Question :
We have rented out a place where the brothers pray all the times (of prayer) in it. So does this place has the rulings of the masjid in it whereby when we come in we pray tahiyatil masjid ?
Answer :
The Shaykh hafidhahullah responded by saying,
“This returns back to their intention and to that which is known amongst them. If they had wanted for this to be a masjid, even if this be in sort of a room and they intent it for a masjid then it takes the ruling of a masjid and the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam said
إِذَا دَخَلَ أَحَدُكُمُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَجْلِسَ .
‘If anyone of you enters a mosque, he should pray two rak`at before sitting.’ (Sahih al-Bukhari 444)
That which I see is that they have to pray the two rakahs,especially if that building is only that which they have in that land then it is considered to be a musalla. Praying tahiyatul masjid is wajib in the musalla (place of prayer).
Answered by : Shaykh Abu Ishaaq Al Qaysee hafidhahullah