Dua for Entering the Masjid | A Doorway to Divine Mercy
الحمد لله — All praise and gratitude belong to Allah ﷻ, the Lord of the worlds. It is He who has honoured us with Islam, a complete way of life that merges the physical with the spiritual, and elevates even our most routine acts into opportunities for worship and nearness to Him. Among these sacred acts is entering the Masjid — the house of Allah — a space where hearts find tranquility and souls are reconnected with their Creator.
Every step toward the masjid is a step toward Allah’s mercy, and it is from the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to begin this sacred act with a special duʿāʾ (supplication).
The Supplication for Entering the Masjid
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ، اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
Transliteration:
Bismillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Allāhumma iftaḥ lī abwāba raḥmatik.
Translation:
“In the name of Allah. And peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy.”
Source:
Narrated by Muslim in his Ṣaḥīḥ, Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer, 713.
Hadith reference: Sahih Muslim 713 – Sunnah.com
Reflections on the Supplication
This beautiful duʿāʾ exemplifies the humility of the believer before entering a sacred space. We begin in the name of Allah, invoking His presence. Then, we send salutations upon the Prophet ﷺ, honoring the one through whom this guidance was conveyed. Finally, we ask for Allah’s mercy — His divine tenderness, forgiveness, and compassion — to envelop us as we step into His house.
“Indeed, My Mercy encompasses all things.”
— (Qur’an, Surah Al-Aʿrāf 7:156)
(وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ)
Why This Dua Matters
The Masjid is not simply a place of prayer — it is a sanctuary for the heart. Reciting this duʿāʾ serves as:
- A reminder of purpose: that we enter seeking closeness to Allah.
- A request for spiritual cleansing, just as wudūʾ purifies the body.
- An affirmation of our reliance on Allah’s mercy for every act of worship to be accepted.
The Prophet ﷺ taught us that Allah’s mercy is greater than any sin, purer than any heart, and vaster than the heavens. By saying this duʿāʾ, we ask to enter the Masjid not just physically — but spiritually, entering a state of tranquility, humility, and love for Allah ﷻ.
A Sunnah Practice With Great Reward
Entering the Masjid with the right foot, reciting this duʿāʾ, and offering two units (rakʿāt) of prayer — tahiyyatul-masjid — are all part of the prophetic tradition. These acts prepare the believer’s heart and soul for communion with the Divine.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“When one of you enters the mosque, let him pray two rakʿāt before sitting.”
— Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (444), Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (714)
Let this duʿāʾ be our constant companion — a spiritual key to the doors of mercy that Allah ﷻ has promised to those who turn to Him. As we recite it, may we internalize its meaning, feel the weight of its words, and stand in the masjid with hearts softened by love and awe of our Lord.
اللَّهُمَّ اجعلنا من عُمّار المساجد، وافتح لنا أبواب رحمتك دائمًا وأبدًا. آمين.
O Allah, make us among those who frequent the mosques, and always open for us the doors of Your mercy. Amīn.
The Rewards of Going to the Masjid in the Qur’an and Hadith
Alhamdulillāh, the masājid (mosques) are among the most beloved places to Allah ﷻ on the earth. They are not only places of worship but centers of spiritual refinement, unity, and community growth. Islam gives immense importance to going to the masjid, and the Qur’an and Sunnah contain numerous promises of reward for those who attend it regularly.
1. Masjids Are Houses of Allah ﷻ
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿فِي بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ اللَّهُ أَنْ تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ﴾
“Fī buyūtin adhina Allāhu an turfaʿa wa yudhkara fīhā ismuhu…”
Translation: “In houses (masājid) which Allah has ordered to be raised, in them His Name is mentioned.”
Surah An-Nūr (24:36)
➡️ Quran.com/24/36
The masjid is a place chosen by Allah for His remembrance. Being present in such a place connects the believer to the Divine in a unique and elevated way.
2. Going to the Masjid Raises One’s Rank in Jannah
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«مَنْ غَدَا إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ أَوْ رَاحَ، أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُ نُزُلًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ، كُلَّمَا غَدَا أَوْ رَاحَ»
“Man ghadā ilā al-masjidi aw rāḥ, aʿadda Allāhu lahu nuzulan fī al-jannah, kullamā ghadā aw rāḥ.”
Translation: “Whoever goes to the masjid in the morning or evening, Allah prepares for him a place in Paradise every time he goes.”
📘 Sahih al-Bukhari (662), Sahih Muslim (669)
Each trip to the masjid, even if it’s close by, is counted as a journey that earns Jannah.
3. Every Step Toward the Masjid is a Reward
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«…فَكُلُّ خَطْوَةٍ يَخْطُوهَا إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ تَرْفَعُهُ بِهَا دَرَجَةً، وَيُحَطُّ عَنْهُ بِهَا خَطِيئَةٌ»
“…fa kullu khaṭwah yakhṭūhā ilā aṣ-ṣalāh, tarfaʿuhu bihā darajah, wa yuḥaṭṭu ʿanhu bihā khaṭī’ah.”
Translation: “…every step he takes toward the prayer will raise him one degree and erase one sin.”
📘 Sahih Muslim (666)
This means that merely walking to the masjid earns a reward for every step taken!
4. Prayer in Congregation is Superior
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«صَلَاةُ الْجَمَاعَةِ تَفْضُلُ صَلَاةَ الْفَذِّ بِسَبْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ دَرَجَةً»
“Ṣalātul-jamāʿah tafḍulu ṣalāta al-fadh bisebʿin wa ʿishrīn darajah.”
Translation: “The congregational prayer is twenty-seven times more rewarding than a prayer offered alone.”
📘 Sahih al-Bukhari (645), Sahih Muslim (650)
This shows how much more Allah rewards those who join others in the masjid for prayer.
5. Love of the Masjid is a Sign of Faith
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الرَّجُلَ يَعْتَادُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَاشْهَدُوا لَهُ بِالْإِيمَانِ»
“Idhā ra’aytumu ar-rajula yaʿtādu al-masjid, fash-hadū lahu bil-īmān.”
Translation: “If you see a man regularly going to the masjid, testify to his faith.”
Sunan Ibn Mājah (802), Graded Hasan by Al-Albani
➡️ Sunnah.com/ibnmajah:802
Attending the masjid is a visible sign of one’s devotion and sincerity in Islam.
6. Those Whose Hearts Are Attached to the Masjid Will Be Under Allah’s Shade
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«…وَرَجُلٌ قَلْبُهُ مُعَلَّقٌ بِالْمَسَاجِدِ…»
“…wa rajulun qalbuhu muʿallaqun bil-masājid…”
Translation: “…and a man whose heart is attached to the masājid…”
He will be one of the seven shaded by Allah on the Day of Judgment.
Sahih al-Bukhari (660), Sahih Muslim (1031)
7. Rebuilding or Supporting a Masjid Brings Immense Reward
(إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ)
“Innamā yaʿmuru masājidallāhi man āmana billāhi wal-yawmil-ākhir…”
Translation: “The mosques of Allah are only to be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day…”
Surah At-Tawbah (9:18)
➡️ Quran.com/9/18
Supporting, maintaining, or frequenting the masjid is a sign of belief.
Frequenting the masjid is not just an act of ritual; it is a manifestation of faith, a source of spiritual elevation, and a pathway to Paradise. Every step, every prayer, and every intention to walk toward the masjid is met by a divine reward that cleanses sins and raises a believer’s status in the sight of Allah.
May Allah ﷻ make us among those whose hearts are connected to the masājid and who find peace in prayer within them. .