What is the ruling on praying two rak‘ahs before Maghrib prayer? In our village mosque, we used to perform the Maghrib prayer immediately after the adhan. However, after a new imam was appointed, he instructed us to pray two rak‘ahs of sunnah after the adhan of Maghrib. This led to a disagreement among the people regarding this practice. What is your opinion?

Islamic jurists have held two different views on this matter. One group of scholars holds that praying two rak‘ahs before the Maghrib prayer is not permissible. The other group permits it, with some considering it a sunnah as in the opinion of imam al-Shafi‘i, while others, such as Ibn ‘Abidin and the author of Al-Bahr from the Hanafi school, view it as recommended. However, they stipulate that the two rak‘ahs should be brief to ensure that the Maghrib prayer does not begin during their performance. This second opinion is the one we adopt for fatwa on this matter.

Based on this, whoever prays two rak‘ahs of tahiyyat al-masjid (greeting the mosque) or a voluntary prayer after the Maghrib adhan and before the iqamah (the second call to prayer) is following a valid scholarly opinion supported by sound evidence. Likewise, whoever does not pray them is also following another valid opinion. Neither choice incurs blame or sin, and Allah is the One who grants success.

And Allah the Almighty knows best.