The Etiquettes of Going to the Masjid
The etiquettes of attending the masjid are a crucial preparation for ṣalāh. Adhering to these is indicative of the respect and esteem you accord ṣalāh in your heart. They will also prepare you psychologically for your standing in front of the Supreme Creator.
a) Perform wuḍū thoroughly in accordance to the sunnah at home
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “No man purifies himself, and does it thoroughly, then goes to the masjid, except that Allah records a good deed for him for every step he takes, raises him a degree for it, and wipes away a sin from him for it” (Muslim).
b) Avoid smelling foul
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever has eaten garlic, onion or leek should stay away from our masjid, for indeed the angels are troubled by what the children of Ādam are troubled by” (Muslim).
c) Beautify yourself
Allah (‘azza wa jall) said, “O Children of Ādam, beautify yourselves at every masjid” (7:31). The Prophet ﷺ said, “Indeed Allah is Beautiful and loves beauty” (Muslim). Apply perfume (men only), and wear clean and appropriate clothing to the masjid.
d) Say the duʿā’ for leaving the house and the duʿā’ for walking to the masjid
When Leaving the Home #1
بِسْمِ اللهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللهِ ، لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهِ
Bismi-llāhi tawakkaltu ʿalal-llāh, lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā bi-llāh.
In the Name of Allah, I have placed my trust in Allah. There is no power (in averting evil) or strength (in attaining good) except through Allah. (Abū Dāwūd 5095, Tirmidhī 3426)
When Leaving the Home #2
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَضِلَّ أَوْ أُضَلَّ ، أَوْ أَزِلَّ أَوْ أُزَلَّ ، أَوْ أَظْلِمَ أَوْ أُظْلَمَ ، أَوْ أَجْهَلَ أَوْ يُجْهَلَ عَلَيَّ
Allāhumma innī aʿūdhu bika an aḍilla aw uḍalla, aw azilla aw uzalla, aw aẓlima aw uẓlama, aw ajhala aw yujhala ʿalayy.
O Allah, I seek Your protection from misguiding others or being misguided; from erring or others causing me to err; from oppressing others or being oppressed; and from acting ignorantly or others acting ignorantly towards me.
Whilst Going to the Masjid
اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْ فِيْ قَلْبِيْ نُوْرًا ، وَفِيْ بَصَرِيْ نُوْرًا ، وَفِيْ سَمْعِيْ نُوْرًا ، وَعَنْ يَّمِيْنِيْ نُوْرًا ، وَعَنْ يَّسَارِيْ نُوْرًا ، وَفَوْقِيْ نُوْرًا ، وَتَحْتِيْ نُوْرًا ، وَأَمَامِيْ نُوْرًا ، وَخَلْفِيْ نُوْرًا ، وَاجْعَلْ لِيْ نُوْرًا
Allāhumma-j-ʿal fī qalbī nūrā, wa fī baṣarī nūrā, wa fī samʿī nūrā, wa ʿay-yamīnī nūrā, wa ʿay-yasārī nūrā, wa fawqī nūrā, wa taḥtī nūrā, wa amāmī nūrā, wa khalfī nūrā, wa-j-ʿal lī nūrā.
O Allah, place light in my heart, light in my sight and light in my hearing. Place light on my right and place light on my left. Place light above me and place light beneath me. Place light in front of me, place light behind me and grant me light. (Bukhārī 6316, Muslim 763)
e) Walk with calmness and serenity
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “When you hear the iqāmah, walk to prayer with calmness and dignity, and do not hurry. Pray whatever you are able to pray and complete whatever you miss” (Bukhārī).
f) Enter the masjid with your right foot and recite the duʿā’
When Entering the Masjid #1
أَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ الْعَظِيْمِ ، وَبِوَجْهِهِ الْكَرِيْمِ ، وَسُلْطَانِهِ الْقَدِيْمِ ، مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيْمِ
Aʿūdhu bi-llāhi-l-ʿaẓīm, wa bi wajhihi-l-karīm, wa sulṭānihi-l-qadīm, mina-sh-Shayṭāni-r-rajīm.
I seek protection in Allah, the Supreme, His Noble Countenance, and His Eternal Authority from the accursed Shaytān. (Abū Dawūd 466)
When Entering the Masjid #2
بِسْمِ اللهِ ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَىٰ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ ذُنُوْبِيْ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِيْ أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
Bismi-llāh, wa-ṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūl-i-llāh, Allāhumma-ghfir lī dhunūbī, Allāhumma-f-taḥ lī abwāba raḥmatik.
In the Name of Allah. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, forgive my sins. O Allah, open the gates of Your mercy for me. (Composite: Ibn al-Sunnī 88, Abū Dawūd 465, Ibn Mājah 771, Muslim 713)
g) Perform taḥiyyat al-masjid
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “When one of you enters the masjid, he should not sit until he has prayed two rakʿāhs” (Bukhārī).
h) Go early so that you can sit in the first row and preferably at the right side of the imām.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “If the people knew what is the reward of announcing the call for the prayer and of being in the first row (in the congregation), and then they found no other way to get this privilege except by casting lots, they would certainly cast lots for it” (Bukhārī).
He ﷺ also said, “Indeed Allah and His Angels send blessings on the right side of the rows” (Abū Dāwūd).
i) Make the intention to wait for ṣalāh
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The servant is constantly in prayer so long as he is in his place of worship waiting for the prayer. The Angels say, ‘O Allah, pardon him. O Allah, have mercy upon him…’” (Muslim).
j) Exit the masjid with your left foot and recite the duʿā’
Ibn ʿUmar (radiy Allāhū ‘anhumā) used to enter with his right foot first and exit with his left foot first (Bukhārī).
When Leaving the Masjid #1
بِسْمِ اللهِ ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَىٰ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
Bismi-llāh, wa-ṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā rasūl-illāh, allāhumma innī as’aluka min faḍlik.
In the Name of Allah. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, I ask You from Your bounty. (Composite: Ibn Mājah 771, Ibn al-Sunnī 88, Muslim 713)
When Leaving the Masjid #2
اَللّٰهُمَّ اعْصِمْنِيْ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيْمِ
Allāhumma-ʿṣimnī mina-sh-shayṭāni-r-rajīm.
O Allah, protect me from the rejected Shaytān. (Ibn Mājah 773)
