Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam Alaykum,

 
Faurther question - Tarweeh is sunna and said in the Masjid, normally many people leave far away from the Masjid by the time they arrive at the Masjid, salah has already started, and before one joins sala in the Masjid, a Tahiyat Masjid Sala of 2 rakaa must be performed, can I have some clarification on this.

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Answer:

Tahiyatul masjid or join congregation

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Al-Muwatta Hadith 9.60

Yahya related from Malik, from Amir ibn Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr, from Amr ibn Sulaymaz-Zuraqi, from Abu Qatadaal-Ansari that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "Whenever you enter the masjid, you should pray two rakahs (tahiyat-ul-masjid) before you sit down."

It is only when one enters the ‘masjid’ and intends to sit down and wait for the congregation prayer to start when one is required and guided to offer the two-rakah ‘tahiyat-ul-masjid’ prayer.

If one enters a ‘masjid’ and finds that a prayer in congregation is already in process, and one intends to join the congregation……then one is neither required nor should one offer the two-rakah ‘tahiyat-ul-masjid’ prayer, but rather one should immediately join the congregational prayer with the other believers. The Messenger of Allah (saws) guided that the prayer offered alone while a congregation is in process in the ‘masjid’ is not acceptable to Allah Subhanah.

Wabsah relates that the Messenger of Allah (saws) saw a man praying behind the rows by himself and the Prophet (saws) ordered him to repeat his ‘salah’.

Related by Bukhari and Muslim.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan