What Is The Judgment On The Tahiyyat Al-Masjid Prayer? Is It Permissible To Perform It In The Prohibited Times?

What is the judgment on the tahiyyat al-masjid prayer? Is it permissible to perform it in the prohibited times?

It is sunnah to perform the tahiyyat al-masjid prayer (the prayer of greeting the mosque) when a person enters a mosque. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, “If any one of you enters a masjid, he should perform two rakats before sitting.” (Muslim, Salat al-musafirin, 69)

The tahiyyat al-masjid prayer is established in two or four rakats according to Hanafis, and in two rakats according to Malikis. Although the Shafi’i school says that two rakats are essential, both Shafi’is and Hanafis express that one may establish as many rakats as s/he wants with this intention.

Hanafis are of the opinion that tahiyyat al-masjid prayer cannot be established in the times when establishing nafl prayers is considered makruh. According to Shafi’is, as tahiyyat al-masjid is a nafl prayer which is not an absolute prayer, but rather is performed for a reason, it may be established in these times as well (Shirbini, Mughni al-muhtaj, I, 200).

It is makruh for Hanafis to establish this prayer for a person who enters a masjid while the adhan is being recited while Shafi’is do not consider it as makruh. However, the fuqaha agree that it is makruh for a person to establish tahiyyat al-masjid prayer while muazzin is giving iqamat or congregational prayer has started.

Hanafis say that it is makruh for a person, who enters a masjid while the khatib is in the minbar in the Friday prayer, to establish tahiyyat al-masjid prayer as people need to sit and listen to the khutbah. According to Shafi’is, such people should establish it on condition that it does not take long and is not more than two rakats.

In the event that a person who enters a masjid does not establish this prayer due to reasons such as business or the start of a prohibited time, it is mustahab for him to recite, “Subhanallahi walhamdulillahi wa la ilaha illallahu wallahu akbar”; some scholars also add the sentence of, “wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billahil ‘aliyyil ‘azim.”

Hanafis state that establishing any prayer or establishing a fardh prayer in congregation will be enough for honoring the mosque, therefore, the prayer of a person who enters a masjid with the intention of establishing at least two rakats of fardh or nafl prayer will substitute for the tahiyyat al-masjid prayer even if he does not make intention for it, and so he will have its rewards too (Kasani, Bada’i, I, 190-191).

The tahhiyat (greeting) of al-Masjid al-Haram is to circumambulate the Ka’bah; those who enter there with the intention of tawaf should start performing it immediately and those who enter there without the intention of tawaf should establish the tahiyyat al-masjid prayer.

Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWAS