Home AdhkarAdhkar for Entering and Leaving the Home
All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and all his Companions.
It is from the Sunnah to remember Allah when entering your home and greet your family, and to say the supplication for leaving when you go out. These adhkar are not limited to travel; they are also said when leaving for work or everyday errands.
{فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ}
Allah, the Most High, says: {So remember Me; I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and do not be ungrateful to Me.} [Al-Baqarah: 152].
When entering1
Remembering Allah When Entering the Home
It is recommended to remember Allah when entering your home. One way to do so is to say:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ
"In the name of Allah."
إِذَا دَخَلَ الرَّجُلُ بَيْتَهُ، فَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ عِنْدَ دُخُولِهِ وَعِنْدَ طَعَامِهِ، قَالَ الشَّيْطَانُ: لَا مَبِيتَ لَكُمْ وَلَا عَشَاءَ، وَإِذَا دَخَلَ فَلَمْ يَذْكُرِ اللَّهَ عِنْدَ دُخُولِهِ، قَالَ الشَّيْطَانُ: أَدْرَكْتُمُ الْمَبِيتَ، وَإِذَا لَمْ يَذْكُرِ اللَّهَ عِنْدَ طَعَامِهِ، قَالَ: أَدْرَكْتُمُ الْمَبِيتَ وَالْعَشَاءَ
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "When a man enters his home and remembers Allah upon entering and when eating, Shaytan says: You have no lodging for the night and no supper. If he enters without remembering Allah upon entering, Shaytan says: You have found lodging for the night. If he does not remember Allah when eating, he says: You have found lodging for the night and supper."
Narrated by Muslim (2018).
The hadith encourages remembering Allah when entering and when eating, without specifying a lengthy supplication. Saying Allah's name is a form of remembrance. Therefore, saying it at the door does not replace saying it before eating. You can find what to say at mealtimes in Adhkar for Food and Drink.
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Offering the Greeting When Entering the Home
When you enter and your family is present, greet them. One wording of the greeting is:
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
"Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings."
السلام عليكم
It is also sufficient to say: Peace be upon you. Allah, the Most High, says:
{لَيْسَ عَلَى الأَعْمَى حَرَجٌ وَلَا عَلَى الأَعْرَجِ حَرَجٌ وَلَا عَلَى المَرِيضِ حَرَجٌ وَلَا عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَنْ تَأْكُلُوا مِنْ بُيُوتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ آبَائِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ إِخْوَانِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أَخَوَاتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أَعْمَامِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ عَمَّاتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أَخْوَالِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ خَالَاتِكُمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكْتُمْ مَفَاتِحَهُ أَوْ صَدِيقِكُمْ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَنْ تَأْكُلُوا جَمِيعًا أَوْ أَشْتَاتًا فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُمْ بُيُوتًا فَسَلِّمُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ تَحِيَّةً مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ مُبَارَكَةً طَيِّبَةً كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمُ الآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ}
{There is no blame on the blind, nor on the lame, nor on the sick, nor on yourselves for eating from your own homes, from the homes of your fathers, your mothers, your brothers, your sisters, your paternal uncles, your paternal aunts, your maternal uncles or your maternal aunts, from homes whose keys you hold, or from your friends' homes. There is no blame on you for eating together or separately. When you enter homes, greet one another with a blessed, good greeting from Allah. Thus Allah makes the signs clear to you, so that you may understand.} [An-Nur: 61].
Greet your family even if you return after only a short absence. This greeting is a supplication for their peace and safety, and for Allah's mercy and blessings upon them.
When leaving3
The Supplication for Leaving the Home
When leaving, say:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
"In the name of Allah. I place my trust in Allah. There is no power and no strength except through Allah."
إِذَا خَرَجَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ بَيْتِهِ فَقَالَ: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
يُقَالُ حِينَئِذٍ: هُدِيتَ، وَكُفِيتَ، وَوُقِيتَ، فَتَتَنَحَّى لَهُ الشَّيَاطِينُ، فَيَقُولُ لَهُ شَيْطَانٌ آخَرُ: كَيْفَ لَكَ بِرَجُلٍ قَدْ هُدِيَ وَكُفِيَ وَوُقِيَ
Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "When a man leaves his home and says: In the name of Allah. I place my trust in Allah. There is no power and no strength except through Allah." He said: "At that time it is said: You have been guided, granted sufficiency and protected. The devils then move away from him, and another devil says: How can you approach a man who has been guided, granted sufficiency and protected?"
Narrated by Abu Dawud (5095), and graded authentic by al-Albani.
Relying on Allah While Taking Practical Steps
Through this remembrance, you seek Allah's help, entrust your affairs to Him, and acknowledge that your ability to move from one condition to another and your strength to act come only through His help. This includes avoiding disobedience and doing what pleases Him. Reliance upon Allah, or tawakkul, is an act of worship of the heart directed to Allah alone. The heart depends on Him, and practical means bring benefit only by His permission.
{وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ وَمَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا}
Allah, the Most High, says: {And He provides for him from where he does not expect. Whoever relies upon Allah, He is sufficient for him. Allah surely accomplishes His purpose. Allah has set a measure for everything.} [At-Talaq: 3].
Reliance upon Allah does not mean abandoning permissible practical steps: lock your home and take care on your journey, while your heart relies upon Allah. Protection comes from Him, glorified is He. The hadith does not say that someone who recites the remembrance will never face a trial. To read more about remembrance at home, see How to Protect Your Home from Shaytan.
