The author (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned in his book *Riyad al-Salihin* two chapters in this lesson; the first chapter is on the greeting of the mosque.
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The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful:
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned in his book *Riyad al-Salihin* two chapters in this lesson; the first chapter is on the greeting of the mosque, and that it is a confirmed recommended practice when one enters the mosque at any time, and that it is disliked to sit until one prays two rak'ahs, and that there is no difference between the two rak'ahs being the greeting of the mosque, a regular voluntary prayer, an obligatory prayer, a prayer for guidance, or otherwise; the important thing is not to sit until one prays two rak'ahs.
So we will first speak about: The recommended practice of entering the mosque is very confirmed, to the extent that some scholars said: It is obligatory. And what indicates its strong confirmation is: : meaning, he lightened them in order to listen to the sermon. And if the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered him to pray while the sermon was being delivered, even though listening to the sermon is obligatory, that was an indication that the greeting of the mosque is obligatory. And if there were not texts indicating the absence of obligation, we would have said it is obligatory. But it is a confirmed recommended practice. At any time, if you enter after the Fajr prayer, pray two rak'ahs; after the 'Asr prayer, pray two rak'ahs; at sunset, pray two rak'ahs; at sunrise, pray two rak'ahs. Do not sit. If you enter and the imam is delivering the sermon, pray two rak'ahs. If you enter and the people are in a lesson to listen to the lesson, pray two rak'ahs. In any state, at any time, you must pray two rak'ahs. But the following are exceptions:
First: If the imam enters, it is not recommended for him to pray two rak'ahs; rather, he proceeds to the pulpit, greets the people, and delivers the sermon.
Second: If one enters the Sacred Mosque for circumambulation, the circumambulation suffices for him in place of the two rak'ahs. As for one who enters the Sacred Mosque for prayer, he is like others in other mosques; he prays the greeting of the mosque. What is widespread among the common people that the greeting of the Sacred Mosque is circumambulation has no basis. Rather, it is said: One who enters the Sacred Mosque to circumambulate, the circumambulation suffices for him in place of the greeting of the mosque. And one who enters to listen to a lesson, or to wait for an obligatory prayer, or the like, is like others in other mosques; he does not sit until he prays two rak'ahs.
It is recommended that if one enters the mosque and the imam is delivering the sermon on Friday, he should pray two light rak'ahs. And if one enters and the mu'adhdhin is calling the adhan, if it is not Friday, he waits standing until he follows the mu'adhdhin, and makes supplication with the supplication after the adhan, then prays two rak'ahs.
And if it is Friday and the adhan is the second one, he prays the greeting of the mosque until he is free to listen to the sermon. This is what the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) said.
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned in his book *Riyad al-Salihin* two chapters in this lesson; the first chapter is on the greeting of the mosque, and that it is a confirmed recommended practice when one enters the mosque at any time, and that it is disliked to sit until one prays two rak'ahs, and that there is no difference between the two rak'ahs being the greeting of the mosque, a regular voluntary prayer, an obligatory prayer, a prayer for guidance, or otherwise; the important thing is not to sit until one prays two rak'ahs.
So we will first speak about: The recommended practice of entering the mosque is very confirmed, to the extent that some scholars said: It is obligatory. And what indicates its strong confirmation is:
A man entered on Friday while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) was delivering the sermon, so he sat. He said to him: "Did you pray?" He said: "No." He said: "Stand up and pray two rak'ahs, and make them light."
أن رجلا دخل يوم الجمعة والنبي صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم يخطب فجلس ، فقال له : أصليت ؟ قال : لا قال : قم فصل ركعتين وتجوز فيهماFirst: If the imam enters, it is not recommended for him to pray two rak'ahs; rather, he proceeds to the pulpit, greets the people, and delivers the sermon.
Second: If one enters the Sacred Mosque for circumambulation, the circumambulation suffices for him in place of the two rak'ahs. As for one who enters the Sacred Mosque for prayer, he is like others in other mosques; he prays the greeting of the mosque. What is widespread among the common people that the greeting of the Sacred Mosque is circumambulation has no basis. Rather, it is said: One who enters the Sacred Mosque to circumambulate, the circumambulation suffices for him in place of the greeting of the mosque. And one who enters to listen to a lesson, or to wait for an obligatory prayer, or the like, is like others in other mosques; he does not sit until he prays two rak'ahs.
It is recommended that if one enters the mosque and the imam is delivering the sermon on Friday, he should pray two light rak'ahs. And if one enters and the mu'adhdhin is calling the adhan, if it is not Friday, he waits standing until he follows the mu'adhdhin, and makes supplication with the supplication after the adhan, then prays two rak'ahs.
And if it is Friday and the adhan is the second one, he prays the greeting of the mosque until he is free to listen to the sermon. This is what the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) said.