If a worshipper enters the mosque on Friday at the time of the adhan, should he repeat it with the mu'adhdhin, or should he perform the greeting of the mosque?

The questioner:
May Allah reward you and do you good. The other message for this episode came from the listener 'Adil ibn Ahmad al-Hatami from Yemen. He has two questions. In the first, he says: On Friday, at the time of the adhan, I see some worshippers entering the mosque while the mu'adhdhin is calling to prayer. They remain standing until the mu'adhdhin finishes his adhan, and then they perform the greeting of the mosque. Is this permissible? Or is it obligatory for them to perform the greeting of the mosque immediately upon entering, even if the mu'adhdhin is calling to prayer? Or is the recommended practice what they did, waiting for the mu'adhdhin and then performing the greeting? Please give us a ruling, may Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh:
Doing so is permissible, but it is better for them to hasten to perform the two rak'ahs, even if the mu'adhdhin is calling to prayer, so that they may be free to listen to the khutbah. This is what is best.

The questioner:
If it were other than the Friday khutbah, such as one of the five obligatory prayers, would the matter be different, O Shaykh? You said so that they may catch listening to the khutbah?

The Shaykh:
Yes, if it is other than Friday, then it is better for him to wait, follow the imam, and recite the dhikr after the mu'adhdhin finishes, and then perform the voluntary prayer, because he will not miss anything. This is unlike the one who enters while the mu'adhdhin is calling to prayer before the khatib, for he should hasten to pray so that he may be free to listen to the khutbah.