Question:
Assalamualaikum ustaz,
I will be moving to a new house soon. Is there any specific practise or supplication before and after I move into my new house? Some people advised me to recite surah al-Baqarah. Is it permissible for me to recite it in stages, for example, I recite 1/3 of it for the first day, the next 1/3 the next day and the last 1/3 on the third day?
Jazakallahu khaira.
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wbt,
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the many countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
There is no specific practise recommended in syarak when one is moving into a new house. It is best to supplicate to Allah SWT for our lives and our house to be blessed. However, if the intention is to ask for safety and protection from Allah SWT against evil and shaytan, then it is encouraged for us to always recite the following: First: recite surah al-Baqarah
From Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
لاَ تَجْعَلُوا بُيُوتَكُمْ مَقَابِرَ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَنْفِرُ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ الَّذِى تُقْرَأُ فِيهِ سُورَةُ الْبَقَرَةِ
“Do not make your houses as graveyards. Satan runs away from the house in which Surah Baqara is recited.”
Sahih Muslim (780)
Second: Perform sunnah prayer before exiting and entering the house
From Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
إِذَا خَرَجْتَ مِنْ مَنْزِلِكَ فَصَلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ يَمْنَعَانِكَ مِنْ مَخْرَجِ السُّوْءِ وَإِذَا دَخَلْتَ إِلَى مَنْزِلِكَ فَصَلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ يَمْنَعَانِكَ مِنْ مَدْخَلِ السُّوْءِ
“When you (want) to exit your house, then perform two rakaat prayer (with which) these two rakaat will prevent any harms from outside the house. If you enter your house, perform two rakaat prayer (with which) these two rakaat will prevent you from the harms that wants to enter the house.”
Narrated by al-Bazzar. Ibn Hajar al-Haythami said: its rijal is thiqah (trustworthy)
Third: Recite bismillah, zikir and supplication when opening and closing the door. From Jabir bin Abdillah R.Anhuma, the Prophet PBUH said:
إِذَا دَخَلَ الرَّجُلُ بَيْتَهُ فَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ عِنْدَ دُخُولِهِ، وَعِنْدَ طَعَامِهِ، قَالَ الشَّيْطَانُ: لَا مَبِيتَ لَكُمْ وَلَا عَشَاءَ، وَإِذَا دَخَلَ فَلَمْ يُذْكَرِ اللَّهَ عِنْدَ دُخُولِهِ قَالَ الشَّيْطَانُ: أَدْرَكْتُمُ الْمَبِيتَ
“When a man enters his house and mention Allah’s name on entering and on his food, the devil says: You have no place to spend the night and no evening meal; but when he enters without mentioning Allah’s name on entering, the devil says: You have found a place to spend the night,”
Sahih Muslim (2018), Sunan Abu Daud (3765) and others.
Also from Jabir bin Abdillah R.Anhuma, the Prophet PBUH said:
وَأَغْلِقُوا الأَبْوَابَ وَاذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ، فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لاَ يَفْتَحُ بَابًا مُغْلَقًا
“…and shut the doors, making mention of God's name, for the Satan does not open a closed door;”
Sahih al-Bukhari (3304), Sahih Muslim (2012) and others
Fourth: Give salam
From Nafi’, Abdullah bin Umar R.Anhuma said:
إِذَا دَخَلَ الْبَيْتَ غَيْرَ الْمَسْكُونِ فَلْيَقُلِ السلام علينا وعلى عباد الله الصالحين.
"When someone enters a house, which is not lived in, he should say, 'Peace be upon the righteous slaves of Allah.'"
Sahih al-Bukhari (1055) in al-Adab al-Mufrad. Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani said the sanad (chain of narrators) is hasan.
Regarding the division of the recitation of surah al-Baqarah (1/3 each day), it is permissible as long as it is not considered an obligation.
Wallahua’lam.