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Did you pray your Tahiyat ul Masjid? 2008 November
16 by Ml. Muhammad
Shoayb Q. We got some
brothers that came to our masjid. They got employment in our area.
Everything we do is wrong [according to them]. Today was a big debate about how
bad we are to not read Tahiyatul Masjid every time we enter the masjid. I
know to read all types of salah is great, but is Tahiyatul Masjid Fard? Is it
worth fighting over? A. Tahiyatul
Masjid is not Fardh. It is part of those nafl (supergatory) or at best,
Mustahab (preferred) actions that are highly rewarding when done. Rasulullah
(Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) performed Tahiyat-al-Masjid and so did the
Sahaba (radiAllahu anh) and those who came thereafter. It continues up to this
day. However, some people forget that there is a time and place for it. It is
not something you must perform and impose upon others. It is fair to state: it
is a recommended practice, not an imposed practice. Here are some
great scholars who have commented regarding Tahiyat-al-Masjid: Allamah Ayni
has stated in Umdatul-Qari, (volume 4, page 202) that the Sahaba (radiAllahu
anh) would enter the masjid after leaving it, and not read Tahiyat-al-Masjid
upon re-entering. In other words, they did not bind themselves to always
performing it. If they read it, well and good; if they did not perform this
noble prayer, then it was not viewed as an act of transgression, nor was it
viewed as an action to be debated or contested upon. According to
Imaan Allahmah Nawai (Al-Minhaaj volume 5, page 232) and Hajr Asqalani,
(Fath-hul-Bari, volume 1, page number. 707 – Qadeemi) Tahiyat-al-Masjid is not
Fardh. The most one can claim regarding it is that it is Mustahab. This
means, a preference for it does exist, not an obligation. A preference is not a
demand. Also, from the
Quran and many Ahadith, including the one below, we learn that certain actions
are Fard — binding upon Muslims. From the list of things that are binding upon
Muslims, Tahiyat-al-Masjid was not one of them. Had Tahiyat-al-Masjid been made
obligatory, then we would have to do a make up for it if missed, or always
perform it upon entering the masjid. As we are aware, this is certainly not the
case, even for those who are adamant upon it. However, such laxity does not
apply to Fardh actions. حدثنا
قتيبة بن
سعيد حدثنا
إسماعيل بن
جعفر عن
أبي سهيل عن
أبيه عن طلحة
بن عبيد الله
Thus, from the
above Hadith mentioned in Bukhari, we learn that when a Bedouin came to
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and asked regarding prayers,
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) never mentioned that one must pray
beyond the five daily prayers except for when that person voluntarily chooses
to the performance of a Nafl (supergoatory prayer). Thus, to insist on having
one perform Tahiyat-al-Masjid would be to insist on making an addition to Deen
(religion). Such an insistence would be bid’ah (innovation). That would be
plain wrong. Yes, had this action fallen into the category of even
sunnat-muakkada (an emphasized sunnah for the Ummah), we would say it is worth
debating. Or arrangements should be made to keep up with it without failure.
But this is not the case. For now, the discussion should surround doing noble
deeds, and Tahiyat-al-Masjid is from amongst those actions that enhance one’s
nobility and closeness to Allah (subhanahu wa ta’aala). Just as one
cannot add to fardh salaah that which is not made obligatory, nor can one add
to fasting that which is not called for. For example, should one wish to fast
every Monday and Thursday, it is fine to do so, so long as he/she does not view
such fasting as an act of fardh, nor does the person insist that others fast
every Monday and Thursday. Likewise, for zakaat, if a person feels pious and
wishers to give 20% instead of the prescribed 2.5%, then one can do so, so long
as s/he does not want to bind others to their level of generosity. Islam never
wants to overpower us; our trying to overpower it only demeans our
religiosity. It would be
fair to say, when a person focuses on the essence of religion, the above Hadith
gives brilliant praise to an individual wishing to abide by sunanh. Islam
is about holding onto the most basic and most pertinent and necessary of
actions. Thus, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) mentioned regarding
the questioner in the above Hadith, that if the questionnaire merely did the
bare minimum for him to do, and obliged to it with sincerity and faithfulness,
he would be awarded with paradise. Thus, there is
no need for debating with people who lack insight to simple Islamic
prescriptions. Those who wish to make fardh that which is not fardh, let them
involve themselves in actions of innovation (bid’ah). On the other hand, if you
have the time, perform Tahiya-tul-Masjid, the reward of it is great, but just
do not insist others become ’self-righteous’ like yourself. Allah certainly
knows best. For your
benefit, you are welcome to listen to a
recording on the topic of bid’ah, which may be of help to you. http://islaminaction.wordpress.com/2008/11/16/did-you-pray-your-tahiyatul-masjid/ |
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