What is the ruling on the greeting of the mosque? How does one respond to the dissenting view? And is it obligatory during the prohibited times according to those who hold it to be obligatory, with the evidence cited?

The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings.
What is the ruling on the two rak'ahs of the greeting of the mosque, with the evidence cited? What is the evidence of the dissenting party to refute them? And are those who hold that the two rak'ahs of the greeting of the mosque are obligatory when entering the mosque during a prohibited time required to pray two rak'ahs or not? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.

The Shaykh : Yes, may Allah bless you. First: saying salam when asking a question is not from the Sunnah, and we have pointed this out many times.

The questioner : I was not present.

The Shaykh : No, I was not present. Why? Because the Companions were with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and they would sit and not say salam when they wanted to ask a question. Yes, if a person comes to the circle and says salam, there is no harm in that. But considering that you were not present at the beginning, we say: Upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
As for the greeting of the mosque, the view that it is obligatory is a strong view. The view that it is obligatory and that a person, when he enters the mosque, should not sit until he prays two rak'ahs as an obligation—this is a strong view, without doubt. And whoever holds this view is not to be censured. The evidence for this is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The original ruling regarding prohibition is that it is forbidden. And this is an act of worship, not a matter of etiquette. As for matters of etiquette, if a command comes regarding them, it is for recommendation unless there is evidence to the contrary. But as for matters of worship, the original ruling is that they are obligatory. This indicates the obligation of the greeting of the mosque. And this is supported by The aspect of the evidence for the obligation is that the Messenger of Allah interrupted the sermon and asked this man.
Second: He ordered him to stand and pray. It is known that if he stands to pray, he will be occupied with his prayer from what? From listening to the sermon. And listening to the sermon is obligatory. And one does not become occupied with something from an obligation except that that thing is also obligatory.
Third: The Messenger said: "Make them brief," indicating that he should only do what is necessary, and that doing them is a necessity. These are the evidences of those who hold this view. This is the greatest evidence indicating the obligation, and it is a strong view.
As for those who said that it is not obligatory, they cited hadiths as evidence, among which is:
That the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would enter on Friday and not pray two rak'ahs, being occupied with the sermon, and not pray two rak'ahs until he passed away (peace and blessings be upon him).
And among them is the story of the three men who entered while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was with his Companions. Some of them sat behind the circle, some entered the circle, and some left. It was not reported in the hadith that they prayed the greeting of the mosque. But the argument from this hadith is weak. Why? Because it is known in this hadith that it was not reported that they prayed. And the non-reporting is what? It is not a report of absence. That is, it did not come in the hadith that they did not pray, but it appears that they did not pray. So the argument from this is weak.
Similarly, the story of Ka'b ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) when he came and greeted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he was with his Companions after Allah had accepted his repentance. Talhah ibn 'Ubayd Allah (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up to congratulate him and came forward and greeted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). And there is nothing in the hadith indicating that he prayed. But the argument from this hadith also has some weakness, because it is possible that Ka'b ibn Malik was not in a state of wudu'. And whoever enters the mosque without wudu' does not pray, for what? as came in the hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
But I used to hold that the greeting of the mosque is obligatory, but afterwards the view that it is not obligatory became stronger for me. And with this, if someone says it is obligatory, we do not censure him and we do not deny it. As for praying it during the prohibited times, the correct view is that it is prayed during the prohibited times. Even if we say it is a Sunnah, because it is a prayer with a cause, and every prayer with a cause is performed even during the prohibited times. And on this basis, if you enter the mosque after you have prayed the 'Asr prayer, you do not sit until you pray two rak'ahs. Or after you have prayed the Fajr prayer, you do not sit until you pray two rak'ahs, whether you entered to read the Qur'an, to listen to knowledge, or for something else. You do not sit until you pray two rak'ahs.

The questioner : If it is before the setting of the sun.

The Shaykh : Even if it is five minutes before sunset.