Duas for Entering and Leaving the Home
The two short, life-changing prophetic supplications for the doorway — keeping the home a place of mercy and the street a place of guidance, sufficiency, and protection.
The Home in the Sunnah: A Place of Worship and Protection
The home in Islam is more than shelter — it is the first masjid of every Muslim. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "Pray in your houses and do not turn them into graves" (Sahih al-Bukhari 432), meaning a house empty of Qur'an, prayer, and remembrance becomes spiritually dead. He also warned that a home in which the name of Allah is mentioned at entry, and food is eaten with bismillah, gives Shaytan no place to stay or eat (Sahih Muslim 2018). Conversely, a home entered in silence and dined in without remembrance offers Shaytan both lodging and dinner. The two short duas below — one for entering, one for leaving — are the prophetic key to keeping the home a place of mercy and the street a place of safety.
The Du'a for Entering the Home
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَلَجْنَا، وَبِسْمِ اللَّهِ خَرَجْنَا، وَعَلَى اللَّهِ رَبِّنَا تَوَكَّلْنَا
Transliteration: Bismi-Llahi walajna, wa bismi-Llahi kharajna, wa 'ala-Llahi Rabbina tawakkalna.
Translation: "In the name of Allah we enter, and in the name of Allah we leave, and upon Allah our Lord we rely."
Source: Sunan Abu Dawud 5096 — narrated by Abu Malik al-Ash'ari (RA). The Prophet ﷺ then said the person should give salam to his family. It is also Sunnah to enter with the right foot.
A second, complementary entering-dua reported by Jabir ibn 'Abdullah (RA) in Sahih Muslim 2018 includes mentioning the name of Allah at the door — at which Shaytan tells his companions: "You have no lodging here, and no dinner."
The Du'a for Leaving the Home
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
Transliteration: Bismi-Llah, tawakkaltu 'ala-Llah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa bi-Llah.
Translation: "In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah, and there is no might nor power except with Allah."
Source: Sunan Abu Dawud 5095 and Sunan al-Tirmidhi 3426 (sahih) — Anas ibn Malik (RA) reports the Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever says this when leaving his house, it is said to him: 'You are guided, you are sufficed, you are protected.' And Shaytan moves aside from him." It is also Sunnah to step out with the left foot.
Extended Adhkar of the Home
- Salam to the family: Even an empty house — Allah commands in Surah an-Nur 24:61: "When you enter houses, greet one another with a greeting from Allah, blessed and good." If no one is there, say: "As-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadi-Llahi-s-salihin."
- Surah al-Baqarah: The Prophet ﷺ said: "Do not turn your houses into graves. Indeed, Shaytan flees from the house in which Surah al-Baqarah is recited" (Sahih Muslim 780).
- Bismillah at meals and at the door: Cuts off Shaytan's lodging and dinner (Sahih Muslim 2018).
- Sleeping adhkar: Ayatul Kursi, the last two verses of al-Baqarah, and the Mu'awwidhat — see our duas before sleeping.
- Morning & evening adhkar: Recited from within the home each day — see our morning & evening adhkar.
The Du'a for Entering a New Home
When moving into a new house or arriving at unfamiliar lodging, the Prophet ﷺ taught:
أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
Transliteration: A'udhu bi-kalimati-Llahi-t-tammati min sharri ma khalaq.
Source: Sahih Muslim 2708. "Whoever stops at a place and says this, nothing will harm him until he leaves it." Recite three times when arriving anywhere new.
Common Questions
What if I forget the du'a when entering or leaving?
Say it as soon as you remember, even after sitting down. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever forgets to mention Allah's name at the start, let him say: Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirah" (Sunan Abu Dawud 3767) — the same principle applies to the home dua.
Do I need to recite out loud?
Audible is preferred so the family hears and remembers, but a sincere whisper is sufficient. Teaching children to say the dua at the doorway is one of the easiest Sunnahs to instil.
Does the dua replace locking the door?
No. The Prophet ﷺ commanded: "Close your doors and mention the name of Allah" (Sahih al-Bukhari 5623). Du'a and lawful precaution are taught together, never as substitutes for one another.
Which foot enters first?
The right foot enters the home (a place of comfort), and the left foot leads when leaving. The opposite applies to the toilet — left foot enters, right foot leaves. The Sunnah pattern is: right foot for honoured places, left foot for less honoured.