Greeting the mosque during the prohibited time after 'Asr

Question:
We are students who come to this mosque after the 'Asr prayer, and some of our classmates come between 'Asr and Maghrib, so they do not pray the two rak'ahs as a greeting to the mosque on the grounds that it is a prohibited time. What is the correct ruling, may Allah grant you success?

Answer:
The matter is broad. If they come after 'Asr, the matter is broad. If they follow the opinion of those who say the mosque should be greeted, they pray the greeting. If they follow the opinion of those who hold that one should not pray during the prohibited time, they may do so according to what appears stronger to them. They are students of knowledge, and they act on what appears stronger to them. This is a matter of scholarly disagreement, and a strong disagreement where both sides are equal. A student of knowledge chooses or prefers what appears stronger to him. The default is that the greeting to the mosque is a recommended practice (sunnah). Even if he sits down, he sees its permissibility, and there is nothing on him, because it is a recommended practice. One is not blamed for performing it, and one is not punished for leaving it.