Category: Islam

Q: What is the proper manner of announcing Adhan (call to Prayer)?
What is your opinion concerning the additions people use after the Adhan?

A: The proper manner of announcing the Adhan is the way taught by the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) to his followers. Bilal (رضي الله عنه) used to announce the Adhan in the presence of the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) till the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) died. He used to announce the Adhan during the Makkan period and at Al-Madinah.

This is the Adhan that we announce today which consists of fifteen phrases:

ٱللهُ أَكْبَر ٱللهُ أَكْبَر
Allah-u-Akbar, Allah-u-Akbar,
Allah-u-Akbar, Allah-u-Akbar
(Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest.
Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest);

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا ٱلله, أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا ٱلله
Ashhadu An La Ilaha Illa Allah,
Ashhadu An La Ilaha Illa Allah
(I bear witness that there is no god but Allah.
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah);

أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ ٱلله, أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ ٱلله
Ashhadu Anna Muhammad-an Rasul-ul-llah,
Ashhadu Anna Muhammad-an Rasul-ul-llah
(I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah);

حَيَّ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَوَة, حَيَّ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَوَة
Hayy `Ala as-Salah, Hayy `Ala as-Salah
(Come to Prayer. Come to Prayer);

حَيَّ عَلَى ٱلْفَلَاح, حَيَّ عَلَى ٱلْفَلَاح
Hayy `Ala al-Falah, Hayy `Ala al-Falah
(Come to success. Come to success);

ٱللهُ أَكْبَر, ٱللهُ أَكْبَر
Allah-u-Akbar, Allah-u-Akbar
(Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest);

لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا ٱلله
La ilaha illa Allah
(There is none worthy of worship but Allah).

This is the Adhan that Bilal used to announce in the presence of the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) till he died.

But in Fajr (Dawn) Prayer, he added:

ٱلصَّلَوةُ خَيْرٌ مِن النَّوم
As-Salatu Khayr-un Mina an-Nawm
(Salah is better than sleeping),

twice after his saying: Hayy `Ala al-Falah (Come to success), and before saying: Allah-u-Akbar (Allah is the Greatest).

As for what some people used to add as:

حَيَّ عَلَى خَيْرٌ الْعَمَل
Hayy `Ala Khayr al-`Amal
(Come to best of deed),

or

أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ عَلِيًّا وَلِي ٱلله
Ashhadu Anna `Aly-an Waliy-ul-llah
(I bear witness that `Aly is the Waliy of Allah),

is an evil deed and Bid`ah (innovation in religion) introduced by Shi`ah (Shi’ites).

It is not permissible, neither, to offer peace and blessings upon the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) audibly directly after the Adhan. This is a Bid`ah.

It is commendable for a Muslim, after announcing the Adhan, to ask Allah to bestow peace and blessings upon the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم). Then say:

اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ هَذِهِ الدَّعْوَةِ التَّامَّةِ، وَالصَّلَاةِ الْقَائِمَةِ، آتِ مُحَمَّداً الْوَسِيلَةَ وَالْفَضِيلَةَ، وَابْعَثْهُ مَقَاماً مَحْمُوداً الَّذِي وَعَدْتَهُ

“O Allah! Lord of this perfect call (perfect by not ascribing partners to You) and of the prayer which is going to be established, give Muhammad the right of intercession and illustriousness, and raise him to the best and the highest place in Paradise which You promised. Surely, You do not renege Your promise.”

Doing so is commendable for every Muslim whether male or female after the Adhan.

It is commendable also for the Mu’adhin (caller to Prayer), as any other person, to offer peace and blessings upon the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) after announcing Adhan. He should also recite: “O Allah! Lord of this perfect call and of the regular prayer which is going to be established, give Muhammad the right of intercession and illustriousness, and raise him to the best and the highest place in Paradise that You promised.” But he should not say these words in a loud voice like the Adhan. This is because the Adhan ends with saying: La ilaha illa Allah (There is no god but Allah).

