Iftar and Eid invitations: wording and etiquette

An iftar invitation asks guests to join you as the day's fast is broken at sunset, so its most important detail is the time: give the arrival time a little before sunset rather than a fixed hour, and mention that dates and water will be served first. Add the venue, whether there's a place to pray, and the meal. An Eid invitation is a celebration: the day, a time for visiting or a meal, and a warm “Eid Mubarak”. Both suit guests of every faith, and a line welcoming them is a kind touch.

Iftar timing

Iftar is the meal that breaks the day's fast during Ramadan, at sunset, with the evening prayer close by. Sunset changes a little each day and differs between cities, so the invitation should tie the time to sunset: “Please arrive by 6:20 pm; we break the fast at sunset, around 6:35.” Guests who are fasting will arrive on time; guests who aren't will understand why punctuality matters.

Ramadan moves earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar, by about eleven days, because it follows the lunar calendar. Check the year's dates and your city's sunset times before fixing the evening.

What to include

• The date, and the arrival time before sunset.
• The venue, with a map link.
• A place to pray, if you're providing one, and wudu facilities.
• The menu, broadly: dates and water first, then the meal.
• Who's invited: family, friends, colleagues, neighbours of all faiths.
• A contact, in case a guest is delayed by evening traffic.

Iftar wording

The names, dates and places below are examples.

Eid invitations

Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, and Eid ul-Adha comes later in the year. On Eid, families visit each other, share sheer khurma or biryani, and greet everyone with “Eid Mubarak”. Invitations are often informal: a message saying the door is open from the afternoon, or a lunch or dinner invitation. Because the exact day of Eid ul-Fitr depends on the sighting of the moon, invitations often say “on Eid” rather than a date, or give the expected date with a note.

Etiquette for hosts

• Serve dates and water at the moment of iftar, before anything else.
• Keep the prayer space clean and quiet, with a few prayer mats and the direction of the qibla marked if you can.
• Plan the meal for after the prayer; many guests will pray first.
• Welcome guests who aren't fasting warmly, and make sure there's nothing awkward about them eating.
• Offer vegetarian dishes for guests who need them.

Etiquette for guests

• Arrive before sunset, not at it.
• If you're not fasting, it's kind not to eat or drink in front of those who are before iftar.
• Greet with “Ramadan Mubarak” or “Ramadan Kareem”, and on Eid, “Eid Mubarak”.
• Bring sweets, dates or fruit if you'd like to bring something.

Design

Iftar and Eid invitations often use a crescent moon, lanterns, arches and geometric patterns, in deep green, midnight blue, gold or soft cream. Keep the time large and clear; it's the detail guests check most. You can describe one to ShubhLink AI as the AI invitation maker guide shows, and send it as the WhatsApp sharing guide explains. More festival guides are under festivals.