Complete Guide to the Sunnah of Giving the Adhan in Islam
Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh
Some Important Issues Regarding the Adhan
Responding to the Adhan is highly recommended for both men and women, whether pure or impure. This ruling is general, and there is no distinction between men and women. It is also permissible for women to respond to the Adhan during their menstruation. Responding to the Adhan is the right of the Adhan itself. Therefore, when the Muezzin recites the words of the Adhan, the listener should repeat the same words, except for the phrases “Hayya ‘ala as-salah” and “Hayya ‘ala al-falah.” Upon hearing these phrases, one should say “La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.”
The Prophet (PBUH) said:
“When you hear the Muezzin, say what he says, then send blessings upon me, for whoever sends blessings upon me once, Allah will send ten blessings upon him. Then ask Allah for me the position of Wasila, for it is a position in Paradise that only one of Allah’s servants will attain, and I hope that I will be that person. Whoever asks for my Wasila, my intercession will be guaranteed for him.”
(Sahih Muslim 384/11)
“Whoever says, when hearing the call to prayer: ‘O Allah, Lord of this perfect call and the standing prayer, grant Muhammad the Wasila and the virtue, and raise him up to the praised station You have promised him,’ my intercession will be his on the Day of Judgment.”
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 614)
Wasila refers to the highest and most exalted level in Paradise, which only one person will attain, and that person is hoped to be the Prophet (PBUH).
The phrase “Al-Maqam al-Mahmud” refers to the praised station in Paradise that even the inhabitants of Paradise will praise.
When the Muezzin says “Hayya ‘ala as-salah” and “Hayya ‘ala al-falah”, respond with “La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.”
It is narrated from Hafs bin Asim bin Umar bin al-Khattab from his father and grandfather, Umar bin al-Khattab, who said:
“When the Muezzin says ‘Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,’ say ‘Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.’ When he says ‘Ashhadu alla ilaha illallah,’ say ‘Ashhadu alla ilaha illallah.’ When he says ‘Ashhadu anna Muhammadur Rasoolullah,’ say ‘Ashhadu anna Muhammadur Rasoolullah.’ When he says ‘Hayya ‘ala as-salah,’ say ‘La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.’ When he says ‘Hayya ‘ala al-falah,’ say ‘La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.’ When he says ‘Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar’ and ‘La ilaha illallah,’ say ‘La ilaha illallah’ from your heart, and you will enter Paradise.”
(Sahih Muslim, Book of Prayer 850)
When giving the Adhan, it is recommended to insert the fingers into the ear.
Sayyidina Bilal (RA) used to give the Adhan in this way.
Sayyidina Abu Juhaifa Wahb bin Abdullah (RA) narrated: “I saw Bilal (RA) giving the Adhan while turning his face right and left, and his fingers were in his ears.”
(Jami’ at-Tirmidhi, Book of Prayer, Hadith 197)
Sayyidina Umar (RA) narrated:
“When the Muezzin says ‘Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,’ listen and repeat after him. When he says ‘Ashhadu alla ilaha illallah,’ repeat after him. When he says ‘Ashhadu anna Muhammadur Rasoolullah,’ repeat after him. When the Muezzin says ‘Hayya ‘ala as-salah,’ say ‘La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.’ When he says ‘Hayya ‘ala al-falah,’ say ‘La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.’ When the Muezzin says ‘Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,’ and ‘La ilaha illallah,’ say the same words, and when you do so with sincerity and belief, you will enter Paradise.”
(Sahih Muslim)
“As-Salah Khayrun min an-Nawm” should be said in the first Adhan of Fajr.
The Prophet (PBUH) instructed Sayyidina Bilal (RA):
“When you give the first Adhan of Fajr, say: ‘As-Salah Khayrun min an-Nawm.'”
(Musnad Ahmad, Vol. 4, p. 408)
Some schools of thought believe that the response to these words should be “Sadaqt wa Barrart.” However, these words are not authentically established from the Prophet (PBUH).
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (RA) writes:
“There is no basis for this (response).”
(Talhiss al-Habeer, 1/211)
Maulvi Ashiq Ilahi Biland Shahrī (Deobandi scholar) writes:
“The response to ‘Hayya ‘ala as-salah’ and ‘Hayya ‘ala al-falah’ is ‘La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah,’ and the response to the other words should be the same as what the Muezzin says. As for the phrase ‘As-Salah Khayrun min an-Nawm,’ there is no specific response mentioned in the hadith. The claim that one should say ‘Sadaqt wa Barrart’ in response is not supported by any authentic narration.”
(Hashin Hasin by Ashiq Ilahi Deobandi: 255)
✦ It should be noted that the commonly used term “Azan Tahajjud” is questionable. It would be more appropriate to call it the “Azan of Seheri” (pre-dawn call to prayer).
✦ When a person enters the mosque on Friday at the time the Muezzin is giving the second Adhan, they should perform Tahiyyat al-Masjid (the greeting prayer for the mosque) and not get distracted by responding to the Adhan. This is because listening to the sermon (Khutbah) is obligatory, while responding to the Muezzin’s Adhan is Sunnah. And the Sunnah cannot outweigh the obligatory act.
✦ If multiple Adhans are heard, one should respond to only the first one heard. The reply should be made to the first Adhan heard, and no need to respond to others.
✦ A person praying alone can say the Adhan and Iqama. There is a correct Hadith that the Prophet (PBUH) said:
“Your Lord marvels at the shepherd who, on a hilltop with his flock, calls the Adhan for prayer and prays. Allah says, ‘Look at My servant who calls the Adhan and performs the prayer, fearing Me. I have forgiven My servant and have admitted him into Paradise.'”
(Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Adhan 2/44, Hadith 1203)
✦ According to the correct scholarly opinion, a woman is not permitted to give the Adhan. This is because no woman ever gave the Adhan during the time of the Prophet (PBUH) or during the reign of the rightly guided Caliphs. (See: Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 1, p. 331)
✦ It is Sunnah for the Muezzin to turn his face to the right and left during the Hay’atain (the two calls to prayer: “Hayya ‘ala as-salah” and “Hayya ‘ala al-falah”) so that those on both sides and behind him can hear the sound. However, this might apply when the Adhan is given from a minaret without loudspeakers, as was common in the past. In my opinion, with the use of loudspeakers, this might not be necessary because the microphone itself serves as the Muezzin. If one is near the speaker, the sound will be strong, and if farther away, it will be weaker. The Muezzin is instructed to raise his voice and make it strong. (Shaykh Ibn Jibreen)
(See: Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 1, p. 338)
✦ The necessity of having the same person who gives the Adhan also say the Takbeer (Allahu Akbar) is for organizational purposes, to avoid disorder in the congregation. From a legal standpoint, both practices are permissible. Since the original ruling is permissible, another person can also say the Takbeer if the Muezzin is absent, but it is preferable to wait for the Muezzin if he is present. There is no need to create unnecessary differences based on such matters.
(Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hamad, may Allah preserve him)
(See: Fatawa As’hab al-Hadith, Vol. 3, p. 92)
✦ The Adhan is a form of Dhikr (remembrance of Allah), so it is recommended to perform Wudu (ablution) before giving the Adhan. However, there is no authentic narration that makes Wudu a strict requirement for the Adhan. The opinion that Wudu is a condition for giving the Adhan is questionable. However, there is a narration from Abu Huraira (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) said:
“Only a person in a state of Wudu should give the Adhan.”
(Bayhaqi, Vol. 1, p. 397)
But this narration is not strong enough to be considered binding.
(See: Al-Uwa al-Ghaleel, Vol. 1, p. 240)
✦ Indeed, there is a Hadith stating that the Muezzin should not take payment for giving the Adhan. It is narrated from Sayyidina Uthman bin Abi al-Aas (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) said:
“Appoint a person as the Muezzin who does not take payment for the Adhan.”
(Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Prayer 631)
Our preference is to appoint a Muezzin who does not take a salary for giving the Adhan, as clarified in the Hadith. However, if such a person is not available, it is permissible to appoint a paid Muezzin. In fact, a Muezzin performs several other duties besides calling the Adhan. Therefore, the appointment of a Muezzin to notify the people about prayer times is very important. If the Muezzin has no other means of livelihood, there is no issue with him accepting payment. But if he is financially stable, accepting a salary for the Adhan is not correct.
(See: Fatawa As’hab al-Hadith, Vol. 3, p. 93)
✦ For missed prayers (Qada prayers), the Adhan should be given and the Iqama recited before each prayer, as was done during the Battle of the Trench (Ghazwat al-Ahzab) when the Prophet (PBUH) missed the Dhuhr, Asr, and Maghrib prayers. He instructed Sayyidina Bilal (RA) to give the Adhan and then the Iqama for each prayer. He led the Dhuhr prayer, then the Asr prayer, then Maghrib, and lastly Isha, with the Iqama being said before each prayer.
(Tirmidhi, Book of Prayer 179)
If a person is in a place where the Adhan is not given, it is important to make sure the Adhan is called, though it is not mandatory if it hasn’t been done. However, the Iqama must always be said before each prayer.
(See: Fatawa As’hab al-Hadith, Vol. 4, p. 88)
✦ The Adhan should be given while facing the Qibla. It is established by consensus (Ijma’) that facing the Qibla while giving the Adhan is a Sunnah.
Evidence:
Imam Ibn al-Mundhir (rahimahullah) says:
“The scholars unanimously agreed that it is Sunnah to face the Qibla when giving the Adhan.”
(Al-Awsat, 3/28)
He also says:
“There is consensus that it is Sunnah to face the Qibla when giving the Adhan.”
(Al-Ijma’, p. 7, Paragraph 39)
Also see: Mawsu’ah al-Ijma’ fi al-Fiqh al-Islami, Vol. 1, p. 93
It was asked of Ata’ bin Abi Rabah (rahimahullah) whether one should face the Qibla while giving the Adhan. He replied: “Yes.”
(Musanif Abdul-Razzaq, 1/465, Hadith 1802, and its chain of narration is authentic)
Muhammad bin Sirin (rahimahullah) says:
“When the Muezzin gives the Adhan, he should face the Qibla.”
(Musanif Abdul-Razzaq, 1/466, Hadith 1804, and its chain of narration is authentic)
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Umama bin Sahl (RA) that a Muezzin faced the Qibla while giving the Adhan in his presence.
(Musnad al-Siraj, p. 61, and its chain is Hasan. Shaykh Irshad al-Haq al-Atari said: “Its chain of narration is authentic.”)
✦ It is commonly believed that one should not go to the bathroom during the Adhan. This is an unsupported and unsubstantiated claim. Responding to the call of nature is an urgent need that does not have a fixed time. Just as prayers can be delayed due to the need to relieve oneself, there is no harm in going to the bathroom during the Adhan.
✦ A hermaphrodite (Khunthā) can also give the Adhan, provided that the majority of their physical characteristics resemble those of a man. However, it is more appropriate for a non-hermaphrodite (a man) to give the Adhan. There is a Hadith:
“Leave what causes you doubt and turn to what does not cause you doubt.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Bab Tafaṣīr al-Mushabihāt)
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2518, and Sunan al-Nasa’i, Bab al-Hath ‘ala Tarik al-Shubuhat, Hadith 5711)
This means that one should abandon what creates doubt and choose that which does not cause doubt.
(See: Fatawa Hafiz Sanaullah Madani, Kitab al-Salah, p. 218)
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وَبِاللّٰہِ التَّوْفِیْقُ
ھٰذٙا مٙا عِنْدِی وٙاللہُ تٙعٙالیٰ اٙعْلٙمْ بِالصّٙوٙاب
And with Allah is success.
This is what I have, and Allah knows best about what is correct.
وَالسَّــــــــلاَم عَلَيــْـــــــكُم وَرَحْمَــــــــــةُاللهِ وَبَرَكـَـــــــــاتُه
And peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.
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Mrs. Arshad Ansari
Mrs. Arshad Ansari