Dear respected Shaykh, assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. Which is better: to stay in the mosque waiting for the next prayer or going home and returning a second time to seek the reward of accumulating many footsteps to the mosque? Please give us a fatwa, may Allah reward you with the best of rewards. الرباط في المسجد انتظارا للصلاة أفضل من كثرة الخطى

Praise be to Allah, and may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family and his companions.

Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

As to what follows:

Staying in the mosque is better because it fulfills the reward of ribat (guarding the frontiers of Muslim lands) in its most complete manner. It is reported in the hadith of `Ala’, from his father, from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Shall I not tell you of that by means of which Allah erases sins and raises people in status? Performing wudhu properly even when it is inconvenient, taking a lot of steps to the mosque, and waiting for one prayer after another. That is the ribat for you, that is the ribat for you, that is the ribat for you.” [Muslim (251)]

The act of waiting for the prayer is fulfilled in all certainty for the one who remains in the mosque waiting for the prayer, even though the one outside the mosque whose heart is attached to the mosque has his virtue and reward. However, the one who stays in the mosque awaiting the prayer is of a higher rank than him. From among the evidences that show the virtue of this rank and its precedence over many steps taken walking to the mosque, is when the Prophet (peace be upon him), after mentioning it, repeated, “That is the ribat,” to show reverence for this issue and to make clear its importance. And Allah knows best.

Your brother,

Dr. Khalid al-Muslih

16 / 1 / 1429 AH

�_ mn� X�] ome out for it, then let him pray two units of prayer.” [Bukhari (1170) and Muslim (564)] 

And the sermon is known to be a prohibited time for prayer. Likewise, tahiyyatul-masjid can be performed during the rest of the prohibited times of prayer. And Allah knows best.

Your brother,

Dr. Khalid al-Muslih

20 / 9 / 1427 AH

he"�dy� X�] �� [Abu Dawud (1073) and Ibn Majah (1311)]

This hadith is not free from criticism, but it is strengthened by the previous narration. And Allah knows best. 

Your brother,

Dr. Khalid al-Muslih

29 / 9 / 1428 AH