Abandoning Tahiyyatul MasJid, the prior-Sunnah Salaah, and doing them towards a Sutrah Upon entering the mosque, some people commit the following mistakes: 1. Standing Away from the Wall: The first is standing in the mosque far away from the wall which is in the direction of the Qibalah and performing Salaah without placing a Sutrah or ever coming closer to the wall although the one doing Salaah has more right in them or the pole for that matter than the one just sitting near them talking to others, as was narrated from Umar (RA). [Bukhaari] Abandoning Tahiyyatul Masjid: Abu Qataadah related from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to have said: when you enter the mosque, perform two Rakahs before you sit. [Bukhaaree]
In another narration, Abu Qataadah entered the mosque and found the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sitting amongst his Sahaabah. Abu Oataadah joined them. Thereupon, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: Why didnﾒt you perform two Rakahs? Abu Oataadah said: I saw you sitting amongst people, so I joined you. He then said: When any of you enter a mosque, he/she must not sit until he/she does two Rakahs. [Muslim]
The aforementioned hadeeth indicates: First: the legality of doing two Rakahs when one enters a mosque. Second: the falsehood of the view that states that one should not do them if one sits before doing them. This is clearly stated in Abu Dhars narration. He (the Prophet) once entered the mosque [then Sat down]. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) asked him: Did you perform the two Rakahs Salaah? AbQ Dhar answered in the negative.
There upon, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: Stand up and perform them. [Ibn Hibbaan] Ibn Hibban narrated the aforementioned hadeeth in a section titled with "Tahiyyatul Masjid is not missed by sitting before doing it." Sulaik's narration affirms the same point even when the Imaam is delivering the Friday Khutbah. In case the Iqaamah is recited and one is doing Tahiyyatul Masjid, one should stop doing his Salaah and join the Imaam as is going to be discussed later. In case there is no enough time to do Tahiyyatul-Masjid followed by the Sunnah or Obligatory Sa/aah one is permitted to do the same Salaah with both intentions.
An- Nawawee stated that the Shaafiee scholars agreed unanimously that one could do the obligatory Salaah and Tahiyyatul Masjid at the same time. Having done a long intensive research about this, no contradictory opinion was found. Reciting AI-lkhlaas Surah before the Iqaamah: Shaikh AI-Qaasimi said: Reciting AI Ikhlaas Surah (0112) thrice before the Iqaamah is recited - as a sign of announcing the beginning of Salaah is an act of Bidah (innovation) which is totally baseless and not needed. Such is the case with reciting verses of the Ouraan by a reciter before the Iqaamah is made. And this also causes inconvenience to those who are performing Salaah.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade such an act; he said: Do not recite Ouraan loudly and cause inconvenience for other people. [Ahmad] AI-Qaasimi said: I read in "Hawaashi Matn Shaikh Khalil" that whoever recites Ouraan in a loud voice in the mosque should be ordered to do it silently, keep silent, or leave the mosque. So is the case with saying [Recite] AIFaatihah to the glory of the most honored of alI;Messengers, AI-Faatihah for the Souls of all Muslims or AI-Faatihah to whom we are standing in his presence if there is a grave in the mosque. We seek refuge with Allaah from such heinous acts.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited