Al-H?fith Ibn Hajar stated in his “At-Talkh?s” that this statement “is proofless”. (1)

* So is the case with the statement “Marhaban Bi Thik-rill?h” or “Marhaban Bilq?’il?n ‘Adlan, Wamarhaban Bis-Sal?ti Ahlan”. The ah?d?th that state such statements are unaffirmed. (2)

[24] Pacing to the mosque and interlocking one’s fingers in it:

Ab? Hurairah ( - رضي الله عنه -) narrated that the prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) said: ‘When you hear the Iq?mah [while going to the mosque] walk to the mosque in calmness and do not haste, whatever part of Sal?t you get with the people perform it, and complete that which you have missed’. (3)

In another narration, the first part of the had?th is stated in a more general sense; it says: ‘when you attend the [congregational] Sal?t’ ... . (4)

The former narration does not; however, restrict the ruling of the later; the ruling applies also to the later. According to Fiqh, this is called the “Afortiori principle”. The one who hears the Iq?mah is more eager to catch up Takb?ratul Ihr?m with the Im?m than the one who goes to the mosque before the Iq?mah is recited. And since the former is not allowed to haste to the mosque, the later is more entitled not to do so.

Other Fuqah?’ interpreted the had?th in a different way. They said: ‘The ruling applies to the one who hears the Iq?mah, for he reaches the mosque and joins the Im?m in his Sal?t while being breathless. So, he does the Sal?t without being fully given to it unlike the one who reaches the mosque before the Iq?mah is recited; he could take a rest before Sal?t is performed’.