If a worshipper enters the mosque before sunset for the Maghrib prayer, should he pray the greeting of the mosque, or sit, or what should he do? Please issue a ruling, may Allah reward you.
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The questioner : From the questions of our brother Abdul Latif from Riyadh, he says: If a worshipper enters the mosque before sunset for the Maghrib prayer, should he pray the greeting of the mosque, or sit, or what should he do? Please issue a ruling, may Allah reward you?
The Shaykh : The stronger opinion regarding the prohibited times is that the prohibition of prayer in them is only for absolute prayer that has no cause, such as if a person is sitting in the mosque reading, or sitting listening to dhikr or knowledge or the like, and then it occurs to him to stand up and pray; this is forbidden for him to do in the prohibited times.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : And the prohibited times, as we know, are from the Fajr prayer until the sun rises the length of a spear, and this is estimated at about a quarter of an hour to a third of an hour from its rising.
The second time is before the sun reaches its zenith, by about ten minutes, until the sun passes its zenith.
The third time is from the 'Asr prayer until sunset. The criterion is the Fajr prayer and the 'Asr prayer; the criterion is the person's own prayer, not the congregational prayer. So if it is estimated that the congregation prayed, but you did not pray, you may offer voluntary prayer and there is no blame on you, because you did not pray 'Asr.
The stronger opinion is that the prohibition of prayer in the prohibited times is only for absolute prayer that has no cause. As for prayer that has a cause, there is no prohibition in it, or no prohibition regarding it; rather, a person prays it whenever its cause is found. Among these is the greeting of the mosque. So if you enter the mosque after the 'Asr prayer to listen to dhikr or to wait for the Maghrib prayer or the like, you do not sit until you pray two rak'ahs, due to the generality of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)Sahih al-Bukhari 1167. And whether you came to the mosque, or whether you entered the mosque after the 'Asr prayer at an early time, or you entered the mosque at sunset, you do not sit until you pray two rak'ahs. Likewise, if a person has a matter in which he wants to seek guidance (istikharah), and this matter would be missed if he delayed the prayer until the prohibited time ends, then in this case he prays and seeks guidance, and there is no blame, due to the presence of the cause.
Likewise, if he performs wudu' in a prohibited time, he prays the sunnah of wudu'. And likewise, if he prayed in his mosque and came to another mosque and found them praying, he prays with them, even if that is after his 'Asr prayer or after his Fajr prayer. Because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed with the people, or led the people in prayer in Mina. When he finished, he found two men who had not prayed, so he said to them, may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him:Sunan an-Nasa'i 858Sahih (Darussalam). They said, or they said: O Messenger of Allah, we prayed in our tents. He said: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 219Sahih (Darussalam).
In summary, the prohibition of prayer, specifically voluntary prayer, is only for voluntary prayer that has no cause. As for voluntary prayer that has a cause, there is no prohibition regarding it. Whenever its cause is found, at any hour of night or day, he prays the prayer for which the cause was found. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : The stronger opinion regarding the prohibited times is that the prohibition of prayer in them is only for absolute prayer that has no cause, such as if a person is sitting in the mosque reading, or sitting listening to dhikr or knowledge or the like, and then it occurs to him to stand up and pray; this is forbidden for him to do in the prohibited times.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : And the prohibited times, as we know, are from the Fajr prayer until the sun rises the length of a spear, and this is estimated at about a quarter of an hour to a third of an hour from its rising.
The second time is before the sun reaches its zenith, by about ten minutes, until the sun passes its zenith.
The third time is from the 'Asr prayer until sunset. The criterion is the Fajr prayer and the 'Asr prayer; the criterion is the person's own prayer, not the congregational prayer. So if it is estimated that the congregation prayed, but you did not pray, you may offer voluntary prayer and there is no blame on you, because you did not pray 'Asr.
The stronger opinion is that the prohibition of prayer in the prohibited times is only for absolute prayer that has no cause. As for prayer that has a cause, there is no prohibition in it, or no prohibition regarding it; rather, a person prays it whenever its cause is found. Among these is the greeting of the mosque. So if you enter the mosque after the 'Asr prayer to listen to dhikr or to wait for the Maghrib prayer or the like, you do not sit until you pray two rak'ahs, due to the generality of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
If anyone of you enters a Mosque, he should not sit until he has offered a tworak` at prayer.
إذا دخل أحدكم المسجد فلا يجلس حتى يصلي ركعتينLikewise, if he performs wudu' in a prohibited time, he prays the sunnah of wudu'. And likewise, if he prayed in his mosque and came to another mosque and found them praying, he prays with them, even if that is after his 'Asr prayer or after his Fajr prayer. Because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed with the people, or led the people in prayer in Mina. When he finished, he found two men who had not prayed, so he said to them, may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him:
What kept you from praying with us?
ما منعكما أن تصليا معناwhen you pray in your camp then you come to a Masjid with a congregation, then pray with them. That will be a voluntary prayer for you.
إذا صليتما في رحالكما ثم أتيتما مسجد جماعة فصليا معهم فإنها لكما نافلةIn summary, the prohibition of prayer, specifically voluntary prayer, is only for voluntary prayer that has no cause. As for voluntary prayer that has a cause, there is no prohibition regarding it. Whenever its cause is found, at any hour of night or day, he prays the prayer for which the cause was found. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.