Duas for Leaving the House, Entering the Mosque and Using the Toilet

What are the duas for the home, the mosque and the toilet?

Each doorway has its own short supplication. The table gathers them with their sources and the grading displayed on Sunnah.com; reports in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim carry no separate grade there. The sections below give the meanings, and the Arabic of each supplication is on its linked source page.

What is the dua for leaving the house?

The best-known dua for leaving the house entrusts the day to Allah. In Sunan Abi Dawud 5095, shown as Sahih (al-Albani), the Prophet said that whoever says it on going out is told that he is guided, sufficed and protected, and the devils move away from him. Jami at-Tirmidhi 3426 has the same words; Sunnah.com shows it as Da’if (Darussalam), while at-Tirmidhi himself called it hasan sahih gharib.

Umm Salamah added a second supplication: whenever the Prophet left her house he raised his eyes to the sky and sought refuge from going astray and from wronging or being wronged (Sunan Abi Dawud 5094, Sahih, al-Albani). It suits anyone heading into work, study or traffic.

• Bismillah, tawakkaltu ’ala Allah, la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah. — In the name of Allah; I place my trust in Allah; there is no might and no power except with Allah (Sunan Abi Dawud 5095).
• Allahumma inni a’udhu bika an adilla aw udall, aw azilla aw uzall, aw azlima aw uzlam, aw ajhala aw yujhala ’alayy. — O Allah, I seek refuge in You from going astray or being led astray, from slipping or being made to slip, from wronging others or being wronged, and from acting ignorantly or being treated ignorantly (Sunan Abi Dawud 5094).

What should you say when entering the house?

The practice recorded in Sahih Muslim is to mention Allah on entering. Sahih Muslim 2018a reports that when a person remembers Allah on entering his home and at his meal, Satan says there is no lodging and no supper for them; when he enters without remembering Allah, Satan says they have found a place to stay. Quran 24:61 adds the greeting: ‘salute one another with a greeting from Allah, blessed and sweet’.

A longer entering supplication, Allahumma inni as’aluka khayral-mawlaji wa khayral-makhraj, followed by entering and leaving in Allah’s name and trusting in Him, is widely shared. It comes from Sunan Abi Dawud 5096, which Sunnah.com shows as Da’if, attributed to al-Albani. When visiting someone else’s home, Quran 24:27 asks you to announce yourself and greet the household before entering.

• Mention Allah as you step in, for example with Bismillah (Sahih Muslim 2018a).
• Greet those inside with a greeting of peace (Quran 24:61).

What is the dua for entering the mosque?

Abu Usayd reported the Prophet’s instruction to say Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik on entering the mosque (Sahih Muslim 713a). Sunan Abi Dawud 465, shown as Sahih (al-Albani), adds that the person entering should first send peace upon the Prophet and then say these words.

Al-Bukhari placed a chapter on starting with the right when entering the mosque and elsewhere, which the Sunnah.com translation titles as starting with the right foot. Under it he narrated Aishah’s report that the Prophet liked to begin with the right in all his affairs where possible (Sahih al-Bukhari 426).

• Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik — O Allah, open for me the gates of Your mercy (Sahih Muslim 713a).
• Send peace upon the Prophet before it and step in with the right foot (Sunan Abi Dawud 465; Sahih al-Bukhari 426).

What is the dua for leaving the mosque?

The same hadith gives the words for going out: Allahumma inni as’aluka min fadlik, asking Allah for His bounty (Sahih Muslim 713a; Sunan Abi Dawud 465). The pairing is easy to remember: mercy when you come in to worship, and bounty as you return to work, family and the rest of the day.

• Allahumma inni as’aluka min fadlik — O Allah, I ask You of Your bounty (Sahih Muslim 713a).
• Word guide: as’aluka, I ask You; min, of or from; fadlik, Your bounty or favour.

What are the two rak’ahs for greeting the mosque?

The Prophet said that whoever enters a mosque should pray two rak’ahs before sitting down (Sahih al-Bukhari 444). The Sunnah.com translation of al-Bukhari’s chapter heading names this prayer Tahiyyat al-Masjid, the greeting of the mosque. Questions about particular times of day, or about arriving while the congregation is already praying, are best put to a local imam or teacher.

