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When is the supplication for entering the mosque recited: upon entering the Haram or upon entering the outer fence of the mosque?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Scholars have differed regarding the courtyard of the mosque (raḥbah) and its outer plaza, whether they are considered part of the mosque or not. If they are part of the mosque, then one should say "Bismillah" upon entering them and recite the prescribed dhikr. If they are not part of the mosque, then one should not say "Bismillah" or recite the dhikr until entering the door of the mosque itself. Jurists have agreed that the mosque in which i'tikaf is valid is one that is a building prepared for prayer. The Hanafis, Malikis, and Hanbalis, in the soundest opinion of their madhhabs, held that the courtyard of the mosque is not part of the mosque, whereas the Shafi'is held that it is part of the mosque.

What appears to be the case is that if the courtyard of the mosque is enclosed by the mosque's wall, then it is part of it and shares its rulings.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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