When leaving4
The Supplication for Seeking Refuge When Leaving
Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, never left her home without raising his gaze to the sky and saying:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَضِلَّ أَوْ أُضَلَّ، أَوْ أَزِلَّ أَوْ أُزَلَّ، أَوْ أَظْلِمَ أَوْ أُظْلَمَ، أَوْ أَجْهَلَ أَوْ يُجْهَلَ عَلَيَّ
"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 behaving foolishly or having others behave foolishly toward me."
Narrated by Abu Dawud (5094), and graded authentic by al-Albani.
You ask Allah not to let you go astray or be led astray by someone else, slip or be caused to slip, or wrong anyone or be wronged. Ignorance here includes foolishness and aggression, not merely a lack of information. The supplication brings together asking Allah to protect you from mistreating others and from their mistreatment of you.
You may say both this supplication and the earlier supplication of reliance upon Allah. Combining them is not obligatory, and their combined wording should not be attributed to a single hadith.
How Can a Muslim Put These Adhkar Into Daily Practice?
Children find it easier to learn these adhkar when they hear you say them at the right time. Say Allah's name when entering, greet them, and say the supplication for leaving when you go out. Explain the meaning in a way suited to their ages, and remind them gently if they forget.
These adhkar are recommended. Anyone who misses them does not need to offer an expiation or repeat their entry or exit.
Is There a Specific Authentic Supplication for Entering the Home Besides Saying Allah's Name?
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَ الْمَوْلِجِ وَخَيْرَ الْمَخْرَجِ
A supplication beginning with "O Allah, I ask You for the best of entering and the best of leaving" is reported in Sunan Abi Dawud (5096). Scholars differed over the authenticity of its report: Shaykh Ibn Baz graded it hasan, or sound, while al-Albani graded it weak. It should therefore not be described as authentic by scholarly agreement. The basic practice of remembering Allah when entering and greeting one's family, however, is supported by authentic evidence. You can maintain this practice without memorizing a lengthy supplication.
Should I Offer the Greeting if No One Is at Home?
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ
Yes. It is recommended to say: "Peace be upon us and upon Allah's righteous servants." In Al-Adab Al-Mufrad (1055), al-Bukhari reports that Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, instructed people to use this greeting when entering an uninhabited home. Al-Albani graded its chain of transmission hasan. This is a report from a Companion, not a hadith attributed directly to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. When your family is present, greet them in the usual way.
Should I Say the Supplication Every Time I Leave?
Yes. It is recommended every time you leave, whether you are going to work, to the masjid, or on a short errand. It is not limited to your first departure of the day.
May I Say the Supplication Without Having Memorized It Completely?
Yes. You may read it from a sheet of paper or a phone; you do not have to know it by heart. If you are able to speak, pronounce these adhkar with your tongue rather than merely looking at the words or passing them through your mind. Remembering Allah in the heart is also prescribed, but it is not the same as pronouncing the supplication. Try to learn its correct wording and meaning, and do not postpone remembrance until you have memorized it completely.
Are the Adhkar for Entering and Leaving Prescribed for Both Men and Women?
Yes. They are prescribed for men and women. The word "man" in some narrations does not make this remembrance exclusive to men.
Is Wudu Required for the Adhkar for Entering and Leaving the Home?
Wudu is not required for these adhkar and supplications. Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to remember Allah in all circumstances. Narrated by Muslim (373).
Should These Adhkar Be Repeated Three or Seven Times?
The hadiths mentioned do not prescribe a specific count of three or seven repetitions. Say the remembrance on its occasion, and do not assign it a fixed count as a Sunnah without evidence.
What Should I Do if I Forget the Remembrance When Entering or Leaving?
Remember Allah when you recall it, and make a point of saying it next time. You do not need to return to the door or act out entering or leaving again. Nor can we state with certainty that saying it later brings a virtue that the hadith specifically connects to the time of entering or leaving.
Does the Supplication for Leaving Replace Morning and Evening Adhkar?
No. Each remembrance has its own occasion. The supplication for leaving relates to going out of your home, whereas Morning Adhkar and Evening Adhkar relate to their respective times, even if you remain at home.
Is Greeting and Saying Allah's Name Enough to Enter Someone Else's Home?
No. Do not enter another person's home until you have permission. Saying Allah's name and offering the greeting do not replace permission. Allah, the Most High, says:
{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَدْخُلُوا بُيُوتًا غَيْرَ بُيُوتِكُمْ حَتَّى تَسْتَأْنِسُوا وَتُسَلِّمُوا عَلَى أَهْلِهَا ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ}
{O you who believe, do not enter homes other than your own until you seek permission and greet their occupants. That is better for you, so that you may take heed.} [An-Nur: 27].
What Is the Status of the Wording for Leaving Reported in Musnad Ahmad (471)?
This narration is reported in Musnad Ahmad (471). Ibn al-Qayyim graded its report hasan, while Shuayb al-Arnaut graded its chain weak. It should not be presented as a narration whose authenticity is agreed upon. For someone who wants to begin with an authentic remembrance, the earlier supplication reported by Anas is suitable. The meanings of mentioning Allah's name, believing in Him and seeking His protection are sound, but a sound meaning alone does not establish that a particular wording can be attributed to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.