Muslims are encouraged to remember Allah in all aspects of their lives. Among the established remembrances is the dua when leaving the home, which expresses reliance upon Allah and seeking His guidance, protection, and support.
One of the well-known supplications reported from the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, when leaving the home is:
“In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah, and there is no power or strength except through Allah.”
The hadith states that the person who says this is told that he has been guided, sufficed, and protected, while Satan moves away from him.
Another established supplication reported from Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, is:
“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from going astray or causing others to go astray, from slipping or causing others to slip, from wronging others or being wronged, and from acting ignorantly or being treated ignorantly.”
This dua reflects the believer’s need for Allah’s protection from error, injustice, misguidance, and harmful behavior.
General Duas When Leaving the Home
In addition to the established Sunnah remembrances, Muslims may make general supplications for any lawful good they seek. Such personal duas should not be presented as prophetic hadiths unless they are authentically reported from the Prophet.
Examples include:
- O Allah, protect me from what is before me, behind me, on my right, on my left, and above me.
- O Allah, make my departure a source of goodness and blessing, and make my affairs easy.
- O Allah, protect me with Your protection and return me safely to my family.
- O Allah, open for me the doors of Your provision, mercy, and guidance.
- O Allah, keep evil and harm away from me and guide me to what You love and are pleased with.
- O Allah, keep me under Your protection and security wherever I go.
- O Allah, make every difficult matter easy for me and keep away whatever may harm me.
- O Allah, grant me safety, well-being, and a good outcome as I go out.
- O Allah, bless my time, work, and journey.
- O Allah, let me be among those who rely upon You and receive Your support.
- O Allah, suffice me against everything that worries, saddens, or frightens me.
- O Allah, grant me goodness in what I seek and turn evil away from me wherever it may be.
- O Allah, make this day a beginning of goodness, relief, and ease.
- O Allah, protect my family and home, and protect me for their sake from every harm.
- O Allah, grant me a peaceful heart, a content soul, and confidence in You.
- O Allah, guide my steps toward goodness and enable me to do what You love and are pleased with.
- O Allah, return me home safely and peacefully, and bless my family and home.
The Sunnah Dua for Leaving the Home
The established remembrance for leaving the home includes:
“In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah, and there is no power or strength except through Allah.”
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, also taught the supplication seeking protection from misguidance, mistakes, injustice, and ignorance.
These remembrances encourage the Muslim to leave home with a conscious reliance upon Allah and recognition that true protection and guidance come from Him.
Is Praying Two Rak'ahs Before Leaving the Home a Sunnah?
A narration mentions praying two rak'ahs when leaving the home and two rak'ahs when entering it. However, scholars of hadith have discussed the strength and authenticity of this narration.
Therefore, it should not be presented with the same certainty as the established remembrances for leaving the home. Voluntary prayer itself is a valid act of worship when performed at an appropriate time, but the specific practice should not be described as a firmly established Sunnah without qualification.
Dua When Entering the Home
One of the etiquettes of entering the home is to remember Allah and greet the people inside with peace. Allah says:
“So when you enter houses, greet one another with a greeting from Allah, blessed and good.”
The Sunnah also teaches that remembering Allah when entering the home and when eating prevents Satan from having a place to stay and eat.
Greeting family members upon entering also promotes blessing, affection, and good relations within the household.
General duas that may be made when entering the home include:
- O Allah, make this home a place of tranquility, affection, and mercy.
- O Allah, bless my home and family and protect us from every harm.
- O Allah, grant the people of this home health, well-being, and peace.
- O Allah, make our home filled with Your remembrance and obedience.
- O Allah, keep sadness, worry, and conflict away from our home.
- O Allah, bless our home with provision, time, and good deeds.
- O Allah, make our entry into our homes an entry of goodness, peace, and security.
- O Allah, protect my family from every harm.
- O Allah, fill our home with love, mercy, and good companionship.
- O Allah, make our home a place of goodness, worship, and tranquility.
- O Allah, forgive us, our parents, and our families, and bless our days.
- O Allah, grant us good remembrance, good character, and a good ending.
- O Allah, place light, guidance, and blessing in our home.
- O Allah, keep every form of evil and harm away from our household.
- O Allah, grant us contentment, satisfaction, and peace of heart.
- O Allah, unite the hearts of our family upon goodness and affection.
- O Allah, expand our provision and bless what You have given us.
- O Allah, make our homes places of faith, Quran, and remembrance.
What Should a Muslim Say When Entering the Home?
The basic etiquette is to remember Allah and greet the people of the household with peace. The Muslim should also remember Allah when entering and before eating.
The phrase “In the name of Allah we enter, in the name of Allah we leave, and upon our Lord we rely” has been reported in a hadith, but its narration should not be presented as an unquestionably established independent formula without noting the scholarly discussion regarding its authenticity.
The essential practice is to maintain remembrance of Allah and greet the household, while making any lawful personal supplication.
The Importance of Remembering Allah When Leaving and Entering
Remembering Allah when leaving the home helps the believer renew reliance upon Allah and recognize that guidance, protection, and sufficiency ultimately come from Him.
Remembering Allah and greeting the family upon entering also helps bring tranquility and affection into the home and keeps the household connected to remembrance and worship.
What is the best dua when leaving the home?
Among the established remembrances is: “In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah, and there is no power or strength except through Allah.”
What dua can be said for protection when leaving home?
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, taught a supplication seeking protection from misguidance, mistakes, injustice, and ignorance.
What should a Muslim do when entering the home?
Remember Allah and greet the people of the household with peace, while remembering Allah when entering and before eating.
Can Muslims make personal duas when leaving the home?
Yes. Muslims may make any lawful personal supplication, as long as an unsourced dua is not falsely attributed to the Prophet.
Is praying two rak'ahs before leaving home an established Sunnah?
A narration mentions this practice, but its authenticity has been discussed by hadith scholars, so it should not be described as a firmly established Sunnah without qualification.
