The dua for entering the Masjid is:
اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
Transliteration: Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik.
English Meaning: "O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy."
This supplication is authentically reported from Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in Sahih Muslim 713a. Muslims should also send peace and blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ when entering the Masjid.
The words Masjid and mosque refer to the same place of Muslim worship, so the dua for entering a mosque is the same.
This guide covers the authentic duas for entering and leaving the Masjid in Arabic, transliteration and English, along with other relevant supplications established in the Sunnah.
What Is the Dua for Entering Masjid?
The short and authentic entering Masjid dua is:
Arabic
اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
Transliteration
Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik.
English Meaning
"O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy."
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ instructed Muslims to say this when entering the Masjid. Sahih Muslim 713a records it.
This is the principal dua to remember if you are looking for the dua when entering the Masjid, the mosque entrance dua, or the dua before entering the Masjid.
Complete Sunnah Dua When Entering the Masjid
Another authentic narration teaches that a Muslim should first send peace and blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ and then ask Allah to open the doors of His mercy.
A simple way to follow this Sunnah is:
Arabic
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ
اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
Transliteration
Allahumma salli wa sallim 'ala Muhammad.
Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik.
English Meaning
"O Allah, send Your blessings and peace upon Muhammad."
"O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy."
Sunan Ibn Majah 772 reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ instructed a person entering the mosque to send peace upon the Prophet ﷺ and then say, "Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik."
Important: The hadith establishes sending salam upon the Prophet ﷺ before the entrance dua; it does not restrict Muslims to one particular salawat formula in this narration.
Another Authentic Dua for Entering the Masjid
There is another longer supplication authentically reported for entering the Masjid:
Arabic
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ، وَبِوَجْهِهِ الْكَرِيمِ، وَسُلْطَانِهِ الْقَدِيمِ، مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
Transliteration
A'udhu billahil-'Azim, wa bi-wajhihil-karim, wa sultanihil-qadim, minash-shaytanir-rajim.
English Meaning
"I seek refuge in Allah the Magnificent, in His Noble Face and His eternal authority, from the accursed Satan."
This dua is reported from Abdullah ibn Amr رضي الله عنهما in Sunan Abi Dawud 466 and is graded Sahih by Al-Albani. The narration states that when it is recited, Satan says that the person has been protected from him for the rest of that day.
Therefore, both this supplication and "Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik" have authentic evidence connected with entering the Masjid.
Dua for Entering Masjid in English
The English meaning of the main dua is:
"O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy."
The Arabic wording is:
اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
Learning the Arabic lets you recite the supplication as transmitted, while understanding its English meaning helps you know what you are asking of Allah.
Should You Enter the Masjid With the Right Foot?
Islamic etiquette establishes that you enter the Masjid with the right foot first and leave with the left foot first.
Sahih al-Bukhari records that Abdullah ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما would enter the mosque beginning with his right foot and leave beginning with his left. Aishah رضي الله عنها also reported that the Prophet ﷺ preferred the right side in good and honourable matters whenever possible.
A simple sequence when entering the Masjid is:
Enter with the right foot.
Send peace and blessings upon Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Recite اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ.
You may also recite the authentic supplication seeking Allah's protection from Shaytan mentioned above.
Dua for Leaving Masjid
The authentic dua for leaving Masjid is:
Arabic
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
Transliteration
Allahumma inni as'aluka min fadlik.
English Meaning
"O Allah, I ask You from Your bounty."
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught Muslims to say this supplication when leaving the mosque. Sahih Muslim 713a records it.
The entering and leaving duas are easy to distinguish: when entering the Masjid, you ask Allah for His mercy, and when leaving, you ask Allah for His bounty.
Complete Sunnah Dua When Leaving the Masjid
Another authentic narration mentions sending peace and blessings upon Prophet Muhammad ﷺ before reciting the dua when leaving the Masjid.
Arabic
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
Transliteration
Allahumma salli wa sallim 'ala Muhammad.
Allahumma inni as’aluka min fadlik.
English Meaning
"O Allah, send Your blessings and peace upon Muhammad."
"O Allah, I ask You from Your bounty."
