Nawaafil

Performing Tahiyyatul musjid before the fardh of Fajr and Asr

Q:

1. Please advise whether one can read Tahiyyatul Masjid Salaah once Fajr time has set in.

Context to the question: I reach the Masjid and Fajr time has set in. I still need to perform my 2 Rakaats of Fajr Sunnat Salaah. There is sufficient time for the Farz Salaat to commence.

2. Also please advise of the same once Asr Time has set in.

Context to the question: I reach the Masjid and Asr time has set in. I still have sufficient time to perform my 4 Rakaats of Asr Sunnat Salaah. There is sufficient time for the Farz Salaat to commence.

Tahiyyatul Musjid

Q: When entering my local masjid shortly before fard salat starts, some people avoid sitting down before the fard prayer. They say this is so that they will be able to include the intention of tahiyyatul masjid in their fard prayer (they say that according to their madhab which I think is Shafie, the opportunity of tahiyatul masjid disappears when you sit down). I know that the opportunity of tahiyatul masjid is not nullified for us Hanafis by sitting down, but is it still recommendable for us to stand together with the others (i.e. not sit) even if we are Hanafis, to be on the safe side and to avoid ikhtilaf? I mean just as our books of fiqh says that it is mustahabb for us to redo wudhu after having touched a person of the opposite gender in order to avoid ikhtilaf.