Going To The Masjid

1. Go early, as the prophet (PBUH) said:

If mankind knew what (reward) was in the call and in the first row and found no other way to get that (reward) except by drawing lots, then they would have drown lots.

....and if they knew what (reward) was in praying Salaah Adh-Dhuhr in its earliest time (Tahjeer) they would have raced for it....

And if they knew the reward of Al-'Isha and Al-Fajr prayer in congregation, they would come to offer them even if they had to crawl.

Imaam An-Nawawee said the word Tahjeer means to be early for the prayer.

2. Supplicate when going to the Masjid:

O Allah, place light in my heart, and light on my tongue, and light within my ears, and light in my eyes, and place behind me light and in front of me light and above me light. O Allah, bestow on me light.

3. Walk with Sakeenah and Waqaar.

• Sakeenah is to move calmly and avoid frivolity and
• Waqaar is lower gaze and voice, and excessive looking around.

4. Walk to the Masjid:

The jurists have stipulated that in order to increase reward, it has been recommended in the sunnah to go to the masjid walking and avoid haste. The Sharee'ah texts show many merits in walking to the Masjid.

The Prophet (PBUH) said:

'Shall I not show you something by which Allah removes your wrong-doings and raises your level (in Paradise)?'

'The Companions said, 'Yes, O Messenger of Allah'. He (PBUH) mentioned that from those things is taking many steps to the Masjid.

5. Supplicate when entering the Masjid:

When one of you enters the Masjid, send Salaah on the Prophet (PBUH) and say:

O Allah, open for me the doors of your mercy.

6. Enter with the right foot.

The saying of Anas Bin Maalik (RA):

From the Sunnah is that if you enter the Masjid, enter with your right foot, and when you leave, leave with your left foot.

7. Pray Tahiyaat Al-Masjid when entering:

When one of you enters the Masjid, do not sit until you pray two Rak’ah of prayer.

Imaam Ash-Shaafi’ee said:

Tahiyaat Al-Masjid is legislated, even in the forbidden times.

Also, Imaam Al-Haafidh bin Hajar said:

The people of Fatwaa (i.e. the Scholars)

agreed that Tahiyaat Al-Masjid is Sunnah.[1]

8. Proceed to the first row:

If mankind knew what reward was in the call[2] and in the first row[3] and they found no other way to get that (reward) except by drawing lots, then they would have drown lots...

8.Supplicate when leaving the Masjid:

O Allah, I ask you for your bounties.

Also narated by Aboo Daawood, with the addition of sending Salaah on the Prophet (PBUH).

9. Leave with the left foot.

[1] In this context, Sunnah is something that is obligatory.

[2] i.e. to pronounce the Adhaan.

[3] i.e. to pray the first row for the congregational prayer.