In the name of Allah, and prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad, the truthful and trustworthy... To proceed: The question is: What is the ruling for someone who enters the mosque on Friday and finds that the Khatib has already begun his sermon (Friday sermon)? Should he sit and listen, or should he pray the two rak'ahs for greeting the mosque, and what is the opinion of the jurists on this matter?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. It is sunnah for one who enters the mosque while the Imam is delivering the Friday sermon to pray two light rak'ahs, and then sit down for the sermon. The jurists have differed on this issue, holding three main opinions: the first is that it is sunnah, according to the Shafi'is and Hanbalis; the second is that it is forbidden, according to the Malikis; and the third is that it is disliked (makrooh), according to the Hanafis. And Allah knows best.