It is permissible for the Mu’adhin to raise his voice in order to let others to hear and follow him. It was authentically reported that the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) stated:

“When you hear the Mu’adhin, repeat what he says, then invoke blessings on me, for everyone who invokes blessings on me will receive them tenfold from Allah; then beg from Allah Al-Wasilah for me, which is a rank in Paradise fitting for only one of Allah’s servants, and I hope that I will be that one. If anyone who asks that I be given the Al-Wasilah, he will be assured of my intercession.”  [#01]

This is was stated by the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم). (Related by Muslim in his Sahih book of Hadith on the authority of `Abdullah ibn `Amr ibn Al-`As (رضي الله عنه)).

This is a Sunnah for both Mu’adhin and listener, whether male or female, everywhere after announcing the Adhan. All are to say:

“O Allah, bestow peace and blessings upon Muhammad!” or

“O Allah, bestow peace and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and Companions!”

in a tone that differs from the Adhan’s and in a lower voice.

One should say: “O Allah! Lord of this perfect call and of the Prayer which is going to be established, grant Muhammad Al-Wasilah and illustriousness, and raise him to the best and the highest place (in Paradise) that You promised.”

It was recorded in Al-Bukhari’s Sahih book of Hadith on the authority of Jabir ibn Abdullah Al-Ansary that the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) stated:

“Whoever says upon hearing the Adhan: ‘O Allah, Lord of this perfect call and of the established Prayer (Salah), grant Muhammad the Al-Wasilah and superiority, and raise him up to the praiseworthy position which You have promised’, it becomes incumbent upon me to intercede for him on the Day of Resurrection.”  [#02]

This was the Hadith reported from the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم). Al-Bayhaqy reported this addition:  “You do not break Your promise.”  with a Hasan chain of narrators. This is what is legally permitted.

As for increasing the Adhan by saying: “Come to the best deed”, “I bear witness that `Aly is the Waliy of Allah” or any other phrases is an evil deed and Bid`ah (innovation in Islam) that has no basis in Islam as mentioned earlier.

The Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) stated:  “Whoever performs any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, it is to be rejected.” [#03] (Related by Muslim in his Sahih book of Hadith on the authority of `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her)).

It was reported also by Muslim in his Sahih on the authority of Jabir (رضي الله عنه) that the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم)  used to say during the Friday sermon: “The best speech is embodied in the Book of Allah, and the best of guidance is the guidance given by Muhammad. And the most evil affairs are their innovations and every innovation is misguidance.” [#04]  There are many Hadiths in this regard. Allah is the One Who grants success.

Footnotes:

[#01] Muslim, Sahih, Book on Salah, no. 384; Al-Tirmidhy, Sunan, Book on merits and virtues, no. 3614; Al-Nasa’y, Sunan, Book on Adhan, no. 678; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 523; Book on remembrance of Allah, supplication, repentance and seeking forgiveness, 2, p. 168

[#02] Bukhari, Sahih, Book on Adhan, no. 614; Al-Tirmidhy, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 211; Al-Nasa’y, Sunan, Book on Adhan, no. 680; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 529; Ibn Majah, Sunan, Book on Adhan and its Sunnah, no. 722; and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 3, p. 354.

[#03] Muslim, Sahih, Book on judicial decisions, no. 1718; and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 6, p. 256

[#04] Muslim, Sahih, Book on Friday, no. 867; Al-Nasa’y, Sunan, Book on the two `Eid Prayers, no. 1578; Ibn Majah, Sunan, Introduction, no. 45; Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 3, p. 311; and Al-Darimy, Sunan, Introduction, no. 206

Source: [alifta.net] Fatwas of Ibn Baaz > Volume 10 > Book of Salah > Chapter on Adhan and Iqamah > The correct way of announcing Adhan

PS: Edited, slightly updated and formatted by AbdurRahman.Org

Related Link: https://abdurrahman.org/salah/adhan-call-to-prayer