In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

‘Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s), his blessed descendents and noble companions.’

                                                                     -Aameen.

SUNNATS FOR PROCEEDING TO THE MASJID

S. 1 To make wudu at home. (Bukhari)

S.2 The primary intention whilst proceeding to the Masjid should be of reading Salah.

S. 3 After having heard the Adhan one should stop all worldly activities as if these activities do not have any importance.

S.4 The following Du’a should be read after leaving the house:

Bismillahi Tawakkaltu ‘Alallahi Wa La Hawla Wala

Quwwata Illa Billah.

“In the name of Allah, I trust in Allah, there is no power and might except from Allah.”

Note: It is recorded in a Hadith of Tirmidhi that whosoever reads this Du‘a after leaving the house then an unseen caller proclaims for his benefit:

 Your needs shall be fulfilled, you shall be saved from difficulties and hardships. Shaitan hearing these words leaves him i.e. stops misleading him and causing him harm. (Tirmidhi)

S.5 The recitation of the following Du’a is also recorded as Sunnat; 70,000 angels make Du’a for its reciter:

Allahumma Inni As’aluka Bihaqqis-Saa’ileena ‘Alaika Wa bihaqqi

Mamshaya Haadha Fa inni Lam Akhruj Asharaww walaa Bataraww

walaa Riyaa’aww walaa Sum‘ataww wa Kharajtu Ittiqaa’a Sakhatika

Wabtighaa’a Mardatika WaAs’alukaAn Tu‘idhani Minan-Naari WaAn

Fagh-firali Dhunubi Fainnahu La Yagh-firudh-dhunuba Illaa Anta.

 “O Allah! I beg You by means of the rights of beggars which are upon You, and by means of the rights of this my walking, I proclaim I have not set out with any intention of pride or vanity or grandeur or ostentation but for the fear of Your anger and to seek Your pleasure and I ask You to shelter me from the Fire (of Hell) and to forgive my sins, for there is surely none besides You who pardons sins. ” (Ibn Majah)

S. 6 Small steps should be taken whilst walking for Salah to the Masjid since every step shall merit reward. (At-Targhib)

S.7 The left shoe should be removed first but the Masjid should be entered with the right foot. (At-Targhib)

S.8 Whilst entering the masjid the following du‘a should be recited:

 Allahummaf-tahli Abwaba Rahmatika Allahummagh-firli Dhunubi

Was-Salaamu ‘Ala Rasulillah.

"O Allah! Open for me the doors of Your mercy; O Allah! Forgive my sins, and peace be upon the messenger of Allah.” (Ibn Majah)

S.9 After entering the masjid the following du‘a should be read:

 Aooudhu-billahil ‘Azeemi Wa Bi Wajhihil Kareemi Wa Sultaanihil

Qadeemi Minash-shaitaanir-Rajiim.

“I seek refuge in Allah, The Mighty, in His noble being, and in His power, which is everlasting, from the accursed Devil. ” (Abu Dawud)

 Note 1: Satan in response says that such a person is protected from me for the entire day. (Muslim)

Note 2: Whenever one enters the Masjid it is preferable to make Niyyath (Intention) for ’ A‘itikaf.

S.10 One should answer the Adhaan by repeating the wordings of the muazzin; however in answer to ‘Hayya ‘Alas Salah’ and ‘Hayya ‘Alal Falah’ the listener should say ‘La howla wa la quwwata ilia billah’. The reward for this is Jannah. (Muslim)

The listener should reply to the ‘Assalatu khairum minan nawm’ of the Fajr Adhaan by saying ‘ Sadaqta wa bararta ’.

S.11 Upon the completion of Adhaan if one reads Darud Sharif and the following Du’a he shall be assured of Nabi (SAW)’s Intercession on the Last Day.

DU’A AFTER ADHAAN

Allahumma Rabba Hadhihid- Da‘watit- Tammati Was-salatil Qaa’imati Aati Muhammadanil- Waseelata Wal- Fadeelata Wab‘ath hu Maqamam Mahmoodanil- ladhi Wa-‘attahu.

“O Allah! Rabb of this perfect call and of the prayer which is established for all time grant Muhammad (SAW) the ‘Wasila’ and excellency and raise him up in a praiseworthy position.” (Bukhari)

Note: Mulla ‘Ali Qari (A.R.) in his mirqaat Vol.2: Pg. 163, states that there is no proof in the Ahadith for the words ‘Wad-Darajatar Rafi'ah ’  which some people add to this Du’a.

S.12 Du‘a’s are accepted between the Adhaan and takbir. (Tirmidhi)

S.13 The two rak‘at Sunnat Salah before the fard of Fajr is better than this whole world and what it contains. (Tirmidhi)

S.14 As far as possible to sit in the first ‘saf’ (row), immediately behind the imam or to the right or left. If place is not available in the first row then the second, then the third and so on. One should not sit in the back rows when there is place in the first row. (Muslim)

Benefit: This shall enable one to gain the great rewards set aside for those reading Salah in the first row (saf).

S.15 One waiting for Salah to begin shall get the same reward as one in Salah; therefore, the worldly talk is prohibited in the Masjid. (Bukhari)

S.16 Any remembrance of Allah between the Sunnats and fard shall merit additional reward.

