Is it permissible to adopt Imam Malik's fatwa prohibiting "tahiyat al-masjid" (greeting the mosque prayer) while the Imam is delivering the sermon, out of fear of falling into what is forbidden?
There is no harm in following Imam Malik, but the correct approach is for the Muslim to pray two light rak'ahs, shortening them, and then listen to the khutbah, based on the hadith of Jabir ibn Abdullah: "If one of you comes on Friday while the Imam is delivering the khutbah, he should pray two rak'ahs and shorten them." What the Malikis said about the possibility of abrogation by the hadith of Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i is not strong because abrogation is not established merely by possibility, and the hadith of Jabir is a decisive text on the matter.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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