Invitations for the katb kitab, the milka and the aqd qiran
The signing of the marriage contract has several names. In much of the Gulf people say milka, in Jordan and Egypt katb el-kitab, and in formal writing aqd qiran. The gathering behind each name is different too, and the invitation should be written for yours.
One ceremony, three names
Milka is the word you will hear in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Gulf. Katb el-kitab, literally the writing of the book, is the common phrase in Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon and Egypt, and aqd qiran is the formal Arabic one. Many families use one word at home and another on paper.
Pick the word your guests use. A Saudi card that says katb el-kitab, or a Jordanian one that says milka, reads as if a stranger wrote it. The editor lets you type the title of the event yourself, so this is your call.
Small and close, or a full evening
For some families the contract is signed at home with the two fathers, the groom, a witness and the sheikh or the official who registers the marriage, with coffee and sweets afterwards. For others it is a dinner for a hundred. Say which it is in the first line.
A short private invitation to thirty relatives and a longer one for the wider family are two different links, each with its own list. Send each household only the one meant for them.
Wording that sounds like your family
Formal invitations open with the name of God or a verse, then the host family and the names of the two parties. Many cards add a line asking guests to join in congratulating the couple and witnessing the contract. Keep it as short as your family would say it aloud.
Our wording guide gives examples in several tones, from formal to light, so you can adjust rather than start from a blank page.
Designs that carry the occasion
Four designs were made with this occasion in mind. Arabic Calligraphy puts the script in front. Arabian Heritage is warm and traditional. Desert Pearl is calm and light. Luxury Diwaniya suits a formal evening in a reception room.
Each opens full screen before you pay, so you can see the exact card your guests will open.
Date, time and who is invited
Write the Hijri date beside the Gregorian one if your family does; the editor takes both as text. Add the time and the place, and, if the gathering is for men only or for family only, say so. With RSVP, a household answers with the number coming. One invitation costs 20 JOD.
If the katb kitab and the wedding are on separate days, make a second invitation for the wedding instead of crowding one card.
What to settle with the families first
The contract is a legal and religious moment, so a few things are worth agreeing before the card goes out. Who is hosting, who will be present, and whether the gathering is for family alone are questions better answered at home than discovered by a guest at the door.
A good katb kitab invitation is short. Its job is to tell people where to be and when, and to make the family's joy visible. The rest happens in the room.
- The word your families use: milka, katb el-kitab or aqd qiran
- Who is invited: close family, the wider family, or friends too
- The place: a home, a mosque hall, a restaurant or a reception hall
- The Hijri and Gregorian dates, checked against the calendar
- Whether a separate invitation for the wedding follows
Questions and answers
What is the difference between milka and katb kitab?
They name the same event, the signing of the marriage contract. Milka is common in the Gulf, katb el-kitab in the Levant and Egypt. Use the word your guests use.
Can I make a private invitation for close family only?
Yes. Create a separate invitation with its own list and send the link only to those people.
Can I add the Hijri date?
Yes, as text in your own wording. Check it against the Umm al-Qura calendar before you send.
Can I have a different card for the wedding?
Yes. Each event has its own invitation, date and map pin, so the contract and the wedding do not share one card.
Do guests need an account or an app?
No. They open the link in their phone's browser and nothing needs to be installed.
Write your katb kitab invitation
Choose the name your family uses, pick a design and preview it free.