Sunnahs of Entering & Leaving the Home in the Quran & Sunnah

1. When you enter houses, greet one another — a greeting from Allah, blessed and pure.

Allah says:

لَّيْسَ عَلَى ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ حَرَجٌ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلْأَعْرَجِ حَرَجٌ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلْمَرِيضِ حَرَجٌ وَلَا عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَن تَأْكُلُوا۟ مِنۢ بُيُوتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ ءَابَآئِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ إِخْوَٰنِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أَخَوَٰتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أَعْمَـٰمِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ عَمَّـٰتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أَخْوَٰلِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ خَـٰلَـٰتِكُمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكْتُم مَّفَاتِحَهُۥٓ أَوْ صَدِيقِكُمْ ۚ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَأْكُلُوا۟ جَمِيعًا أَوْ أَشْتَاتًا ۚ فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُم بُيُوتًا فَسَلِّمُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ تَحِيَّةً مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ مُبَـٰرَكَةً طَيِّبَةً ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

There is no blame on a blind person, nor is there any blame on any lame one, nor is there any blame on a sick person, nor on yourselves in that you eat (something) from your own homes or from the homes of your fathers or the homes of your mothers or the homes of your brothers or the homes of your sisters or the homes of your paternal uncles, or the homes of your paternal aunts or the homes of your maternal uncles or the homes of your maternal aunts or from the places the keys of which you have under your control, or from (the home of) your friend.There is no sin on you if you eat together or separately. So when you enter homes, greet one another with Salām , a greeting prescribed by Allah, which is blessed, pleasant. This is how Allah explains the verses to you, so that you may understand. (Surah an-Nur 24:61)

Lesson: The salam at your own door is not a formality for guests only: Allah calls it a greeting “from Allah, blessed and good” — it blesses the one who enters and the family inside.

1. Entering his home, the first thing the Prophet ﷺ began with was the siwak.

‘Aishah was asked: “With what did the Prophet ﷺ begin when he entered his house?” She said: “With the siwak.” Meet your family with a clean mouth and a fresh face.

2. Keep your house alive with the remembrance of Allah.

“The likeness of the house in which Allah is remembered and the house in which Allah is not remembered is like the likeness of the living and the dead.” Prayer, Quran and dhikr at home are what make it a living home.

3. When you leave, say the dua of trust in Allah.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ

Bismillahi tawakkaltu ‘alallahi wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah — In the name of Allah; I place my trust in Allah; and there is no power and no strength except with Allah. Whoever says this when he leaves his house, it is said to him: “You have been guided, you have been sufficed, and you have been protected” — and Shaytan keeps away from him.

4. At nightfall, bring the children in and close the doors with Allah’s name.

“When night falls, hold back your children, for the devils spread out then; and when an hour of the night has passed, let them go — and close the doors and mention the name of Allah, for Shaytan does not open a closed door.”

5. Before sleep, cover the vessels and tie the waterskins, mentioning Allah.

The evening routine of the Sunnah home: doors closed with the Name, vessels covered, waterskins tied — cleanliness and protection joined in one habit.

6. Pray some of your prayers at home — do not make your houses graves.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Offer some of your prayers (the voluntary ones) at home, and do not take your houses as graves.” A house in which prayer is offered is a living house.

7. So the home is entered with peace and left with trust.

Jabir heard the Prophet ﷺ say: “When a man enters his house and mentions Allah when he enters and when he eats, Satan says (to his companions): ‘You have no place to stay (here) and no supper.’”

Lesson: Enter with salam upon your family and the name of Allah on your lips; leave with tawakkul, entrusting those inside to the best of guardians — the threshold of the house is itself a place of worship.