Enter with the Right Foot First
It is from the Sunnah to enter your home with your right foot first and to leave with your left. This was the habit of the Prophet ﷺ, who loved to begin with the right side in all matters of goodness.
عَائِشَةُ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُعْجِبُهُ التَّيَمُّنُ فِي تَنَعُّلِهِ، وَتَرَجُّلِهِ، وَطُهُورِهِ، وَفِي شَأْنِهِ كُلِّهِ.
“The Prophet ﷺ liked to start with the right in putting on his shoes, in combing his hair, and in performing purification and in all his affairs.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 168)
The great scholar Imām Abul ʿAlā al-Ḥamadhānī was so careful in applying this Sunnah that if anyone entered his house with their left foot first, he would kindly ask them to exit and re-enter with the right. Such attention to small Sunnahs reflects how the righteous showed love and reverence for every act linked to the Prophet ﷺ.
Gentleness in Entering and Leaving
When entering or leaving, do so calmly and quietly. Avoid slamming doors or startling those inside. Islam encourages gentleness in all actions.
إِنَّ الرِّفْقَ لَا يَكُونُ فِي شَيْءٍ إِلَّا زَانَهُ، وَلَا يُنْزَعُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِلَّا شَانَهُ
“Gentleness adorns every act; its absence tarnishes it.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2594)
If others are resting or sleeping, enter softly and make your presence known without disturbing them.
Al-Miqdād ibn al-Aswad (رضي الله عنه) said: “When the Prophet ﷺ returned home at night, he would greet us with a voice loud enough for those awake to hear, but not loud enough to disturb those who were asleep.”
(Muslim; al-Tirmidhī)
Such refined manners bring harmony and peace to the household.
Announcing Your Arrival
When arriving home, it is Sunnah to make your presence known before entering private spaces, so as not to surprise anyone.
ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه) used to cough or tap his shoes before entering his house. His son said: “When my father returned from the mosque, he would make a sound before entering, fearing that he might startle us.” Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal also advised gently coughing or making a light sound when entering, following this Prophetic etiquette.
نَهَى النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَنْ يَطْرُقَ الرَّجُلُ أَهْلَهُ لَيْلًا
“The Prophet ﷺ forbade a man from surprising his family at night.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5243; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 715)
This demonstrates the Prophet’s ﷺ care for family privacy, comfort, and emotional well-being.
Supplication When Entering the Home
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَ الْمَوْلَجِ، وَخَيْرَ الْمَخْرَجِ، بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَلَجْنَا، وَبِسْمِ اللَّهِ خَرَجْنَا، وَعَلَى اللَّهِ رَبِّنَا تَوَكَّلْنَا
“O Allah, I ask You for the best entry and the best exit. In the name of Allah we enter, and in the name of Allah we leave, and upon our Lord we rely.”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd 5096)
And the Prophet ﷺ said: “When a man enters his house and remembers Allah upon entering and before eating, Shayṭān says: ‘You have no place to spend the night and no supper.’”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2018)
Greetings When Entering the Home
When entering or leaving your home, greet those inside with the greeting of Islam:
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
“Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.”
“But when you enter houses, give greetings of peace upon each other — a greeting from Allah, blessed and good.”
(Qur’an, al-Nūr 24:61)
يَا بُنَيَّ، إِذَا دَخَلْتَ عَلَى أَهْلِكَ فَسَلِّمْ، يَكُنْ بَرَكَةً عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ
“My dear son, when you enter upon your family, greet them with peace; it will be a blessing for you and your family.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2698)
Qatādah (رحمه الله) said: “Greet your family when you enter your house — they are most deserving of your greeting.”
“If you join a gathering, greet them, and if you wish to leave, greet them — the first is no less than the second.”
(Abū Dāwūd 5208)
A Story of Love and Manners
From the age of eight, Anas ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه) served the Prophet ﷺ for ten years. He said: “There has never been a night in which I have not seen the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in my dream.”
He also narrated: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me, ‘Give greetings to your family, my dear, when you enter your home, for that will bring blessings for you and your family.’”
(Tirmidhī 2698)
Such was the Prophet’s emphasis on spreading warmth and love within the household.
Leaving the Home
When leaving, say Bismillāh and give salām. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“If a man says upon leaving his house: ‘In the name of Allah, I rely upon Allah, there is no power nor might except with Allah,’ it will be said to him: ‘You are guided, defended, and protected.’”
(Abū Dāwūd 5095)
Leave calmly — not slamming doors or rushing out. Grace and composure reflect a believer’s character.
Reflection
These etiquettes transform simple daily movements into acts of worship. By entering with the right foot, remembering Allah, showing gentleness, and greeting our families with salām, we bring light and barakah into our homes. The believer’s home becomes a place of mercy, peace, and love — a reflection of the Prophet’s ﷺ own household.
Sunnah Takeaways
- Enter your home with your right foot first and leave with your left.
- Recite the duʿāʾ when entering or leaving: “Bismillāh walajnā…”.
- Greet your family with salām — it brings blessings and love.
- Announce your arrival softly; don’t startle those inside.
- Be gentle when entering or leaving; avoid noise or haste.
- Say Bismillāh and remember Allah to keep Shayṭān away.
- Leave with dignity — calm, composed, and mindful.
- Make every entry and exit a moment of dhikr, peace, and gratitude.