Written by: Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani (May Allah preserve him)
Question:
Is it necessary to perform Tahiyyat al-Masjid? Can this prayer be performed during prohibited times?
Answer:
According to our view, the most correct position is that the prayer of Tahiyyat al-Masjid can be performed at any time, as the command of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is general. As narrated by Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him):
"The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 'When any of you enters the mosque, he should not sit down until he prays two rak'ahs.'"
(Bukhari, Book of Prayer: Chapter on Praying Two Rak'ahs Upon Entering the Mosque 444; Muwatta 1/162; Muslim 714; Tirmidhi 316; Sharh al-Sunnah 2/365)
This Hadith indicates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasized the importance of these two rak'ahs. It is also narrated in Sahih Muslim from Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him):
"I entered the mosque while the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was sitting among the people, so I sat down. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 'What prevented you from praying two rak'ahs before sitting down?' I replied, 'O Messenger of Allah, I saw you sitting, and the people were sitting, so I sat down.' He said: 'When any of you enters the mosque, let him not sit until he has prayed two rak'ahs.'"
(Muslim, Book of Prayer of Travelers: Chapter on the Recommendation of Tahiyyat al-Masjid 714; Ahmad 5/305)
From this Hadith, it is evident that the importance of these two rak'ahs is significant. When Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) sat down without offering the two rak'ahs, the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked why he had not performed them, and then issued a general instruction that anyone entering the mosque should not sit until performing the two rak'ahs. The significance of these two rak'ahs is further highlighted by the fact that on Fridays, during the sermon, speaking is not allowed. As narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"If you say to your companion, 'Be quiet,' while the Imam is delivering the sermon on Friday, then you have engaged in idle talk."
(Muslim, Book of Friday Prayer: Chapter on Listening to the Khutbah on Friday 851; Muwatta 1/103; Sharh al-Sunnah 4/258)
However, if someone enters the mosque during the sermon and has not yet offered the two rak'ahs, they are instructed to perform them, as narrated by Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him):
"A man entered the mosque while the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was delivering the Friday sermon, and he asked, 'Have you prayed?' The man replied, 'No.' The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'Stand up and pray two rak'ahs.'"
(Muslim, Book of Friday Prayer: Chapter on Tahiyyat al-Masjid During the Sermon 875; Ahmad 3/297; Tirmidhi 510)
In another narration in Sahih Muslim, it is mentioned that Sulaik al-Ghatafani (may Allah be pleased with him) entered the mosque while the Prophet (peace be upon him) was delivering the Friday sermon, and he sat down. The Prophet (peace be upon him) then instructed:
"When any of you comes to the mosque on a Friday and the Imam is delivering the sermon, he should pray two brief rak'ahs before sitting."
(Muslim, Book of Friday Prayer: Chapter on Tahiyyat al-Masjid During the Sermon 875)
These authentic Hadiths indicate that whenever someone enters the mosque, they should not sit without performing the two rak'ahs. It is important to perform these two rak'ahs because they fall under the category of prayers that are permissible even during prohibited times, such as the prayer after circumambulation (Tawaf) or the prayer during a solar eclipse. As the Prophet (peace be upon him) said regarding the prayer for a solar eclipse:
"Indeed, the sun and the moon are two signs from among the signs of Allah."
(Bukhari, Book of Eclipse: Chapter on Supplication During the Eclipse 1060)
This Hadith underscores that certain prayers, due to their specific reasons, can be performed even during times when other prayers are generally prohibited. Hence, the two rak'ahs of Tahiyyat al-Masjid are permissible at any time, as they are reason-based.
Question:
Is it necessary to perform Tahiyyat al-Masjid? Can this prayer be performed during prohibited times?
Answer:
According to our view, the most correct position is that the prayer of Tahiyyat al-Masjid can be performed at any time, as the command of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is general. As narrated by Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him):
"The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 'When any of you enters the mosque, he should not sit down until he prays two rak'ahs.'"
(Bukhari, Book of Prayer: Chapter on Praying Two Rak'ahs Upon Entering the Mosque 444; Muwatta 1/162; Muslim 714; Tirmidhi 316; Sharh al-Sunnah 2/365)
This Hadith indicates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasized the importance of these two rak'ahs. It is also narrated in Sahih Muslim from Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him):
"I entered the mosque while the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was sitting among the people, so I sat down. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 'What prevented you from praying two rak'ahs before sitting down?' I replied, 'O Messenger of Allah, I saw you sitting, and the people were sitting, so I sat down.' He said: 'When any of you enters the mosque, let him not sit until he has prayed two rak'ahs.'"
(Muslim, Book of Prayer of Travelers: Chapter on the Recommendation of Tahiyyat al-Masjid 714; Ahmad 5/305)
From this Hadith, it is evident that the importance of these two rak'ahs is significant. When Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) sat down without offering the two rak'ahs, the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked why he had not performed them, and then issued a general instruction that anyone entering the mosque should not sit until performing the two rak'ahs. The significance of these two rak'ahs is further highlighted by the fact that on Fridays, during the sermon, speaking is not allowed. As narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"If you say to your companion, 'Be quiet,' while the Imam is delivering the sermon on Friday, then you have engaged in idle talk."
(Muslim, Book of Friday Prayer: Chapter on Listening to the Khutbah on Friday 851; Muwatta 1/103; Sharh al-Sunnah 4/258)
However, if someone enters the mosque during the sermon and has not yet offered the two rak'ahs, they are instructed to perform them, as narrated by Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him):
"A man entered the mosque while the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was delivering the Friday sermon, and he asked, 'Have you prayed?' The man replied, 'No.' The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'Stand up and pray two rak'ahs.'"
(Muslim, Book of Friday Prayer: Chapter on Tahiyyat al-Masjid During the Sermon 875; Ahmad 3/297; Tirmidhi 510)
In another narration in Sahih Muslim, it is mentioned that Sulaik al-Ghatafani (may Allah be pleased with him) entered the mosque while the Prophet (peace be upon him) was delivering the Friday sermon, and he sat down. The Prophet (peace be upon him) then instructed:
"When any of you comes to the mosque on a Friday and the Imam is delivering the sermon, he should pray two brief rak'ahs before sitting."
(Muslim, Book of Friday Prayer: Chapter on Tahiyyat al-Masjid During the Sermon 875)
These authentic Hadiths indicate that whenever someone enters the mosque, they should not sit without performing the two rak'ahs. It is important to perform these two rak'ahs because they fall under the category of prayers that are permissible even during prohibited times, such as the prayer after circumambulation (Tawaf) or the prayer during a solar eclipse. As the Prophet (peace be upon him) said regarding the prayer for a solar eclipse:
"Indeed, the sun and the moon are two signs from among the signs of Allah."
(Bukhari, Book of Eclipse: Chapter on Supplication During the Eclipse 1060)
This Hadith underscores that certain prayers, due to their specific reasons, can be performed even during times when other prayers are generally prohibited. Hence, the two rak'ahs of Tahiyyat al-Masjid are permissible at any time, as they are reason-based.