S.17 A lot of sawab (reward) is gained if one reads a tasbeeh each, i.e. a hundred times each, of the following:-

Subhanal-lahi Wa Bi-hamdihi.

“Purity belongs to Allah and to Him belongs all praise.”

Subhanal-lahi Wal-hamdulillahi Wa La Ilaha Illallahu Wallahu Akbar.

“Purity belongs to Allah, All praise belongs to Allah, there is none worthy of worship but Allah and Allah is the Greatest.”

~Mas’alah: The reading of all Salah is Mukruhe Tahrimi fromearly dawn {subha sadiq) to 15 minutes after sunrise;however, during mukruh times it is permissible to read qada salah, janaza salah and to make sajda of tilawat. But itshould be remembered that no Salah are allowedduring the forbidden times: sunrise, zawwal (midday)and sunset, sajda of tilawat also should not be madeduring these times.

S. 18 Whenever one goes to the Masjid, the following should be borne in mind:

a) Not to indulge in worldly talk except in extreme necessity.

b) To make dhikr and even tilawat of the Qur’an silently if others are engaged in Salah.

c) Do not spit towards the Qibla direction (that direction to which one faces whilst in Salah).

d) Do not stretch legs towards the direction of the Qibla.

e) Do not sing worldly songs.

f) Do not look for or make announcements for things lost outside the Masjid.

g) Not to play with one’s body, clothing or any other thing.

h) Not to put the fingers of one hand into the other nor to break ones knuckles.

i) In brief one should refrain from all acts that mean disrespect to the Masjid.

S. 19 Always take pains to ensure that Salah is read with jama‘at congregation. (Muslim)

S.20 The rows should be very straight with the worshippers standing so close that there is no gap between two people. The ankles and shoulders of worshippers standing in one row should be in a straight line. (Bukhari, Muslim)

S.21 Every Salah should be read with humility, sincerity, dedication and devotion as if it is one’s last Salah.* (At-Targhib)

S.22One’s heart in Salah should be inclined towards Allah, i.e. one should have concentration. (Bukhari, Muslim)

S.23 The reward of Salah read with jama‘at is multiplied 27 times.

S. 24  Whilst leaving the masjid one should step out with the left foot and wear the right shoe first and read this du ‘a:

Allahumma Inni As ’aluka Min Fadlika

“O Allah Verily I seek from You Your bounty.” (Muslim)

In another narration this du‘a is also mentioned:

Allahummaghfirli Dhunubi Was-salaamu ‘Ala Rasulil-lah.

“O Allah! Forgive me my sins and peace be upon the Rasul of Allah

Note: As in this book we are discussing only the Sunnats (which include the mustahabs) therefore other books should be consulted for the Faraid and Wajibat of Salah.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* It should be borne in mind that Salah read contrary to the Sunnat, even if it is with extreme humility, is useless and of no spiritual value.

 SUNNATS PERTAINING TO ADHAAN, IQAMAT & THE MUADH DHIN

1. The Muadh dhin should be a pious, mature Muslim male who is knowledgeable in the Laws of Shariah. (Fatawa Hindiya)

2. The Muadh dhin should have a loud voice. (Mishkat)

3. The Adhaan must be called from a high place. (Fatawa Hindiya)

4. The Muadh dhin should stand while making the call of Adhaan. (Bahishti Zewar)

5. The Muadh dhin should clog his ears with his fingers (whilst making the call). (Fatawa Hindiya)

6. One has to pause (at appropriate places) when calling out the words of Adhaan. (ibid)

7. To turn to the right when calling out “Hayya ‘Alas Salah” and to the left when saying “Hayya ‘Alal Falah.” (Raddul-Muhtar)

8. To face the Qiblah when making the call (of Adhaan) (Ibid)

9.The Muadh dhin should not be in a state of uncleanliness (i.e. in need of wudu or ghusl). (Sharhut Tanweer)

10. The wordings of Adhaan and Iqamat should be called in sequence. (Shami)

11. When making the call of Adhaan or Iqamat the Muadh dhin should not indulge in any other conversation or talk (even ifit be answering a greeting). (Raddul Muhtar)

12. Should Adhaan or Iqamat be called without the required intention, although such Adhaan or Iqamat is valid, it shall not merit any reward. One must therefore, make the intention that one is calling Adhaan to gain the pleasure of Allah. (Ibid)

Note: Such an intention should be made before all acts of worship.

A/N :)

Ah I Looove going to Masjid, though of course they are like rare occasions for our locality Masjids doesn’t have a section for ladies…so yeah it is only during Ramadan and some other wonderful times that we women folk get to attend Salahs with heavenly Qiraaths in the beautiful Masjids. I and my sister sometimes really envy the guys for their so many privileges… anyways am not complaining since we girls get the whole reward just by praying it in our homes Alhamdulillah:))) Well then hope you learned some beautiful Sunnahs, so to gain awesome rewards let us apply it in our life too Insha Allah!

             With Duas and Salaam (Prayers and Peace),

                          abdurRahman (Gudi:))