The Sunnahs of Going to the Masjid

1- Going early for the Prayers: the Prophet (PBUH) said: " if people know how much they could benefit from "al athan" (prayer call) and being among those standing in the first row in their prayers, they would even poll or gamble for it if there is no other way. And if they know how much bounty they get in arriving early to the mosque, they would compete for it. And if they know much beneficence in Al fajr(dawn) and AL 'eshaa(night) prayers they would even go creeping" (agreed upon as a correct narrative)



2- The Du'aa (supplication) upon Going to the Masjid: " O Allah, lighten my heart, lighten my speech, lighten my audition, lighten my insight and bless me with light from behind, front, above, under and cover me all with light" (narrated by Imam Muslim)




3- Walking with Solemnity : the Prophet (PBUH) said: " when you hear the call for the prayers; walk to your prayers quietly with solemnity …" (narrated by Al Bukhari and Imam Muslim)



4- Going to the Masjid on Foot: scholars assured that it is a sunnah to shorten your steps swiftly to get more merits out of the number of steps, as the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Do you know what can erase your sins and heighten your faith? They replied: no; he then mentioned some points in addition to " walking to the mosque" …" (narrated by Imam Muslim)




5- The Du'aa upon Entering the Masjid: whenever you enter the Masjid address salutation for the Prophet (PBUH) and say : " O Allah, open your gates of mercy for me" (narrated by An Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, Ibn Khozaimah and Ibn Hibban).



6- Entering the Masjid with the Right Leg: Anas Ibn Malek (may Allah be pleased with him) said : " it is sunnah to enter the Masjid with your right leg and exit with your left leg" (Al Hakem and Ath- Thahaby agreed that this narrative is correct according to Imam Muslim's narrative)




7- Heading for the First Row: "if people know how much they could benefit from "al athan" (prayer call) and being among those standing in the first row in their prayers, they would even poll or gamble for it if there is no other way….. " (agreed upon as a correct narrative).



8- The Du'aa of Exiting the Masjid: "when departing say: O Allah, I ask your donation" (narrated by Imam Muslim; and An Nasa'i added that a salutation for the Prophet (PBUH) is preferred).




9- Exiting with the Left Leg: referring to Anas Ibn Malek 's (may Allah be pleased with him) above narrative.



10- The Masjid Salutation Prayer : " when you enter the Masjid do not sit until you address a two rak'a prayer" (agreed upon as a correct narrative)

- Imam Ash Shafe'ie said: salutation prayer is right even in the non-preferred prayer times.

- Al Hafez said: all the scholars agreed that salutation prayer is a true sunnah.

- The sum of all these sunnahs for a Muslim who practice the five

prayers at the Masjid is fifty sunnahs.