6/11. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 714a — Tahiyyat al-Masjid Prayer
It is recommended to greet the masjid by praying two rak`ah, and it is disliked to sit before praying these two rak`ah, and this is prescribed at all times
Tahiyyat al-Masjid Hadith: Pray Two Rak'ahs Before Sitting
Sahih Muslim : 714a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 714a
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ بْنِ قَعْنَبٍ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ سُلَيْمٍ الزُّرَقِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِذَا دَخَلَ أَحَدُكُمُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَجْلِسَ " .
Abu Qatadah Narrated from:
Abu Qatada (a Companion of the Prophet) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: When any one of you enters the mosque, he should observe two rak'ahs (of Nafl prayer) before sitting.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 714aIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 84USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1540
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 714a
This Hadith is a clear text about Tahiyyat al-Masjid, the two rak'ahs prayed when entering the mosque before sitting. Abu Qatada reported that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said that when one of you enters the mosque, he should pray two rak'ahs before he sits. The main message is simple: entering the mosque should be marked by prayer, not by sitting right away. The Hadith does not add extra details here; it gives a direct instruction. For people searching for hadith about two rakahs before sitting in the mosque, this report is one of the clearest wordings. It shows a respectful way to begin time inside the mosque.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person entering the mosque is instructed to pray two rak'ahs before sitting.
- The mosque is entered with worship, not only with physical presence.
- The teaching is short and easy to practice.
- The Hadith links sitting in the mosque with first offering prayer.