The two rak’ahs follow the ordinary form of prayer, which our salah guide explains step by step. If you are going to Friday prayer, our Jummah guide covers the other preparations for the day.

What is the dua for entering the toilet?

Anas reported that when the Prophet entered the toilet he said the words below (Sahih al-Bukhari 142). The Arabic on that page also records a narration saying ‘when he intended to enter’, which is why the words are commonly said before going in. Translators render al-khubuth wal-khaba’ith as male and female devils, or as offensive and wicked things.

Saying Bismillah before entering is also widely taught. It comes from Jami at-Tirmidhi 606, which Sunnah.com shows as Da’if (Darussalam); at-Tirmidhi described its chain as not strong. The refuge supplication is the wording recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 142.

• Allahumma inni a’udhu bika minal-khubuthi wal-khaba’ith — O Allah, I seek refuge in You from male and female devils (Sahih al-Bukhari 142).
• A’udhu billahi minal-khubuthi wal-khaba’ith — I seek refuge in Allah from male and female devils; a shorter wording in Sunan Ibn Majah 298, shown as Sahih (Darussalam).

What is the dua after leaving the toilet?

Aishah reported that when the Prophet came out of the toilet he said Ghufranak, a single word asking for Allah’s forgiveness. Sunnah.com shows Sunan Abi Dawud 30 as Sahih (al-Albani) and Jami at-Tirmidhi 7 as Sahih (Darussalam); at-Tirmidhi himself called his narration hasan gharib. Because it is one word, it is an easy supplication to teach young children.

• Ghufranak — I ask for Your forgiveness (Sunan Abi Dawud 30; Sahih, al-Albani).
• The same word appears in Jami at-Tirmidhi 7 (Sahih, Darussalam).

Quran passages in this guide

Read each complete verse below in Arabic and the identified English interpretation. Follow the context link before drawing conclusions from an isolated verse.

An-Noor 24:61. When entering houses, greet one another with a greeting from Allah, blessed and good.

لَّيْسَ عَلَى ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ حَرَجٌ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلْأَعْرَجِ حَرَجٌ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلْمَرِيضِ حَرَجٌ وَلَا عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَن تَأْكُلُوا۟ مِنۢ بُيُوتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ ءَابَآئِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ إِخْوَٰنِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أَخَوَٰتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أَعْمَـٰمِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ عَمَّـٰتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أَخْوَٰلِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ خَـٰلَـٰتِكُمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكْتُم مَّفَاتِحَهُۥٓ أَوْ صَدِيقِكُمْ ۚ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَأْكُلُوا۟ جَمِيعًا أَوْ أَشْتَاتًا ۚ فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُم بُيُوتًا فَسَلِّمُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ تَحِيَّةً مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ مُبَـٰرَكَةً طَيِّبَةً ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ۝٦١

There is not upon the blind [any] constraint nor upon the lame constraint nor upon the ill constraint nor upon yourselves when you eat from your [own] houses or the houses of your fathers or the houses of your mothers or the houses of your brothers or the houses of your sisters or the houses of your father’s brothers or the houses of your father’s sisters or the houses of your mother’s brothers or the houses of your mother’s sisters or [from houses] whose keys you possess or [from the house] of your friend. There is no blame upon you whether you eat together or separately. But when you enter houses, give greetings of peace upon each other - a greeting from Allah, blessed and good. Thus does Allah make clear to you the verses [of ordinance] that you may understand.

Translation: Saheeh International · Read in context

An-Noor 24:27. Do not enter houses other than your own without announcing yourself and greeting the household.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَدْخُلُوا۟ بُيُوتًا غَيْرَ بُيُوتِكُمْ حَتَّىٰ تَسْتَأْنِسُوا۟ وَتُسَلِّمُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ ۝٢٧

O you who have believed, do not enter houses other than your own houses until you ascertain welcome and greet their inhabitants. That is best for you; perhaps you will be reminded.

Translation: Saheeh International · Read in context

Questions readers often ask

Is Bismillahi tawakkaltu ’ala Allah an authentic dua?

