Q. Muslims learn at a very young age that there are four imams whom we can follow in religious matters. However, some people say that we must not follow these four imams, but we must follow the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Please comment.
M. Fasih
A. It is true that we must follow the Qur’an and the Sunnah. The four imams, and all scholars for that matter, agree that these two are the sources to be followed. Indeed, in all their efforts, the four imams, and all scholars, have sought to make it easier for a Muslim to follow the Qur’an and the Sunnah. They simply explained what the Qur’an and the Sunnah say about all sorts of problems, and gave guidance on how to implement them.
If you are troubled by someone who insists on this view, you can ask him: If a person is not in a position to understand the Qur’anic text or the Hadith statement properly, how would he know what the Qur’an and the Sunnah requires?
He will say that he must refer to a scholar who would explain it to him. This is what was done by the four imams and this is what other scholars do now.
Greeting the Mosque
Q. Should one offer the prayer of greeting the mosque every time he enters a mosque, even though he offers all his prayers there, or is once a day sufficient?
S.N. Shafiullah
A. The prayer known as tahiyyat al-masjid, or greeting to the mosque, consists of two short rak’ahs one offers on entry. This is a Sunnah the Prophet (peace be upon him) did. When we say of anything that it is a Sunnah, it means that it is recommended.
By definition, what is recommended is not obligatory. So there is no obligation here. One offers this prayer if there is time and he feels he wants to offer it.
Moreover, this prayer may be combined at the same time with any obligatory or recommended prayer one wants to do as one enters the mosque.
So, if you get to the mosque after Dhuhr has been called and before the congregational prayer begins, you want to offer the Dhuhr Sunnah. You offer this Sunnah intending it as greeting to the mosque at the same time.
This means that you offer two rak’ahs but earn the reward for four. The same applies if you find the congregation about to start and you join it, intending the greeting to the mosque Sunnah to be combined with the obligatory prayer.
