A Forgotten Sunnah of Greeting the Masjid Before Greeting the People

Taken from Zaadul Ma’aad of Ibn Qayyim رحمه الله

Ibn Qayyim (d. 751AH) said in Zaadul Ma’aad vol. 2 page 377-378(which is a ruff translation):

“And from his guidance صلى الله عليه و سلم is that when entering into the Masjid you begin with two raka’at of tahayyatal Masjid, then with greetings upon the people.

 Therefore, greeting the masjid is before greeting the people. Indeed this is the right of Allaah the Most High, and the salaam upon the creation is the right for them and the right of Allaah has more right to preceed…

And it was the habit of the people that one of them would enter the masjid and pray two raka’at then come and give salaam upon the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم, and it comes in a hadeeth(1)

Rifaa’ah ibn Raafi’ that the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سل was sitting in the masjid one day and Rifaa’ah said:

“We were with him (the Messenger صلى الله عليه و سل) when a bedouin came and prayed. His prayer was light (short) then he finished and gave salaam upon the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم and the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said:

“It’s upon you to return and pray, indeed you didn’t pray!”…

End of narration

Ibn Qayyim continues:

” so he disliked his (the man’s) prayer, and didn’t dislike (the fact) that he delayed the salaam upon him until after the prayer.”

Then the Shaykh ibn Qayyim رحمه الله ends by directing us to the three levels as it relates to the tahiyyat al Masjid:

“That you say when entering the Masjid:

1.) In the Name of Allaah and Salaah upon His Messenger

2.) then you pray two raka’at of greeting the Masjid

3.) then you send the salaam upon the people.

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(1) reported by at- Tirmidhi, Abu Daawud, ibn Hibbaan , and al-Haakim and in the recording of al-Bukhaaree and Muslim from the hadeeth of Abu Hurairah with a different wording.

Translation By:

أبو عبد الهادي خليل ديفس

Abu Abdul-Haadee Khaleel Davis