for" is the usual line. If people will bring gifts anyway, say "no need for gifts" and leave it.
7. The reply. A reply-by date and how to reply, with the number of guests per household, because the caterer needs it.

Formal aqiqah invitation wording

1. Classic, parents inviting

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Hamza Malik and Ayesha Malik request the pleasure of your company at the Aqiqah of their son Zayan Malik born 2 September 2027

Sunday, 26 September 2027 at 1pm The Regency Banqueting Suite, Regency Road, Bradford BD9 9AA Lunch will be served at 1.30pm

Your duas are the only gift we ask for Please reply by 19 September

2. With the grandparents

Alhamdulillah

Imran and Saima Malik, with Farooq and Rubina Siddiqui, invite you to celebrate the Aqiqah of their grandson Zayan Sunday, 26 September 2027 · 1pm · The Regency, Bradford Families welcome · Dinner served · Your duas are our gift

3. Daughter, formal

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Tanvir Ahmed and Nusrat Ahmed request the honour of your presence at the Aqiqah of their daughter Maryam Ahmed Saturday, 23 October 2027 at 6pm The Sonali Suite, Sonali Road, London E1 9AA Ladies' and gents' seating · Dinner at 7pm Kindly reply by 9 October

4. Aqiqah and naming together

With praise to Allah, who has blessed us with a son, Hamza and Ayesha Malik invite you to his Aqiqah and naming on Sunday, 26 September 2027 at 1pm at the Regency, Bradford. His name will be announced after the dua. Lunch to follow.

Warm and family wording

5. From the parents

Alhamdulillah, our little Zayan is here. Please join us for his aqiqah lunch on Sunday, 26 September at 1pm at the Regency, Bradford. Bring the children; bring your duas. Let us know on the link how many of you are coming.

6. From the grandparents

With gratitude to Allah, the Malik and Siddiqui families invite you to the aqiqah of our first grandchild, Zayan, on Sunday, 26 September at the Regency, Bradford, from 1pm. Food at 1.30. Your duas are everything we ask for.

7. At home

Zayan's aqiqah is at ours on Sunday, 26 September from 1pm, insha'Allah. Lunch, dua and a lot of cake. Families welcome. Tell us if you can come so we cook enough.

8. Twins

Alhamdulillah, twice over. Join us for the aqiqah of Zayan and Zara on Sunday, 26 September at 1pm at the Regency, Bradford. Lunch served at 1.30. Your duas for both of them are the only gift we ask for.

Short messages for WhatsApp

9. Formal

Assalamu alaikum. Hamza and Ayesha Malik invite you to the Aqiqah of their son Zayan on Sunday, 26 September 2027 at 1pm, The Regency Banqueting Suite, Bradford BD9 9AA. Lunch at 1.30pm. Please reply by 19 September on the link: [link]

10. Warm

Assalamu alaikum! Our Zayan's aqiqah is on Sunday 26 September, 1pm, at the Regency in Bradford. We would love you and the family there. Details and the reply form are here: [link]

11. Reminder

Salaams. We are giving the caterer numbers on Friday for Zayan's aqiqah. Could you let us know on the link how many of you are coming? [link]

12. Closing line

May Allah bless him, make him a source of goodness for his parents, and accept this aqiqah from us.

Things to get right

• The seventh day. The sunnah is the seventh day after birth, but the meal in Britain is usually held when the mother is ready, often three to six weeks later. Nobody minds; say "to celebrate the aqiqah of" rather than dating the sacrifice.
• The name. If the aqiqah doubles as the naming, keep the name off the invitation and announce it on the day. Otherwise print it in full; relatives want to know how it is spelled.
• Halal and meat. Say whether the meal includes the aqiqah meat, and give meal choices on the reply form if the caterer offers them.
• Seating. If ladies and gents are seated separately, say so, so families know what to expect.
• Gifts. Clothes and gold arrive whether you ask or not. "Your duas are the only gift we ask for" is the kind line.

Where the words go

Put the invitation on one page with the time, the venue and a map, the gift line and a reply form that asks each household how many are coming and what they eat. Guests open it from WhatsApp, reply in a minute, and you get the numbers for the caterer without a phone round. Our baby shower and family celebration page shows how it works; pick any design, change the heading to "Aqiqah", and the Bismillah and the dua are fields you can fill. One payment of £40 covers any number of guests.