Ibn Ḥibbān placed this ḥadith under the heading: “The greeting of the mosque is not forfeited by sitting down.” Al-Ḥāfiẓ said:

“A number of scholars have stated explicitly that if a person sits down in contravention of the Sunnah, he is not legislated to make up the two rakʿahs. This view, however, is open to objection because of this ḥadith recorded by Ibn Ḥibbān and the story of Sulayk, as will be mentioned. Al-Muḥibb al-Ṭabarī said: It may be said that their time before sitting is one of excellence, and after sitting one of mere permissibility; or that before sitting they are performed on time, whereas after sitting they are performed as a make-up. Another possibility is that their legitimacy after sitting applies only when the interval has not been long.”

I say: The last possibility is the closest to the truth, for in these reports the Prophet ﷺ promptly ordered the man and did not delay. Allah knows best.

Furthermore, the general wording of the ḥadith indicates that the greeting of the mosque is permissible even during the times in which voluntary prayers are ordinarily disliked. Scholars have differed on this point, but the stronger view is what the ḥadith’s generality conveys, for nothing strong enough to restrict it has been established, as will be explained in detail, Allah willing.

Likewise, the greeting is not waived for one who enters on Friday while the preacher is on the pulpit; he must perform it, though briefly, because:

Sulayk al-Ghatafānī came on a Friday while the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was giving the sermon and sat down before praying. The Prophet said to him, “Sulayk, have you prayed two rakʿahs?” He replied, “No.” He said, “Stand and pray two rakʿahs, but keep them brief.” In another narration it adds: “So he prayed two rakʿahs while the Prophet ﷺ was delivering the sermon.” The Prophet then turned to the people and said: