(208) Chapter: Inducement to Perform Tahiyyat-ul-Masjid (Upon Entering the Mosque)

Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
I came to the Prophet (ﷺ) when he was in the mosque, and he said to me, "Perform two Rak'ah prayer."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary: Both the foregoing Ahadith stress on performing two Rak`ah upon entering the mosque. According to Imam An-Nawawi's title of the chapter, everyone who comes to the mosque and performs Fard Salat or Sunnah Ratibah (compulsory), he will be exempted from performing two Rak`ah. Some `Ulama' are of the opinion that the order in this respect makes it compulsory, and for this reason they held Tahiyyat-ul-Masjid as Wajib (obligatory), while others think that it is a liked act (i.e., Mandub) and thus comes in the category of Mustahabb (desirable).