Is it sunnah to perform a two-rak'ah prayer when one enters his house?

- They say the Prophet Muhammad would not sit before performing a two-rak'ah prayer when he entered his house. Is it sunnah or fard?

Dear Brother / Sister,

It is written in hadiths that when the Prophet (pbuh) returned from an expedition, war or a long journey, he would perform a two-rak'ah prayer in the mosque and then go to his house.

There is another hadith regarding the issue:

“When you leave your house, perform a two-rak'ah prayer so that it will protect you from bad things. When you arrive home, perform a two-rak'ah prayer so that it will protect you from bad things.” (1)

Imam Gazali included this narration in his book (2), but Iraqi, who explained the hadiths of Ihya stated that this hadith was not sound; Ibn Adiy said it was munkar and Bukhari said this hadith was not original. (3) Even if the narration is weak, it is religiously permissible to act upon such a hadith.

However, it may be more appropriate to interpret this narration not for entering and leaving the house anytime but for leaving the house to go to a distant place and to remain away from the house for a long time.

As a matter of fact, it is known that the Prophet (pbuh) stated the following:

"Nobody will leave anything more virtuous than a two-rak'ah prayer to his family he performs at home when he leaves home for an expedition."

This hadith was narrated by Tabarani. Evaluating the other narrations regarding the issue, the scholars said it was sunnah to perform a two-rak'ah prayer for a person who leaves home for a journey and when he returns from the journey. (4)

The Prophet (pbuh) said,

“Do not transform your houses into graveyards. Perform prayers there too.” (5)

They are sunnah prayers like awwabin, duha, tahajjud and wudu prayers. It is even possible to perform the sunnah prayers of the five daily prayers at home from time to time and perform the fard prayers in the mosque. That is, there are many sunnah prayers to be performed at home. Prayers can be performed anytime except karahah times; it is religiously permissible.

Those who perform fard, wajib and nafilah prayers in time will attain the glad tidings mentioned in hadiths inshallah.

Footnotes:

1. Bayhaqi, Shuabul-Iman, No: 3078; Haythami, Majmauz-Zawaid; 283
2. Ihya, I/212
3. see Takhriju Ahadithil-Ihya, ibid
4. Ibn Abidin – Raddul-Muhtar Alad Durril-Mukhtar - Ist: 1983 3/48-49.
5. Bukhari, Salah, 52; Abu Dawud, Salah. 12; Tirmidhi, Jumua, 64; Ibn Majah, Masajid, 9.

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