This practice is reported in Sunan Ibn Majah 772, which mentions sending salam upon the Prophet ﷺ when entering and leaving the mosque, followed by the appropriate supplication.
Another Authentic Dua When Leaving the Masjid
A longer authentic wording is also reported for leaving the mosque:
Arabic
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ، اللَّهُمَّ اعْصِمْنِي مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
Transliteration
Bismillah, was-salamu ala Rasulillah. Allahumma inni as'aluka min fadlik. Allahumma'simni minash-shaytanir-rajim.
English Meaning
"In the name of Allah, and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, I ask You from Your bounty. O Allah, protect me from the accursed Satan."
This wording is reported in Sunan Ibn Majah 773 from Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه. It provides another relevant supplication for a Muslim leaving the Masjid.
Dua for Entering and Leaving Masjid
The two main duas can be remembered together:
Occasion | Dua | English Meaning |
Entering Masjid | اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ | O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy. |
Leaving Masjid | اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ | O Allah, I ask You from Your bounty. |
Both are authentically reported together in Sahih Muslim 713a.
This also means there is no separate dua simply because someone searches for a dua for entering the mosque or leaving the mosque. Masjid and mosque refer to the same place, and the Sunnah supplications remain the same.
Which Foot Should You Use When Leaving the Masjid?
When leaving the Masjid, the established etiquette is to step out with the left foot first.
This complements entering the Masjid with the right foot first. Abdullah ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما was reported to enter the mosque with his right foot and leave with his left.
A simple sequence when leaving is:
Step out with the left foot.
Send peace and blessings upon Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Recite اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ.
You may also ask Allah to protect you from Shaytan as mentioned in the longer narration.
Dua for Going to the Masjid
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also taught a beautiful dua connected with going to the Masjid. Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما reported that the Prophet ﷺ supplicated:
Arabic
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ فِي قَلْبِي نُورًا، وَفِي لِسَانِي نُورًا، وَاجْعَلْ فِي سَمْعِي نُورًا، وَاجْعَلْ فِي بَصَرِي نُورًا، وَاجْعَلْ مِنْ خَلْفِي نُورًا، وَمِنْ أَمَامِي نُورًا، وَاجْعَلْ مِنْ فَوْقِي نُورًا، وَمِنْ تَحْتِي نُورًا، اللَّهُمَّ أَعْطِنِي نُورًا
Transliteration
Allahummaj'al fi qalbi nuran, wa fi lisani nuran, waj'al fi sam'i nuran, waj'al fi basari nuran, waj'al min khalfi nuran, wa min amami nuran, waj'al min fawqi nuran, wa min tahti nuran. Allahumma a'tini nuran.
English Meaning
"O Allah, place light in my heart, light on my tongue, light in my hearing and light in my sight. Place light behind me, before me, above me and beneath me. O Allah, grant me light."
A version of this supplication is recorded in Sahih Muslim 763 in the narration describing the Prophet's ﷺ night prayer and his going out for the prayer.
Therefore, someone looking for a dua for going to the Masjid can recite this authentic supplication, while understanding that it differs from the specific dua recited at the Masjid entrance.
Dua for Entering Masjid al-Haram
There is no separate authentic dua specifically prescribed for entering Masjid al-Haram in Makkah. The authentic dua for entering any Masjid can also be recited when entering Masjid al-Haram:
Arabic
اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
Transliteration
Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik.
English Meaning
"O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy."
This dua is authentically reported in Sahih Muslim 713a for entering the Masjid. Since no separate entrance dua has been authentically established specifically for Masjid al-Haram, pilgrims can recite the general Sunnah dua when entering.
This is important because several longer supplications are sometimes circulated online as a special dua for entering Masjid al-Haram. Still, they should not be attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ without authentic evidence.
Dua When Seeing the Kaaba for the First Time
No specific dua is authentically established from Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to recite when seeing the Kaaba for the first time.
A pilgrim may make any beneficial dua, praise Allah, perform dhikr and ask Him for whatever is good in this life and the Hereafter.
For example, a comprehensive Qur'anic dua that may be recited is:
Arabic
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Transliteration
Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina 'adhaban-nar.
English Meaning
"Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire."
