Giving salam when entering and leaving the mosque

Question

(1) If there is no one in the mosque, what is the ruling on giving salam when entering or leaving the mosque? (2) It often happens that everyone present in the mosque is occupied with prayer, and the one coming in gives salam. Or some people are in prayer, some are doing wudu, and some are waiting for the prayer — and in this situation the one entering gives salam. What is the ruling on doing so? (3)

Answer

(1) This practice is correct. One should say it thus: [ar]السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ[/ar] “Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah.” However, this is established (thabit) for entering; for leaving I have not seen it in any book. (2) This is makruh. This ruling is found in “Radd al-Muhtar”. (3) This too is makruh.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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