Brief Comments on Riyaadh al-Saaliheen #4

The forgotten Sunnah:
(The 2 Raka`aat after coming from the Journey)

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

“A person, whenever he returns back to his home town (after completing a journey), should approach the Masjid first before he enters his house, and should offer 2 raka`aat in it; because this is the Sunnah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, (which is confirmed) from his statements and his actions. [1] And I do not think anyone today follows this Sunnah except a few people - and it is due to the ignorance of the people about this Sunnah, otherwise it is very easy to follow, Wal-Hamdulillaah.

And it doesn’t matter if you pray in your Masjid, in which you normally offer the prayers, which is near your house or in any of the closest Masaajid you find (upon entering) the town in which you live, you get (the reward of following) the Sunnah.”

[Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen (1/139-140)]

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[1] This is part of the long Hadeeth about the Ghazwa of Tabook and the repentance of Ka`b ibn Maalik and his 2 other Companions:

“So Allaah’s Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم arrived in the morning, and whenever he returned from a journey, he used to visit the Masjid first of all and offer a two-Raka`aat prayer therein and then sit for the people.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree Vol. 5 Hadeeth 702]