Praise be to Allah, Lord of all worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his companions.
From Allah’s mercy to His servants is that He prescribed remembrances that protect the Muslim’s heart throughout daily life. Among them are the supplications for entering and leaving the home. The home is a place of rest and comfort, while leaving it begins exposure to people, roads, work, and daily affairs. So remembrance at entry and exit becomes a means of protection, blessing, and reliance upon Allah.
Entering the home is connected to family, rest, mercy, and safety. Leaving the home is the beginning of mixing with people and facing the causes of the road, work, and daily responsibilities. These adhkar train the heart to rely upon Allah, seek blessing, and guard oneself from Satan’s share and influence.
The hadith shows that when a person remembers Allah upon entering his home and before eating, Satan is denied lodging and dinner. This indicates that saying Allah’s name upon entering the home is a means of driving Satan away and preventing him from sharing in the home and food.
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “When a man enters his house and mentions Allah at his entry and at his food, Satan says: You have no lodging and no dinner...” Narrated by Muslim.
Salam upon entering is not merely a social greeting. It is remembrance and a supplication for safety, mercy, and blessing for the people of the home. It is legislated for the Muslim to give salam when entering upon his family.
Allah Most High says: “When you enter houses, greet one another with a greeting from Allah, blessed and good.” [An-Nur: 61]
The meaning is that the Muslim leaves seeking Allah’s help, entrusting his affair to Him, and acknowledging that he has no ability to avoid sin, no strength to perform obedience, and no power to repel harm except through Allah.
It is reported that whoever says this when leaving is told: You have been guided, sufficed, and protected, and Satan withdraws from him. Narrated by Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhi, and others; authenticated by a number of scholars.
Its meaning is close to the previous wording. It contains tawhid, holding firmly to Allah, and relying upon Him, gathering the heart upon seeking Allah’s help before facing the affairs of the road, work, and people.
Narrated by Ahmad and others, and graded hasan by some scholars.
| Situation | Dhikr | Repetition | Brief Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering the home | Bismillah | Once | The hadith of Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, in Sahih Muslim |
| Entering the home | As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh | Once | Allah’s statement in Surah An-Nur: “greet one another” |
| Leaving the home | Bismillah, tawakkaltu 'ala Allah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah | Once | Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhi, and others |
| Leaving the home | Bismillah, amantu billah, i'tasamtu billah... | Once | Ahmad and others; graded hasan by some scholars |
What is established in Sahih Muslim is remembering Allah upon entering, and the simplest way to do that is to say: “Bismillah.” As for some popular wordings for entering the home, scholars have discussed their authenticity, so the Muslim may suffice with what is established.
Yes. Salam is legislated when entering the home even if no one is present, and this falls under the general meaning of Allah’s statement: “greet one another.”
Yes. It is said whenever the Muslim leaves the home, whether leaving for work, the masjid, the market, or anything else.
Yes. However, it is better to memorize it because it is short and repeated often. Over time, it becomes easy upon the tongue.
The adhkar for entering and leaving the home preserve the Muslim’s connection with Allah at the beginning of movement and at the moment of returning. So the Muslim should be careful to say Allah’s name and give salam when entering, and to rely upon Allah when leaving, for the servant is never free of need for Allah’s protection and guidance in his home, his path, and every affair.
