Prayer for Entering a House and the Sunnah of Greeting
Praying and greeting the household while entering the house is a Sunnah for Muslims.
Abu Malik (may God be pleased with him) says:
عَنْ أَبِي مَالِكٍ الْأَشْعَرِيِّ رَضِىَ اللّهُ عَنْهُ ، قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : ” إِذَا وَلَجَ الرَّجُلُ بَيْتَهُ ، فَلْيَقُلْ : اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَ الْمَوْلَجِ وَخَيْرَ الْمَخْرَجِ ، بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَلَجْنَا وَبِسْمِ اللَّهِ خَرَجْنَا وَعَلَى اللَّهِ رَبِّنَا تَوَكَّلْنَا ، ثُمَّ لِيُسَلِّمْ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ “
The Prophet (phub) said: When a man goes into his house, he should say: “O Allah! I ask Thee for good both when entering and when going out; in the name of Allah we have entered, and in the name of Allah we have gone out, and in Allah our Lord do we trust.” He should then greet his family.
Abi Dawud, General Behavior (Kitab Al-Adab) 102 (5096)
In the Qur’an, believers are asked to greet their household when entering the house:
- “O you who have believed, do not enter houses other than your own houses until you ascertain welcome and greet their inhabitants. That is best for you; perhaps you will be reminded.”1
- “…when you enter houses, give greetings of peace upon each other – a greeting from Allah, blessed and good…”2
Our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) put excessive emphasis on this Sunnah. In a counsel he gave to Anas ibn Malik (may God be pleased with him), he expressed the importance of this greeting as follows:
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me: ‘O my little son! When you enter upon your family then give the Salam, it will be a blessing for you and upon the inhabitants of your house.”
Tirmidhi, Chapters on Seeking Permission 10 (2698)
