Which Carries Greater Reward — Recitation or Tahiyyat al-Masjid?

Question

About ten to twenty worshippers were reciting the Holy Qur’an in a mosque. A man came and said: “I need to pray tahiyyat al-masjid (the greeting prayer of the mosque) — stop the recitation.” Is this action preferable, or is reciting the Qur’an preferable and better?

Answer

In such a situation, when people are already reciting, it is fitting for the one who comes later to occupy himself with listening to the recitation, and not to stop others from reciting. If he still wishes to pray tahiyyat al-masjid, let him pray it separately, in another place. Reciting the Qur’an carries greater reward than performing the sunna of tahiyyat al-masjid.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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