IS PRAYING TAHIYYATUL MASJID AN OBLIGATION or A RECOMMENDATION?
TAHIYYATUL MASJID means to greet the masjid by offering two Sunnah rakaats whenever we enter into any masjid or Mosque which is popularly term as greeting the masjid.
Scholars disagree whether praying two rakaats of prayer when we enter the masjid is an obligation (wajib) or a recommendation (mustahab). The primary evidence under discussion is the following narration:
Abu Qatadah reported: The Messenger of ALLAH, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
إِذَا دَخَلَ أَحَدُكُمْ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَجْلِسَ
When one of you enters the mosque, then let him pray two rakaats before he sits down. Sahih Bukhari 433, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi.
In another narration, the Prophet said:
فَلَا يَجْلِسْ حَتَّى يَرْكَعَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ
Let him not sit down until he prays two rakaats. Sahih Muslim 714, Grade: Sahih.
Imam An-Nawawi comments on these traditions, saying: In this tradition is the recommendation to greet the mosque with two bowings of prayer and it is the prophetic tradition (sunnah) according to the consensus of the Muslims. It was narrated by Al-Qadi Iyad from Dawud and his companions that it is an obligation. In this is an indication that it is disapproved to sit without performing prayer and its disapproval is of a suggestive nature. Sahih Muslim.
Scholars such as Al-Qadi Iyad and others who maintain that two bowings are an obligation take the order of the Prophet as a general command. Other scholars such as Imam Muslim and An-Nawawi maintain that two bowings are a recommendation and not an obligation. This reminder is to bring across the importance of this sunnah so let's just embrace it with passion and offer it whenever we enter the masjid for whatever reasons even if Khutbah is ongoing on Friday and you enter.
May ALLAH keep guiding us all and aid us to be among those who are blessed to meet Ramadan with good health. Aameen.