Every time you step out of your home, you are stepping into a world you cannot fully control. Traffic, people, situations, risks — all of them lie beyond your door, and none of them ask your permission.
Table of Contents
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺknew this. Which is why he never left his home without placing himself in Allah’s hands first. The dua when leaving home — known as ghar se nikalne ki dua in Urdu — is one of the shortest but most powerful supplications in the entire Sunnah. Three phrases. And the Prophet ﷺpromised that whoever says them is guided, protected, and shielded from Shaytan for the entire journey outside.
The Main Dua When Leaving Home
Bismillahi Tawakkaltu — The Complete Protection Dua
This is the primary dua for leaving home, narrated in multiple authentic collections. When you say these words at your door, something remarkable happens — the Prophet ﷺdescribed it in exact terms.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
Transliteration: Bismillahi, tawakkaltu ‘alallahi, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah
Meaning: In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah, and there is no might nor power except with Allah.
Source: Abu Dawud 5095, Tirmidhi 3426 — Classed as Sahih
How many times: Once every time you leave your home
Hadith: When a person says this upon leaving their home, it is said to him: You are guided, protected and guarded. And the devil turns away from him. (Abu Dawud 5095, Tirmidhi 3426)
The Prophet ﷺdescribed this as a three-way shield: guidance (hidayah), sufficiency (kifayah), and protection (wisayah). Shaytan literally turns away when he hears these words. This is a direct narration — not a weak hadith or a scholarly opinion.
Allahumma Inni A’oothu Bika — Protection from the Seven Evils
This is a second dua narrated for leaving the home, which specifically asks for protection from seven different harms that a person might encounter in the world outside. It is comprehensive and incredibly practical for daily life.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَضِلَّ أَوْ أُضَلَّ أَوْ أَزِلَّ أَوْ أُزَلَّ أَوْ أَظْلِمَ أَوْ أُظْلَمَ أَوْ أَجْهَلَ أَوْ يُجْهَلَ عَلَيْ
Transliteration: Allahumma innee a’oodhu bika an adilla aw udalla, aw azilla aw uzalla, aw adhlima aw udhlama, aw ajhala aw yujhala ‘alayy
Meaning: O Allah, I seek refuge in You from going astray or being led astray, from slipping or being caused to slip, from wronging others or being wronged, from acting foolishly or being treated foolishly.
Source: Abu Dawud 5094, Tirmidhi 3427, authenticated by Al-Albani
How many times: Once every time you leave your home
What Happens When You Say This Dua? The Hadith Explanation
In the narration from Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi, when a person says Bismillahi tawakkaltu ‘alallahi wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah upon leaving their home:
- An angel says to him: You have been guided — meaning Allah has given you correct direction for this journey.
- Another angel says: You have been given sufficiency — meaning Allah will take care of whatever you need.
- A third angel says: You have been protected — meaning a shield has been placed around you.
- Then Shaytan turns away from him and says to another devil: How can I harm a man who has been guided, given sufficiency and protected?
This is not a general promise of reward. It is a specific, moment-by-moment declaration of what happens in the unseen realm when you say these words at your door. The Shaytan is not giving up because you are strong — he is giving up because Allah has responded to your dua.
When Exactly Should You Recite This Dua?
The dua should be recited at the moment you step outside your door — not in the car, not at the gate, but right as you cross the threshold of your home. This is the Sunnah timing.
Some scholars mention that you should say Bismillah when closing the door of your home as well, as the Prophet ﷺinstructed us to say Bismillah when closing our doors at night to keep Shaytan out. The same principle applies when leaving — you are placing the protection of Allah’s name on your exit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ghar se nikalne ki dua?
Ghar se nikalne ki dua is the Urdu term for the supplication recited when leaving the home. The main dua is: Bismillahi tawakkaltu ‘alallahi wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah. This is from Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi and is classed as Sahih. The full guide above covers this dua and the second protection dua with Arabic, transliteration and meaning.
Can I recite this dua when leaving for work every day?
Yes — in fact this is exactly what it is for. Every time you leave your home, for any reason — work, school, shopping, travel — recite this dua. It takes five seconds and the protection it invites follows you for the entire time you are outside.
Is there a dua for entering the home as well?
Yes. When entering the home, the Sunnah is to say Bismillah, then send salaam — whether anyone is home or not. The Prophet ﷺ said: When you enter your home, say Bismillah, for Shaytan says to his companions that there is no place for them to spend the night. (Sahih Muslim 2018)
What if I forget to say the dua before leaving?
You can say it as soon as you remember, even if you are already outside. The Sunnah teaches us to make dhikr at its prescribed times, but there is no penalty for forgetting. Simply resume the practice from the next time you leave.
All duas verified from Sunan Abu Dawud, Jami al-Tirmidhi and authenticated by Al-Albani. Published on ReciteDua.com.