The manners of visiting a mosque include coming clean and well dressed, avoiding strong smells like raw garlic or onion, entering with the dua for mercy, praying two rak'ahs before sitting, walking calmly to prayer, and leaving with the dua for Allah's bounty. Each comes from the Quran or authentic Sunnah.
Key Takeaways
- The Quran says "take your adornment [i.e., wear your clothing] at every masjid" (Al-A'raf 7:31), so come clean and presentable.
- Anyone who has eaten raw garlic or onion should stay away from the mosque until the smell has gone (Sahih al-Bukhari 855).
- On entering, say "Allahumma-ftah li abwaba rahmatik" and on leaving "Allahumma inni as'aluka min fadlik" (Sahih Muslim 713a).
- Pray two rak'ahs before sitting down (Sahih al-Bukhari 444), and walk to prayer calmly rather than rushing (Sahih al-Bukhari 636).
- The Prophet instructed that women should not be prevented from going to the mosques (Sahih al-Bukhari 900).
Before You Go
- Come clean and well dressed. "O children of Adam, take your adornment [i.e., wear your clothing] at every masjid" (Al-A'raf, 7:31, Sahih International).
- Avoid strong smells. The Prophet said: "Whoever eats garlic or onion should keep away from our mosque or should remain in his house" (Sahih al-Bukhari 855). The same consideration applies to any strong odour that could bother others.
- Make wudu at home if you can, so you arrive ready to pray.
Entering the Mosque
Aisha reported that the Prophet liked to start with the right side in everything good (Sahih al-Bukhari 168), and many Muslims enter the mosque with the right foot for this reason. Then say the dua the Prophet taught:
| Part | Dua on entering |
|---|---|
| Arabic | اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ |
| Transliteration | Allahumma-ftah li abwaba rahmatik |
| Translation | "O Allah! open for me the doors of Thy mercy." |
Pray Two Rak'ahs Before Sitting
The Prophet said: "If anyone of you enters a mosque, he should pray two rak'at before sitting" (Sahih al-Bukhari 444). This greeting of the mosque is one of the Sunnah prayers in our guide to seven Sunnah prayers every Muslim should know.
Inside the Mosque
- Walk to prayer calmly. "When you hear the Iqama, proceed to offer the prayer with calmness and solemnity and do not make haste" (Sahih al-Bukhari 636).
- Keep your voice low and avoid distracting people who are praying or reading.
- Don't walk directly in front of someone praying.
- Keep phones on silent, and keep the mosque clean and tidy.
- Fill gaps in the rows and make room for others.
Leaving the Mosque
| Part | Dua on leaving |
|---|---|
| Arabic | اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ |
| Transliteration | Allahumma inni as'aluka min fadlik |
| Translation | "O Allah! I beg of Thee Thy Grace." |
| Source | Both duas: Abu Usaid reported the Prophet teaching them (Sahih Muslim 713a) |
Women and the Mosque
In a narration in Sahih al-Bukhari, a wife of Umar continued praying Fajr and Isha in the mosque, citing the Prophet's instruction that women should not be prevented from going to the mosques of Allah (Sahih al-Bukhari 900). Scholars discuss related details, and facilities vary between UK mosques, so it's worth checking what your local mosque provides.
Bringing Children
Children learn to love the mosque by going. Explain the manners beforehand, keep visits short at first, and praise them for sitting well. Hadith like "If anyone of you enters a mosque, he should pray two rak'at before sitting" appear in our list of 35 hadith for kids.
Learn to Pray with Confidence
Our Salah course teaches prayer step by step, and our Islamic Studies course covers mosque etiquette and adab. New Muslims preparing for their first mosque visit can start gently with our Quran for reverts lessons. You can book a free trial lesson with no card required.
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