Times When Prayer Is Prohibited and the Greeting of the Mosque

Question:
This questioner says: Honorable Shaykh, are there times when prayer is prohibited? And when are they? Because I see people entering the mosque at sunset and praying the greeting of the mosque. Please give us a ruling, may Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
The times when prayer is prohibited are known: from the appearance of the dawn until the sun has risen, except for the Fajr prayer and the sunnah of Fajr; when the sun is standing still before the midday time, for a short while; and after the 'Asr prayer until sunset. These are the times when prayer is prohibited. No prayer is performed in them except for prayers with a cause, such as the sunnah of the greeting of the mosque, which is permissible. It has no time of prohibition. If one enters the mosque before sunset, he prays the greeting. Or if he circumambulates, he prays the sunnah of circumambulation after 'Asr. Or if there is an eclipse, for example, he prays the eclipse prayer after 'Asr. The point is that prayers with a cause have no time of prohibition, according to the correct view. As for a person who is sitting and stands up to pray after 'Asr, no. Or if he prays after the dawn, no. That is, they have no cause. But if a person enters the mosque after the dawn, sits in the mosque, or attends a circle of knowledge, or after 'Asr, he prays the greeting of the mosque, because it has a cause. Or if he circumambulates after 'Asr or after the dawn, he prays the sunnah of circumambulation because it has a cause. May Allah guide them all.