Prohibited Times for Prayer and the Ruling on Tahiyyat al-Masjid

Question:

Which times are those during which prayer is prohibited? Should Tahiyyat al-Masjid be offered before the adhan of Maghrib or after it? Kindly issue a fatwa.

Answer:

الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!

The times during which voluntary prayer is prohibited are as follows:

The prohibited times for prayer:

➊ From after the Fajr prayer until the sun rises:
◈ Praying is prohibited until the sun has risen to the height of one spear, i.e., approximately 15 to 20 minutes after sunrise.

➋ About 10 minutes before the time of zawal:
◈ The period approximately ten minutes before the time of Zuhr begins, when the sun is exactly overhead, is also a time when praying is prohibited.

➌ From after the Asr prayer until the sun completely sets:
◈ No kind of voluntary prayer is permissible during this time.

The ruling on Tahiyyat al-Masjid:

◈ Tahiyyat al-Masjid can be offered at any time.
◈ Whenever you enter a mosque, do not sit without offering two rak’ahs of Tahiyyat al-Masjid, even if they are prohibited times.
◈ Among the views of the scholars, the preferred opinion is that:

◈ All voluntary prayers that have a specific cause may be offered even during the prohibited times.
◈ For example:
✿ If you enter the mosque after the Fajr prayer, you may offer Tahiyyat al-Masjid.
✿ Likewise, if you enter the mosque after the Asr prayer, it is still permissible to offer Tahiyyat al-Masjid.
✿ Two rak’ahs may also be prayed before zawal.

Summary: At whatever time of day or night you enter the mosque, do not sit without offering two rak’ahs of Tahiyyat al-Masjid.

ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب