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Does One make tahiyyat al masjid during the adhaan?

Answered as per Shafi'i Fiqh by Shafiifiqh.com

As salamu alaykum,

What should a person do when he enters the masjid while the adhaan is being called out? Should he sit and wait, or should he start praying Tahiyaat al Masjid, or should he wait standing until the adhaan has finished and then start superagatory prayer?

Was salaam

Answer:

Wa‘Alaykum  al-Salam

All praise due to Allah. Peace and blessings be upon the Prophet Muhammad.

Here there are two recommended acts that a person is required to do:

1.   reply to the words of adhan, and

2.   offer the two rakaah of Tahiyyatul masjid.

All scholars agree that when adhan is being called it is sunnah to reply to the words of the muadhdhin except in few conditions, though in most cases he or she will reply after s/he is free from that condition.

When a person enters the Masjid it is mustahabb/recommended to perform two rakaah before sitting down. The scholars call this supererogatory prayer: Tahiyyatul masjid which literally means: greeting the masjid. The Prophet (s.a.w) said, “When one enters the masjid he should not sit until he offers two rakaah.”

One fulfils this duty by offering any prayer be it fard or nafl – with the exception of one rakaah or janazah prayer – since the reason behind this supererogatory prayer is that the masjid should not be devoid of prayer at one’s entry. (Mughni al-Muhtaj vol. 1 p 456 Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah)

One misses this sunnah when he sits intentionally without offering it or without intending to perform it in the sitting position. (Ibid)

All scholars agree on this.

However, different opinions appear when one enters the masjid and stands for a longer period than what two rakaah can be performed in; so then, does he miss the virtue or he can still perform the two rakaah?

Shihab al-Din al-Ramli followed by his son Shams al-Din al-Ramli and Khatib al-Sharbini are of the opinion that the virtue of this nafl is missed.  (Mughni al-Muhtaj vol. 1 p 456, Nihayah al-Muhtaj vol.2 p 120 Mustafa al-Bab al-Halabi)
On the other hand, Ibn Hajar al-Haytami opined that the virtue of Tahiyyatul masjid is not missed even if one stands for longer period after entering the masjid. (Tuhfah al-Muhtaj with Hawashi vol. 2 p 257 Dar al-Fikr)

Taking Ibn Hajar’s view; if one enters the masjid while the adhan is being called, he should not sit down if he intends to offer Tahiyyatul masjid prayer. Rather, he should wait standing while replying to the words of adhan, thereafter, perform Tahiyyatul masjid if time allows him to do so, as to avoid missing one of these two virtues.

Allah knows best!

Answered by Shaykh Yaqub Yusuf of Dar Al-Ulum Al-Arabiyyah wal-Islamiyyah

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