Dua for leaving the mosque

A Mosque (Masjid) is the most revered place of worship. When a believer enters the Mosque, it is a sort of spiritual and physical disconnection from worldly affairs that enables them to focus completely on worship and remembrance of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ. Ideally, the time spent inside a mosque should be entirely utilized for prayer (salah) and other acts of worship, such as recitation of the Quran. But one has to leave this most sacred place for daily life routines. Leaving a mosque is therefore not just leaving it physically, but it also marks a spiritual transition from purely a religious environment to that of worldly affairs. That’s why reciting a specific Dua for leaving the mosque holds great significance in Islam.

The Dua to be recited upon leaving the mosque is one of the most powerful duas for asking Allah's blessings. Reciting dua upon leaving the mosque is part of the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad( ), and it has been heavily reported in the various Hadith books since many companions of the Prophet Muhammad( )  saw him reciting this dua.

The dua is a beautiful way of asking Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) for His limitless bounties (Sunan an-Nasa'i 729). The same has been reported by Abu Usaid al-Ansari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) in (Sunan Abi Dawud 465) and (Sahih Muslim 713 a). The Dua upon leaving the mosque was also mentioned in a narration by Abu Humaid As-Sa'idi (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) in (Sunan Ibn Majah 772). One can gauge the significance of the dua from these numerous ahadith narrations.

Hisnul Muslim

Upon leaving the mosque

Prayer Duas

1
بِسْمِ اللّهِ وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللّهِ، اَللَّهُـمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْـلِكَ، اَللَّهُـمَّ اعْصِمْنِـي مِنَ الشَّيْـطَانِ الرَّجِـيمِ

Bismillaahi wassalaatu wassalaamu 'alaa Rasoolillaahi, Allaahumma 'innee 'as'aluka min fadhlika, Allaahumma'simnee minash-Shaytaanir-rajeem.

In the Name of Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, I ask for Your favor, O Allah, protect me from Satan the outcast.

[Hisnul 21] [Abu Dawud 1/126, Sahih Al-Jami' 1/528, Muslim 1/494. Sahih Ibn Majah 1/128-129.]

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِك  – (Allahumma inni as’aluka min fadlik)

Translation – “O Allah! I beg of Thee Thy Grace”

Dua For Leaving Masjid

Following Dua on leaving the mosque is the most popular and strongly emphasized Dua, as also mentioned in Hadith 713a of Sahih Muslim.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ

(Allahumma inni as’aluka min fadlik)

Dua For Leaving Mosque in English

O Allah! I beg of Thee Thy Grace.

A simple English version of this Dua is as follows:

O Allah, I ask You from Your bounty.

Dua For Leaving Mosque in Arabic

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ

Importance of Dua on Exiting the Mosque

The Dua on exiting the Masjid (Mosque) holds great significance in Islamic teachings. When we leave the mosque, a place specifically meant for worship and remembrance of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, we are, in fact, coming out of a purely religious environment and going back to worldly life. Reciting this Dua at this most thoughtful moment is therefore very important.

  • Recitation of this Dua while leaving the Mosque is a way of requesting Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ to enable us to continue and maintain a spiritual connection with Him. It is a sort of request to help us remember Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ during all our worldly matters.
  • Reciting this Dua, when going out of a Mosque, means that a Muslim is seeking Allah’s سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ “Fadl" (bounties). It means we are seeking His Blessings, physically, materially, emotionally, and above all, spiritually. This Dua also reflects our complete reliance on Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ in every aspect of our lives.
  • This Dua also reflects the emotional and spiritual impact on a Muslim, which may affect them while re-entering the daily life routine. When inside a mosque, we are in a totally religious atmosphere and practically cut off from worldly life. When moving away from a mosque, there is every likelihood that one may completely indulge in routine daily life. Hence, reciting this Dua on leaving the mosque acts like a bridge between the religious and worldly affairs, while totally relying on the Blessings and Bounties of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ.

The Etiquettes of Reciting Dua Upon Leaving the Mosque

  • Always step out of the Mosque with your left foot first.
  • Recite the specific Dua for leaving the mosque, consciously, with a clear reflection of its meanings. Make sure not to recite it just like a mechanical repetition; it should come out of your soul.
  • Sending Durood on the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ is strongly recommended by scholars before or after reciting any Dua. So, when reciting the specific Dua for leaving the mosque, remember to send Durood on the Prophet, invariably.
  • While leaving Masjid, ensure to maintain humility and calmness, avoid talking loudly, and don’t immediately divert your attention towards daily activities.

Benefits of Reciting Dua Upon Leaving the Mosque

The benefits of reciting this Dua on leaving the Mosque are summarized as follows:

  • It strengthens our faith in complete reliance on Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ. Seeking His Blessings out of His Bounties reflects “Tawakkal” on Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ.
  • This Dua helps increase in Allah’s سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ Blessing (Barakahs). When we seek His Blessings out of His countless bounties, it may cause progress in all spheres of life, whether it be our daily work, family affairs, health, or wealth.
  • Reciting this Dua on exiting the Mosque helps us maintain a spiritual connection with Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, while we indulge in daily life routine matters.  
  • Following any of the Sunnah practices is a rich source of getting rewards in this world as well as in the life hereafter. Reciting this specific Dua is a highly emphasized Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. Doing so with a sense of following a Sunnah brings countless rewards.

FAQs:

According to Sunnah and Hadith, one should recite the dua upon leaving the mosque
One should recite the dua upon leaving the mosque while putting his left foot outside first.
No, but it is a part of Sunnah and thus should be inculcated in a person's life as strongly as possible.

There is nothing wrong with reciting this Dua in your mother tongue, but the best practice is to recite it in the Arabic version, while reflecting on its meanings. Reciting a Dua in Arabic might be good to maintain the essence of the Dua.

Reciting this Dua on leaving the mosque is not obligatory; there is no sin if you forgot to recite it. However, it is a highly emphasized Sunnah practice to recite this Dua on exiting the mosque, so be mindful to recite it next time you come out of the mosque.

Yes, if you like to recite a longer Dua on leaving masjid, you may recite “بِسْمِ اللّهِ وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللّهِ، اَللَّهُـمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْـلِكَ، اَللَّهُـمَّ اعْصِمْنِـي مِنَ الشَّيْـطَانِ الرَّجِـيمِ”