❖ Ruling on Offering Two Rakʿahs Upon Arrival During the Friday Khutbah – In Light of Authentic Hadiths
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Page 447
Is there evidence from authentic Hadith that when someone enters the mosque during the Friday Khutbah, he should offer two rakʿahs before sitting down? The Companions of the Prophet ﷺ are said to have done this. Kindly provide proof.
(Questioner: Master Faḍl Deobandī, via Thanāʾullāh Makkī – Gujrānwāla)
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
Yes, the Sharʿi ruling is established from Ṣaḥīḥ Ḥadīth that when a person enters the mosque while the Friday Khutbah is ongoing, he must perform two rakʿahs (Tahyat al-Masjid) before sitting.
Narrated by Sayyidunā Jābir ibn ʿAbdillāh رضي الله عنه:
On a Friday, the Prophet ﷺ was delivering the sermon when a man entered the mosque. The Prophet ﷺ said to him:
"هَلْ صَلَّيْتَ؟"
He replied: “No.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدُكُمْ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَالإِمَامُ يَخْطُبُ، فَلْيُرَكِّعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ"
“When one of you comes on Friday while the Imam is delivering the sermon, he should pray two rakʿahs.”
Sources:
◈ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (57/875 – worded version)
◈ Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (Ḥadīth 1166)
Sayyidunā Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī رضي الله عنه:
He once entered the mosque on a Friday while Marwān ibn al-Ḥakam was delivering the Khutbah.
Despite the guards’ attempts to stop him, he performed the two rakʿahs.
Sources:
◈ Sunan al-Tirmidhī (Ḥadīth 511 – graded: Ḥasan Ṣaḥīḥ)
◈ Musnad al-Ḥumaydī (Ḥadīth 741)
This proves that:
◈ The Companions of the Prophet ﷺ would always offer two rakʿahs upon entering the mosque during the Khutbah.
There is not a single authentic narration that shows a Companion entering during the Khutbah and sitting down without praying two rakʿahs.
◈ Anyone arriving at the mosque during the Friday Khutbah must perform two short rakʿahs before sitting, even if the Khutbah is ongoing.
◈ This is based on the clear instruction of the Prophet ﷺ and uninterrupted practice of the Ṣaḥābah.
وَمَا عَلَيْنَا إِلَّا الْبَلَاغُ
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي، وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Page 447
❀ Question
Is there evidence from authentic Hadith that when someone enters the mosque during the Friday Khutbah, he should offer two rakʿahs before sitting down? The Companions of the Prophet ﷺ are said to have done this. Kindly provide proof.
(Questioner: Master Faḍl Deobandī, via Thanāʾullāh Makkī – Gujrānwāla)
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
Yes, the Sharʿi ruling is established from Ṣaḥīḥ Ḥadīth that when a person enters the mosque while the Friday Khutbah is ongoing, he must perform two rakʿahs (Tahyat al-Masjid) before sitting.
✔ Authentic Hadith Evidence
Narrated by Sayyidunā Jābir ibn ʿAbdillāh رضي الله عنه:
On a Friday, the Prophet ﷺ was delivering the sermon when a man entered the mosque. The Prophet ﷺ said to him:
"هَلْ صَلَّيْتَ؟"
He replied: “No.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدُكُمْ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَالإِمَامُ يَخْطُبُ، فَلْيُرَكِّعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ"
“When one of you comes on Friday while the Imam is delivering the sermon, he should pray two rakʿahs.”
Sources:
◈ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (57/875 – worded version)
◈ Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (Ḥadīth 1166)
✔ Practice of the Companions (Ṣaḥābah)
Sayyidunā Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī رضي الله عنه:
He once entered the mosque on a Friday while Marwān ibn al-Ḥakam was delivering the Khutbah.
Despite the guards’ attempts to stop him, he performed the two rakʿahs.
Sources:
◈ Sunan al-Tirmidhī (Ḥadīth 511 – graded: Ḥasan Ṣaḥīḥ)
◈ Musnad al-Ḥumaydī (Ḥadīth 741)
❖ General Ruling
This proves that:
◈ The Companions of the Prophet ﷺ would always offer two rakʿahs upon entering the mosque during the Khutbah.
There is not a single authentic narration that shows a Companion entering during the Khutbah and sitting down without praying two rakʿahs.
Conclusion
◈ Anyone arriving at the mosque during the Friday Khutbah must perform two short rakʿahs before sitting, even if the Khutbah is ongoing.
◈ This is based on the clear instruction of the Prophet ﷺ and uninterrupted practice of the Ṣaḥābah.
وَمَا عَلَيْنَا إِلَّا الْبَلَاغُ
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي، وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
