A jaha invitation is a short message from the groom's father, or the head of his family, asking relatives, elders and friends to join the delegation that formally requests the bride's hand. It needs five things: who is inviting, the groom's name, the name of the bride's father, where and when the group gathers, and where the jaha takes place. A basic version reads:
Mr Ahmad Al-Abdullah and his sons request the honour of your company in the jaha to ask for the hand of the daughter of Mr Khaled Al-Mahmoud for their son, Omar, on Friday 10 January 2027. We gather at 6:00 pm outside the family diwan. Your presence honours us.
Below you will find what a jaha is, how its invitation differs from an engagement invitation, wording for every case, and how to know who is coming before the day.
What is a jaha? #
A jaha is a delegation of respected men from the groom's family, joined by relatives and friends, who go to the bride's family home, their diwan (the family's gathering hall) or an agreed venue to ask for her hand in front of witnesses. The custom is deeply rooted in Jordan and Palestine and is known across the Levant. You will also hear the word tulbeh, "the asking", for the same occasion.
By custom, the head of the jaha speaks for the groom's family and a senior man from the bride's family answers with acceptance. Arabic coffee is poured for the delegation when it arrives, and its head does not drink until the request has been granted. Then Al-Fatiha is recited and sweets are served, most famously knafeh. Details vary from one family and region to another, so ask the elders in your own family what is customary.
A jaha is usually the public seal on an agreement the two families have already reached, not a surprise. That is why it can be announced, and why invitations go out with confidence.
Jaha invitation or engagement invitation? #
The two are often confused, but they differ in who sends them, who receives them and how they sound:
| Jaha invitation | Engagement invitation | |
|---|---|---|
| Who invites | The groom's father or the head of the family | The bride's family, or both families |
| Who is invited | Mostly men: relatives, elders and friends | Family and friends, men and women |
| Purpose | To join in asking for the bride's hand | To celebrate once she has accepted |
| Key detail | The gathering point and departure time | The party venue and time |
| Tone | Formal and dignified | Warm and festive |
If you need wording for the party that follows, see our engagement invitation wording.
What should a jaha invitation include? #
- The host: the groom's father, his grandfather, the head of the family, or the family as a whole.
- The groom's name, usually with his professional title.
- The bride's father and family name. The traditional form is "the daughter of Mr So-and-so", without the bride's own name.
- The day and date.
- The gathering point and time. This is the most important line, because a jaha travels and arrives as one group.
- The place of the jaha: the bride's family home, a diwan or a hall, with a map link.
- A short closing line of welcome.
Leave out anything about the mahr (the bridal gift) or the terms agreed between the families. Those do not belong in a message sent to guests.
Formal jaha invitation wording to copy #
From the groom's father #
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Mr Ahmad Al-Abdullah requests the honour of your company in the jaha to ask for the hand of the daughter of Mr Khaled Al-Mahmoud for his son, Dr Omar, on the evening of Friday 10 January 2027. We gather at 6:00 pm outside our home and leave at 6:30 pm. Your presence is an honour to us.
From the family or tribe #
The Al-Abdullah family is honoured to invite its elders, sons and friends to join the jaha of its son, Omar Ahmad Al-Abdullah, to the honourable Al-Mahmoud family, on Friday 10 January 2027. We gather at 6:00 pm at the family diwan. All are welcome.
From the grandfather or head of the family #
Hajj Mahmoud Al-Abdullah, his sons and grandsons request the honour of your presence at the jaha of his grandson, Omar, to ask for the hand of the daughter of Mr Khaled Al-Mahmoud, on Friday 10 January 2027 at 7:00 pm, Al-Yasmin Hall. Having you with us is a crown upon our heads.
A short version for WhatsApp #
Peace be upon you. We would be honoured to have you with us at the jaha of our son, Omar, on Friday 10 January. We gather at 6:00 pm outside the family diwan. Your presence completes our joy.
