3 supplications
Duas for Going to the Mosque
Enter the mosque with the right foot asking for the doors of mercy, and leave with the left foot asking for Allah’s bounty, as the Prophet ﷺ taught (Sahih Muslim).
On the way to the mosque
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ فِي قَلْبِي نُورًا، وَفِي لِسَانِي نُورًا، وَفِي سَمْعِي نُورًا، وَفِي بَصَرِي نُورًا، وَمِنْ فَوْقِي نُورًا، وَمِنْ تَحْتِي نُورًا، وَعَنْ يَمِينِي نُورًا، وَعَنْ شِمَالِي نُورًا، وَمِنْ أَمَامِي نُورًا، وَمِنْ خَلْفِي نُورًا، وَاجْعَلْ لِي نُورًا
Allahummaj‘al fi qalbi nura, wa fi lisani nura, wa fi sam‘i nura, wa fi basari nura, wa min fawqi nura, wa min tahti nura, wa ‘an yamini nura, wa ‘an shimali nura, wa min amami nura, wa min khalfi nura, waj‘al li nura.
O Allah, place light in my heart, light on my tongue, light in my hearing, light in my sight, light above me, light below me, light on my right, light on my left, light in front of me, light behind me, and grant me light.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim
Entering the mosque
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ، اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
Bismillah, was-salatu was-salamu ‘ala rasulillah. Allahummaftah li abwaba rahmatik.
In the name of Allah, and peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy. Enter with the right foot.
Source: Sahih Muslim; Sunan Abi Dawud
Leaving the mosque
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
Bismillah, was-salatu was-salamu ‘ala rasulillah. Allahumma inni as’aluka min fadlik.
In the name of Allah, and peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, I ask You of Your bounty. Leave with the left foot.
Source: Sahih Muslim; Sunan Abi Dawud
Etiquette of the mosque
- Walk to the mosque calmly: each step raises you a degree and wipes away a sin (Muslim).
- Enter with the right foot and leave with the left, sending blessings on the Prophet ﷺ each time.
- Pray two rak‘ahs of greeting (tahiyyat al-masjid) before sitting down (al-Bukhari, Muslim).
- Do not come after eating raw garlic or onion, which bother the worshippers and the angels (al-Bukhari, Muslim).
- Do not pass in front of someone who is praying, and keep your voice low.
- Selling and calling out for lost property are not done in the mosque (Muslim, at-Tirmidhi).
Mercy inside, bounty outside
On entering the mosque the Muslim asks Allah to open the doors of His mercy, and on leaving he asks for His bounty (fadl). Scholars note the beautiful balance: inside is the place of prayer and remembrance, which draw mercy; outside is the place of work and earning, as in the verse: “When the prayer is finished, disperse in the land and seek the bounty of Allah” (62:10).
Walking to the mosque is rewarded at every step, and the angels pray for the worshipper as long as he remains in his place of prayer, saying: “O Allah, forgive him; O Allah, have mercy on him” (al-Bukhari, Muslim). Coming early, sitting in the front rows and waiting for the prayer are all acts of worship.
The du‘a on the way to the mosque
On his way to prayer the Prophet ﷺ would say: “O Allah, place light in my heart, light on my tongue, light in my hearing, light in my sight…” (al-Bukhari, Muslim). The Muslim walks to the house of Allah asking that light fill his heart and limbs, and arrives ready for humility in prayer.
Practical tips
- Walk to the mosque when you can; every step is rewarded.
- Switch your phone to silent before entering.
- Pray two rak‘ahs before sitting down.
- Do not reserve a place or step over people’s necks.
- Leave the mosque cleaner than you found it.
Duas for Going to the Mosque: questions and answers
May women go to the mosque?
Yes. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from the mosques of Allah” (al-Bukhari, Muslim), while praying at home is also excellent for them.
What if I enter while the iqamah is being called?
Join the congregation directly; the greeting prayer of the mosque is not prayed once the obligatory prayer has started (Muslim).