an elevated place, even if it is merely a mound of earth, so that he stands prominently before the people. As we mentioned earlier, this carries the voice farther and enables the congregation to receive more from the preacher, for one who can be seen is received from more attentively.

His statement, “and that he greets the congregation when he turns to face them,” means that it is recommended, when he ascends the pulpit, that he turn towards the congregation and greet them. This has been narrated from the Prophet ﷺ (1). Although the hadith traced back to the Prophet concerning this is weak, the Ummah has unanimously acted upon it, and it has become well established among them that when the preacher arrives and ascends the pulpit, he faces the people and greets them. This is the general greeting.

As for the particular greeting, when he enters the mosque, he greets those whom he passes first. This is from the sunnah, based on the general textual evidence that when a person comes to a group of people, he should greet them. Thus, the imam offers two greetings:

The first greeting: when he enters the mosque, he greets those whom he passes.

The second greeting: when he ascends the pulpit, he offers a general greeting to all those praying.

His statement, “then he sits until the call to prayer has ended,” means that after greeting the congregation, it is recommended that he sit until the muezzin has finished. During this time, he repeats the words of the muezzin in response to his call to prayer, for the Prophet ﷺ said, “When you hear the muezzin, say what the muezzin says” (2). This is general in meaning; therefore, it is appropriate for the imam, while upon the pulpit,