All about Tahiyyat al-Masjid

by Asma bint Shameem

Tahiyyat al-Masjid is the prayer we read when we enter the masjid as a "greeting" to it. It comprises of two rakaat prayer and is a super easy means of earning rewards as well as the pleasure of Allaah Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala.

So let's see what it's all about.

🌷It's an instruction of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam.

🍃He said:

"When one of you enters the masjid, let him not sit down until he has prayed two rak'ahs." (al-Bukhaari, Muslim)

🌷It is a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Sunnah (mu'akkadah).

🍃Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen said:

"The view that Tahiyyat al-masjid is obligatory is a strong view, but the more likely to be correct is the view that it is a confirmed Sunnah (Sunnah mu'akkadah)." (Majmoo' al-Fataawa)

🍃 And ibn Hajar said:

"The scholars are unanimously agreed that the command in this case is a recommendation (as opposed to an obligation)."

🌷It's the FIRST THING we should do when we enter the masjid.

Since the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam specifically told us not to sit down before we pray these two rak'aat, the FIRST THING we should do when we enter the masjid, is to enter with our right foot, say the Sunnah Dua that's recommended upon entering the masjid, then IMMEDIATELY PROCEED to pray the two rak'aat of Tahiyyat al-Masjid before sitting down, and even before saying salaam to the people or doing anything else.

🍃 Ibn al-Qayyim said:

"According to the Sunnah of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam,one should perform the prayer of Tahiyyat al-Masjid before greeting the people inside the masjid.

Performing the prayer of Tahiyyat-ul-Masjid should be done BEFORE greeting people since it is the RIGHT of Allaah, the Exalted; while greeting worshippers is the right of people. Indeed, the Right of Allaah, the Exalted should be given precedence over that of people."

Our role models are the honorable Sahaabah and the very first thing they would do upon entering the masjid, was to perform the prayer of Tahiyyat al-Masjid, and THEN they would go greet the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam and the others.

🍃Once a Bedouin entered the masjid and prayed but he did not perform the Rukoo' and Sujood properly.

Then he came and greeted the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam with Salaam.

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam greeted him back and said: "Go back and pray, for you have not prayed." (Bukhaari, Muslim)

In this hadeeth, the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam only criticized the Bedouin for not performing the prayer properly.

He did not admonish him for not greeting the Prophet first, before praying Tahiyyat al-Masjid.

Had it been proper to greet the people first, before praying Tahiyyat al-Masjid, surely the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam would have corrected the man and would have told him to do so.

🍃 Regarding this issue ibn al-Qayyim says:

"Therefore when a Muslim enters a masjid and there are people inside it, he has three due greetings to be offered respectively.

🔹First, he should recite the supplication of entering the mosque.

🔹Second, it is recommended for him to perform the two-Rak'ah prayer of Tahiyyat-ul-Masjid.

🔹Third, he should greet the people inside the masjid."

(Zaad Al-Ma'aad)

🔺 QUESTION ?

What if we enter the masjid at times when it's prohibited to pray?

Yes, it’s true that the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam has prohibited praying nawaafil after Fajr until sunrise and after Asr until Maghrib.

However, this is a GENERAL prohibition and NOT something absolute.

Therefore, it is ALLOWED to pray Tahiyyat al-Masjid even during these prohibited times because there is a SPECIFIC REASON for this prayer (that is, entry into a masjid).

🍃 The scholars of the Standing Committee said:

“The Sunnah for the one who enters the masjid at ANY time is to pray tahiyyat al-masjid, because of the general meaning of the words of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam: “When one of you enters the masjid, let him not sit down until he has prayed two ra ‘ahs. Saheeh – agreed upon.”

[Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa’imah (7/137)]

🍃 Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:

“If a person enters the masjid after Fajr prayer or after ‘Asr prayer, he should not sit down until he has prayed two rak’ahs, because there is a reason for this prayer.”

(Majmoo’ Fataawaa 14/344)

🔺 QUESTION ?

What to do if the Salaah has already started?

If the prayer has already started, then we should join the Jama'ah and Tahiyyat al-Masjid is WAIVED in this situation.

Here, Tahiyyat al-Masjid is not necessary because the point is to perform two Rak'aah before sitting, and this takes place by performing ANY two Rak'aah prayer.

🔺 QUESTION ?

What if it's Jumu'ah and the khutbah is going on?

Sometimes we get to the masjid a little late for Jumu'ah and the khutbah has already started.

In this situation, although listening to the khutbah is important, we should still pray Tahiyyatul-Masjid, but we should make them short and quick.

That's the instructions of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam.

🍃 Sulaik al-Ghatfani radhi Allaahu anhu came to the masjid on Friday while the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam was delivering the Khutbah.

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam asked him:

"Did you offer the Salah?"

He said: 'No'.

He told him: "Pray two Raka'h and make them quick".

And then he said: "If one of you comes to the masjid on the day of Jumu'ah and Imam is delivering the Khutbah, he should pray two Raka'h and make them quick."

(al-Bukhaari and Muslim).

🔺 QUESTION ?

What if I enter the masjid and the adhaan is being called?

Sometimes just as we enter the masjid, we hear the adhaan.

In this situation, should we pray Tahiyyatul-Masjid or should we reply to the adhaan, which is also something the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam recommended us to do?

The ulama tell us that we should reply to the adhaan and keep standing until the adhaan is finished.

Then once the adhaan is over, we can pray the two rak'aah of Tahiyyat al-Masjid.

This way we get double rewards...one for replying to the adhaan and the other for praying Tahiyyat al-Masjid

🍃 Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:

"It is preferable for him to repeat after the muezzin, then make du'aa' after that as narrated (in the Sunnah), then pray Tahiyyat al-Masjid."

(Fataawa Arkaan al-Islam)

🔺 QUESTION ?

What if it's the adhaan for the khutbah of Jumu'ah?

Should we still repeat the adhaan first or do Tahiyyat al-Masjid first for fear of missing the khutbah?

🍃 Shaikh Ibn 'Uthaymeen said:

"In this case he should pray Tahiyyat al-Masjid (and not repeat the adhaan) so that he can then listen to the khutbah.

The basis for saying that was that listening to the khutbah is obligatory whereas repeating after the muezzin is not obligatory, so observing that which is obligatory takes prioirty over observing that which is not obligatory."

(Fataawa Arkaan al-Islam)

🔺 QUESTION ?

What if there's only enough time to pray the Sunnah before the Jama'ah (congregation) starts?

Can I combine Tahiyyat al-Masjid with my regular Sunnah prayers?

Yes, although it's allowed to read the regular Sunnah prayer upon entering the masjid along with the intention to read Tahiyyat al-Masjid, it's better that we pray Tahiyyat al-Masjid separately and the Sunnah separately because obviously the more prayers we do, the more rewards we'll get.

But if there's not enough time to do them separately then it's better to do the Sunnah with the niyyah of Tahiyyat al-Masjid as well.

🔺QUESTION ?

What if I go out of the masjid for a short time, do I need to offer Tahiyyatul masjid again?

Shaikh Saleh al-Fawzaan said:

“If you exited with the intention to return and you returned soon then Tahiyyatul masjid is not upon you, because you take the ruling of being sat in the Masjid.

As for if the time was long, then when you return, you perform Tahiyyatul masjid because the separation was long and the first sitting has finished and this is a second sitting.”

🔺 QUESTION ?

Is Tahiyyat al-Masjid due in a musalla, Eid hall, etc?

No there's no need to pray Tahiyyat al-Masjid in a musalla, prayer rooms in schools and hospitals or Eid halls, etc because Tahiyyat al-Masjid is only due in a MASJID.

🍃The Ulama of the Standing Committee said:

"A masjid is a place that has been set aside for offering the obligatory prayers on a permanent basis and is devoted for that purpose.

A prayer room or prayer place (musalla) is a place that is used for prayer

occasionally, such as the 'Eid prayers, funeral prayers and so on, and it is not set aside as a waqf for the five daily prayers.

It is not Sunnah to offer the prayer to "greet the masjid" when entering a musalla; rather it is Sunnah to offer this prayer when entering a masjid." (Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa'imah)

🔺 QUESTION ❓

Should we pray Tahiyyat al-Masjid even in Masjid al-Haraam?

If we are entering Masjid al-Haraam with the niyyah of n, whether for Umrah or Hajj or voluntary Tawaaf, then we can proceed with the tawaaf without having to pray Tahiyyat al-Masjid.

But if we're going to Masjid al-Haraam for prayer, reading Qur'an or attending a lesson etc then we should pray Tahiyyat al-Masjid, because after all, Masjid al-Haraam is still a masjid.

🍃 Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:

“Masjid al-Haraam is like any other masjid: the one who enters it to pray, listen to a reminder and so on should pray two rak’ahs, as in any other masjid, because of the general meaning of the words of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam: “When one of you enters the masjid, let him not sit until he prays two rak’ahs.” (al-Bukhaari 1167).

But if he enters the masjid to do tawaaf, such as a person who is doing ‘umrah and enters the masjid to do the tawaaf of ‘umrah, or to do a voluntary tawaaf, then in this case the tawaaf replaces the two rak’ahs for greeting the masjid, because when he does tawaaf he is going to pray two rak’ahs after tawaaf.”

[Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (22/286)]

And Allaah knows best