Supplication upon Entering the Mosque

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Which durood sharif is prayed when walking into and out of the mosque and the dua that follows it. Also is the durood sharif first prayed when walking into the mosque or prayed when walking into the prayer room after wudu?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I hope you are in the best of health and spirits, insha’Allah.

Upon entering the mosque, it would be recommended to say: “O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad and give them peace. O Allah, forgive me my sins, and open to me the doors of Your mercy.” (Allahumma salli `ala Muhammadin wa `ala ali Muhammadin wa sallim. Allahumma ighfirli dhunubi wa iftah li abwab rahmatik) [Ghazali, Bidayat al-Hidaya]

اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَسَلِّمْ اَللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْلِي ذُنُوْبِي وَافْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ

Shurunbulali too, in his Maraqi al-Falah, mentions the recommendation of saying “O Allah, open to me the doors of Your mercy” upon entering the mosque, as per the numerous prophetic narrations on it. Tahtawi comments that one would say this after sending peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace).

The Narrations

The prophetic narrations which explain to us what we should say upon entering a mosque are quite numerous, as Nawawi notes in his Sharh Sahih Muslim, and lists in his Adkhar.

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “When one of you enters the mosque, let him say, ‘O Allah, open to me the doors of Your mercy’ (Allahumma iftah li abwab rahmatik) and when one leaves, ‘O Allah, I ask You of Your bounty’ (Allahumma inni asaluka min fadlik).” [Muslim]

Nawawi notes that it would be recommended to say this supplication upon entering the mosque. This is also affirmed by Shurunbulali, as previously mentioned.

Other narrations such as those found in the collections of Abu Dawud, Ibn Maja, and discussed by Munawi in his Fayd al-Qadir seem to include saying “bismillah”, a different wording of blessings on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), and/or some other slight additions. Nevertheless, one will, insha’Allah, attain the reward by saying the prayer related by Imam Ghazali.

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani