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Tahiyyatul Masjid

Question:

Assalamualaikum,
Can we offer the Tahhiyatul Masjid prayer when entering a mosque even it is on a prohibited time? (such as after Asr prayer or before Maghrib)?
I read this article somewhere:
Narrated Abu Said Al Khudri: I heard Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) saying, “There is no prayer after Fajr prayer till the sun rises, and there is no prayerafter the Asrprayer till the sun sets.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol.1 Hadith No.586]
Contrary to this, the Prophet (pbuh) used to pray two raka’ahs after Asr prayer as related in many of the authentic traditions. However, it is important for us to note that whenever we perceive a difference between Qaul (command) and Amal (action) of the Prophet (pbuh), then according to the rule of Fiqh, command takes precedence over the action.
Thus under normal circumstances, a Muslim should not offer Salaah after the Fajr prayer until the sun rises or after the Asrprayer until the sun sets, unless there is a valid reason and requirement. For example, if after having offered his Asr Salaah a person enters a mosque before sunset, he can offer two raka’ahs Tahhiyatul Masjid (prayerafter entering mosque) before sitting which is a recommended Sunnah.

Answer:

Apart from the times in which performing Salaah is prohibited, it is Sunnah to perform Tahiyyatul Masjid whenever a person enters the mosque, even though it may not be the time of an obligatory prayer. Performing Tahiyyatul Masjid before sitting is better. However, a person is not exempted from Tahiyyatul Masjid even though he sits without performing it. If there is a little bit of time left for the congregational prayer to begin and he was not availed of the opportunity to perform Tahiyyatul Masjid, then the obligatory prayer will also stand in place of the Tahiyyatul Masjid (he will receive the reward of the Tahiyyatul Masjid). If there is sufficient time left for the obligatory prayer to begin, then he should get up and perform the Tahiyyatul Masjid. (Ahsanul Fataawaa Vol.3 Page 482-483)

And Allah Ta’ala knows best

Nezaam bin Yahya Ali

Attested to as correct by:

Mufti Muhammad Ashraf

Darul Iftaa

Jameah Mahmoodiyah

Springs

07 December2005

04 Thul Qa’dah 1426

This Q&A was indexed in 2012 from the website of Jameah Mahmoodiyah, South Africa. The original website no longer exists.
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