Is the greeting of the Sacred Mosque tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka'bah) or two rak'ahs of prayer?

Question : Honorable Shaykh, when entering the Sacred Mosque, is the greeting of the mosque two rak'ahs, or is tawaf obligatory?

Answer : When entering the Sacred Mosque, if you are in a state of worship, for example performing 'Umrah (the lesser pilgrimage), then start with tawaf, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to start with tawaf. But if you come to pray or to attend a lesson, then you pray the greeting of the mosque. This is based on the saying of the Prophet It is well known that this Sacred Mosque is the best of the mosques. So the result is that whoever enters for tawaf should start with tawaf, and whoever enters for something other than tawaf should start with the two rak'ahs.