Etiquettes for Women Entering and Leaving the Mosque
This excerpt is taken from Muhammad Ayyub Supra’s book Khawateen ka Masjid Namaz Mein Ba-Jamaat Parhne ka Mas’alah.
Entering the Mosque
When entering the mosque, step forward with the right foot and recite this supplication:
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱللَّهُمَّ ٱفْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
“In the Name of Allah. O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 713)
Women should proceed calmly and with composure to the area allocated for them.
However, they should not sit down in the mosque without first offering two rakʿahs of Taḥiyyat al-Masjid (the prayer of greeting the mosque), as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
إذا دخل أحدكم المسجد فلا يجلس حتى يصلي ركعتين
“When any one of you enters the mosque, he should not sit until he has prayed two rakʿahs.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 714)
Exception:
If the sun is rising or setting, then she should sit and not pray, because the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prohibited prayer at these times.
When needed, and if there is no fear of fitnah or corruption, a woman may even spend the night in the mosque.
[Subul al-Salām, 1/362]
Leaving the Mosque
When leaving the mosque, step forward with the left foot and recite this supplication:
ٱللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
“O Allah, I ask You for Your bounty.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 713)