Wording for the bride's family, receiving the jaha #
The bride's family also invites its own relatives and elders, to receive the delegation and answer it:
Mr Khaled Al-Mahmoud and his brothers request the honour of your presence as they receive the jaha of the honourable Al-Abdullah family, who are coming to ask for their daughter's hand, on Friday 10 January 2027 at 7:00 pm at the Al-Mahmoud diwan.
And a shorter one:
Please honour us by joining us to receive our daughter's jaha on Friday 10 January at 7:00 pm at the family home. Your presence is our support and our joy.
Jaha invitations in English and Arabic #
Families with relatives abroad, or with guests who do not read Arabic, often send the invitation in both languages. Keep the Arabic first, since the elders will read that one, and add a line for guests new to the custom:
A jaha is the traditional gathering in which the groom's family formally asks for the bride's hand. It is usually brief. Please arrive at the gathering point on time, as we travel together.
Guests attending for the first time usually ask the same things: what to wear (formal, as for any family occasion), whether to bring a gift (not usually expected at the jaha itself), and when to drink the coffee (follow the head of the delegation).
When to send it, and whom to invite #
Timing: send the invitation a week to ten days before the jaha, then a reminder the day before. That is shorter than for a wedding, because a jaha is brief and rarely involves travel. For comparison, see when to send wedding invitations.
Guests: start with the family elders and the groom's uncles, then in-laws, neighbours, and the groom's friends and colleagues. Invite the elders with a call or a visit first, and follow with the written invitation so they have the details.
The head of the jaha: once you have agreed who will speak for you, tell him early, with the date and the name of the senior man on the bride's side. Do not rely on the general invitation.
Women: in many families the women gather separately on the day. If that is your custom, send them their own wording and location, as explained in men's and women's invitations for the same event.
How to send a jaha invitation online and know who is coming #
Two questions worry every host: how many men will come, and whether they will reach the right place on time. The number matters because the bride's family prepares the seating and hospitality around it, and because a thin delegation embarrasses the family it represents.
A digital invitation answers both. On Koroty you design the invitation once, then:
- Send it to each guest on WhatsApp with a link that carries his name, so it reads as a personal invitation, not a broadcast.
- Each guest taps "I will attend" or "I can't make it", and you see the confirmed count and who has not answered, with a one-tap reminder.
- Guests open the map with one touch and arrive without calling to ask.
- If the time or place changes, you edit the invitation and the same link stays valid, with nothing to resend.
Because you write Koroty's texts yourself, you can put the jaha wording in place of the wedding text and add the gathering point and time under the guest notes. The designs are built around two names, so in the second name field write whatever both families are comfortable with: the bride's name, or a phrase such as "the daughter of Al-Mahmoud". Designing and previewing are free, and the preview link has every feature for 48 hours so you can try the invitation with your household. Then you activate its permanent link with one payment per invitation, with unlimited guests and RSVPs, which is what a full jaha needs. The price for your country is on the pricing page.
Frequently asked questions #
Is the bride's name written on a jaha invitation? #
Traditionally no. The invitation says "the daughter of Mr So-and-so", with her father's and family's name. Some families do write it, so follow your own custom and what the bride's family prefers.
Is a jaha for men only? #
Mostly, yes: the jaha is a delegation of men. In many families the women gather elsewhere on the same day and receive a separate invitation with its own place and time.
What is the difference between the gathering point and the jaha venue? #
The gathering point is where the groom's side meets before setting off, such as his father's house or the family diwan. The venue is the bride's family home or the hall where the request is made. Write both clearly, with the gathering time.
Should a jaha invitation be printed or digital? #
A digital invitation is enough: the notice is short and the list is long, and it lets you count attendance in advance. A personal call to the family elders is still expected, and no written invitation replaces it.
Can the jaha and the katb al-kitab share one invitation? #
Yes, if they fall on the same day at the same place. Name both in the text and set out the times clearly. Our nikah invitation wording has samples that help.
Conclusion #
A good jaha invitation is short and clear: who is inviting, whose jaha it is, and where and when the men meet. Pick the wording that suits your family, send it a week ahead, and follow the replies so you arrive with a delegation worthy of your name. You can choose a design on Koroty and try it for free before you send it.