This dua comes from Qur'an 2:201. It is a general supplication and should not be presented as a special Sunnah dua specifically prescribed for the first sight of the Kaaba.
Dua for Entering Masjid an-Nabawi
When entering Masjid an-Nabawi (the Prophet's Mosque) in Madinah, the same authentic Masjid entrance dua can be recited:
Arabic
اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
Transliteration
Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik.
English Meaning
"O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy."
You do not need to replace the established Masjid entrance dua with a separate formula simply because you are entering the Prophet's Mosque.
After entering, a Muslim may pray Tahiyyatul Masjid before sitting and then follow the appropriate etiquette for visiting the Prophet's Mosque.
Dua for Entering Masjid al-Aqsa
The same principle applies when entering Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem. There is no separate authentic entrance dua that a Muslim is required to recite specifically for Masjid al-Aqsa.
Recite the general Masjid dua:
اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik.
“O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy.”
This keeps the practice consistent with the authentic Sunnah while avoiding supplications incorrectly presented as location-specific prophetic duas.
What Is Tahiyyatul Masjid?
Tahiyyatul Masjid means the prayer offered upon entering a mosque before sitting down.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that when one of you enters the mosque, he should not sit until he has prayed two rak'ahs. This instruction is authentically recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 444 and Sahih Muslim 714.
The basic practice is:
Enter the Masjid with the right foot.
Recite the authentic dua for entering the Masjid.
Pray two rak'ahs of Tahiyyatul Masjid before sitting, when applicable.
Tahiyyatul Masjid is a two-rak'ah prayer, not another entrance dua.
Is There a Special Dua After Entering the Masjid?
There is no need to search for a different fixed dua to recite immediately after the established entrance supplications.
The principal Sunnah entrance dua remains:
اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
A Muslim can then engage in salah, Qur'an recitation, dhikr and personal dua while inside the Masjid.
The key distinction is that authentic prescribed duas should be attributed to the Sunnah only when supported by evidence. At the same time, personal supplications can be made for any permissible need without presenting them as a fixed prophetic formula.
When Should You Recite the Dua for Entering Masjid?
The dua for entering Masjid should be recited as you enter the mosque. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ instructed Muslims to say:
Arabic
اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
Transliteration
Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik.
English Meaning
"O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy."
When leaving the Masjid, recite:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
Allahumma inni as’aluka min fadlik.
“O Allah, I ask You from Your bounty.”
Both instructions are reported together in Sahih Muslim 713a.
What If You Forget the Dua When Entering the Masjid?
If you forget to recite the entrance dua, there is no need to worry or repeat your entrance. The dua is a remembrance connected with entering the Masjid, not a condition for entering the mosque or for the validity of your prayer.
You can continue with your worship and remember Allah through salah, Qur'an recitation, dhikr and personal dua.
For future visits, try to remember:
Entering = Allah's Mercy
Leaving = Allah's Bounty
This makes the two authentic duas easier to memorise.
Can You Recite the Masjid Dua in English?
The Sunnah preserves the dua for entering the mosque in Arabic, so learning and reciting the transmitted Arabic wording is best:
اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
If you are still learning Arabic, you can use the transliteration to help memorise the words:
Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik.
Understanding the English meaning, "O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy", is also important because it helps you understand what you are asking Allah for.
Entering and Leaving Masjid Dua at a Glance
Practice | Entering Masjid | Leaving Masjid |
Foot | Right foot first | Left foot first |
Main dua | اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ | اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ |
Transliteration | Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik | Allahumma inni as’aluka min fadlik |
Meaning | O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy | O Allah, I ask You from Your bounty |
Reference | Sahih Muslim 713a | Sahih Muslim 713a |
The same duas apply whether you call the place a Masjid or a mosque. Sahih Muslim records the supplications for entering and exiting together.
Remembering the Dua for Entering and Leaving Masjid
The authentic dua for entering Masjid is:
اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik.
"O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy."
When leaving the Masjid, say:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
Allahumma inni as’aluka min fadlik.
“O Allah, I ask You from Your bounty.”
These short supplications are authentically established in Sahih Muslim 713a and apply whether the place is called a Masjid or a mosque.
