Offering Tahiyyat al-Masjid During Sunrise or Sunset in the Mosque
Source: Ahkam wa Masail – Kitab al-Salat, Vol.1, p.111
Question:
If a person enters the mosque at the time of sunrise or sunset, should he perform Salah immediately or wait until the sun has risen or set? If he performs it at that time, does the command “fa-amsik ‘ani al-salah” (refrain from prayer) apply to such a case?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ‘ala Rasulillah, amma ba‘d!
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ clearly commanded:
“When one of you enters the mosque, he should not sit until he has prayed two Rak‘ahs.”
In another narration:
“Do not sit until you have prayed two Rak‘ahs.”
◈ Practical Ruling in Restricted Times
If a person enters the mosque during the times of sunrise, sunset, or zawal, he has two options:
➊ Wait:
- He may stand until the sun has risen, set, or the zawal time has passed.
- Then he may pray two Rak‘ahs before sitting.
➋ Pray Immediately:
- If he prays two Rak‘ahs of Tahiyyat al-Masjid immediately upon entering, and then sits, this is also valid.
Both options are correct and permissible.
◈ Why It Is Permissible
- The prohibition “fa-amsik ‘ani al-salah” refers to general Nafl prayers without a specific cause.
- Tahiyyat al-Masjid is linked to a cause (entering the mosque).
- Cause-based Nawafil, such as Tahiyyat al-Masjid or two Rak‘ahs after Wudu, are excluded from the prohibition.
✅ Conclusion:
Praying Tahiyyat al-Masjid at sunrise, sunset, or zawal is valid, though waiting is also permissible. The prohibition applies only to voluntary prayers without cause, not to cause-related ones.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