Sunnah.com shows Sunan Abi Dawud 5095 as Sahih, attributed to al-Albani. The same words in Jami at-Tirmidhi 3426 are shown as Da’if (Darussalam), though at-Tirmidhi called his narration hasan sahih gharib, so gradings differ between editions and scholars.

Which foot should I enter the mosque with?

Al-Bukhari’s chapter on starting with the right when entering the mosque, together with Aishah’s report that the Prophet preferred the right in all his affairs where possible, is the report commonly cited for entering with the right foot (Sahih al-Bukhari 426).

Should I say the toilet dua inside the bathroom?

Sahih al-Bukhari 142 records a narration saying ‘when he intended to enter’, which is why the words are commonly said before going in. For questions about remembrance inside the washroom itself, ask a qualified teacher; this guide does not give rulings.

Is there an authentic dua for entering the house?

Sahih Muslim 2018a supports mentioning Allah on entering, and Quran 24:61 teaches greeting those inside. The longer supplication beginning Allahumma inni as’aluka khayral-mawlaj is in Sunan Abi Dawud 5096, shown as Da’if (al-Albani).

Do I have to pray two rak’ahs every time I enter a mosque?

Sahih al-Bukhari 444 instructs praying two rak’ahs before sitting. How that applies at particular times, or when a congregational prayer is under way, is discussed in detail by scholars, so follow a qualified teacher or your local imam.

Sources

1. Sunan Abi Dawud 5095 Hadith

   Bismillah, tawakkaltu ’ala Allah, la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah on leaving the house; displayed grade Sahih (al-Albani).

2. Jami at-Tirmidhi 3426 Hadith

   The same leaving-home words; displayed grade Da’if (Darussalam), with at-Tirmidhi’s own comment hasan sahih gharib.

3. Sunan Abi Dawud 5094 Hadith

   Umm Salamah: seeking refuge from going astray, slipping, wronging and ignorance on leaving the house; displayed grade Sahih (al-Albani).

4. Sahih Muslim 2018a Hadith

   Mentioning Allah on entering the home and at meals denies Satan lodging and supper.

5. Sunan Abi Dawud 5096 Hadith

   The longer supplication on entering the house, followed by greeting the family; displayed grade Da’if (al-Albani).

6. Sahih Muslim 713a Hadith

   Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik on entering the mosque and Allahumma inni as’aluka min fadlik on leaving.

7. Sunan Abi Dawud 465 Hadith

   Send peace upon the Prophet, then say the entering supplication; the leaving supplication; displayed grade Sahih (al-Albani).

8. Sahih al-Bukhari 426 Hadith

   Chapter on starting with the right when entering the mosque; the Prophet liked to begin with the right in all his affairs.

9. Sahih al-Bukhari 444 Hadith

   Whoever enters a mosque should pray two rak’ahs before sitting; the translated chapter heading names it Tahiyyat al-Masjid.

10. Sahih al-Bukhari 142 Hadith

    Allahumma inni a’udhu bika minal-khubuthi wal-khaba’ith on entering the toilet, with the narration ‘when he intended to enter’ in the Arabic.

11. Sunan Ibn Majah 298 Hadith

    A’udhu billahi minal-khubuthi wal-khaba’ith on entering the toilet; displayed grade Sahih (Darussalam).

12. Jami at-Tirmidhi 606 Hadith

    Saying Bismillah on entering the toilet; displayed grade Da’if (Darussalam), and at-Tirmidhi says its chain is not strong.

13. Sunan Abi Dawud 30 Hadith

    Ghufranak on coming out of the toilet; displayed grade Sahih (al-Albani).

14. Jami at-Tirmidhi 7 Hadith

    Ghufranak on exiting the toilet; displayed grade Sahih (Darussalam), with at-Tirmidhi’s comment hasan gharib.

15. Quran 24:61 Primary text

    Greeting one another with a blessed and good greeting from Allah when entering houses.

16. Quran 24:27 Primary text

    Announcing yourself and greeting the household before entering houses other than your own.

Qur’an Arabic: Tanzil (CC BY 3.0). English: Saheeh International (via Tanzil).