Chapter 02 - The Call to Prayer (Adhan)

190. Narrated 'Abdullah bin Zaid bin 'Abd Rabbih , "While I was sleeping, a man came to me and said, "Say Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! (Allah is the Greatest)," and he mentioned the wording of the call to prayer, repeating the Takbir four times without Tarji' (repeating the rest of the phrases of the Adhan twice), and the Iqamah once {1}, except for the phrase, qad Qamatussalah{2} (which is said twice). When the morning came, I went to the Messenger of Allah (to tell him what I had seen). He said,"Your dream is true..." Related by Ahmad and Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi and Abu Khuzaimah authenticated it{3}.


{1}I.e. saying each phrase of the Adhan once, apart from the Takbir which is said twice.

{2} The time for perfoeming the prayer has arrived.

{3} When the Prophet emigrated to Madinah and built his mosque, the number of Muslims increased, and they were no longer afraid to assemble to perform prayers in public. The Prophet consulted his Companions about the best way to announce the prayer. Some mentioned raising a banner that everyybody coulds see, others suggested lighting a fire, but the Prophet rejected the idea as this act is limited to the Magians who worshipped fire. Some also suggested using a bell or a trumpet like the Christians and the Jews, but this was also rejected by the Prophet as they would be imitating them. But the Messenger of Allah thought for a while and said,Aren't the Christians the nearest in love to the beleivers (the Muslims)?" (Surah Ma'idah), Isn't it less dangerous to do like the Christians than the Jews? Why don't we use a bell until Allah tells us about the best thing to do." He ordered a bell to be made, but 'Umar suggested that a man should stand at the door of the mosque or a high place to call to the prayer in a loud voice. The Prophet agreed and ordered Bilal to call for the prayer saying, 'Come to the congregational prayer'. People returned home thinking about this issue, and 'Abdullah bin Zaid saw a dream as he narrates, "I saw a man carrying a bell in his hand, I asked him: "Would you sell me this bell?" The man asked, "What do you need the bell for?" I answered, "I would call the people to prayer." The man then said, "Shall I tell you something better?" I said, "Certainly" He said, "Say Allahu Akbar...."When he told the Prophet about the dream, he ordered him to go to Bilal and tell him to make the call for the prayer (Adhan), for he has the best voice. When 'Umar heard the Adhan, he came out with his cloak, saying, "By the one who sent you with the truth, I saw something similar to what he saw in my dream." The Prophet then said, "All Praise be to Allah."


191. Ahmad added to the call to prayer (Adhan), what Bilal used to say in the Fajr prayer, "Prayer is better than sleep."


192. Ibn Khuzaimah transmitted on the authority of Anas "It is part of the Sunnah that when the one who calls to prayer says in the Fajr prayer, 'Hayya 'alal-Falah' (come to success), he must then say, 'Prayer is better than sleep.'


193. Narrated Abu Mahdhurah that the Messenger of Allah taught him the Adhan, and he mentioned the Tarji' (repeating the rest of the phrases of the Adhan twice) in the Adhan. Related by Muslim, but he mentioned the Takbir "Allah is the Greatest," twice only at its beginning, while the five Imams related the Hadith but mentioned that the Takbir is said four times at the beginnning.

194. Narrated Anas "Bilal was ordered to repeat the phrases of the call to prayer (Adhan) twice, and the phrases of the Iqamah once, except for the phrase qad Qamatussalah (the time for performing the prayer has come). Agreed upon.

195. In another narration by an-Nasa'i, The Prophet ordered Bilal."

196. Narrated Abu Juhaifah , I saw Bilal calling for the prayer, and I saw the movement of his mouth from this side to that side{4}, and his fingers were in his ears." Related by Ahmad and at-Tirmidhi.

{4} He means that Bilal was turning his head, to the right upon saying 'Haya 'alas-salah' (Come to the prayer) and to the left upon saying 'Haya 'alas-Falah (Come to success).

197. In a version by Ibn Majah he said, "He put his fingers in his ears."

198. In the narration of Abu Dawud, "When Bilal reached the phrase, 'Haya alas-salah (Come to the prayer), he turned his neck to the right and the left, but did not turn himself." The original full narration of this Hadith is found in Al-Bukhari and Muslim.

199. Narrated Abu Mahdhurah that the Messenger of Allah liked his voice, so he taught him the call to prayer." Related by Ibn Khuzaimah.

200. Narrted Jabir bin Samurah , "I prayed along with the Prophet the two 'Id (feast) festival prayers, not only once or twice, without Adhan or Iqamah." Related by Muslim.

201. Al-Bukhari and Muslim transmitted something to the same effect on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas .

202. Narrated Abu Qatadah In a long tradition when they missed the prayer because of sleeping, "and then Bilal said the Adhan, and the Prophet prayed as he used to do every day." Related by Muslim.

203. Muslim related on the authority of Jabir that the Prophet came to Muzdalifah and prayed the Maghrib and 'Isha prayers with one Adhan and two Iqamas.

204. In another narration by Muslim on the authority of Ibn 'Umar, " The Prophet combined the Maghrib and 'Isha prayers with one Iqmah." Abu Dawud added, "Each prayer with an Iqamah." In another version by Abu Dawud, "He did not (order the caller to) call for the prayer in any of them."

205. Narrated Ibn 'Umar and 'Aishah "Allah's Messenger said, "Bilal says the Adhan (for the Fajr) during the night, so eat and drink until you hear the Adhan of Ibn Umm Maktum." The narrator added that Ibn Umm Maktum was a blind man who did not call for the prayer, till someone told him, "The day has dawned, the day has dawned." Agreed upon.

206. Narrated Ibn 'Umar that Bilal called for the prayer before the breaking of dawn, and the Prophet therefore ordered him to go back and say, "Lo! The servant of Allah has slept." Related by Abu Dawud, who declared it to be weak.

207. Narrated Abu sa'id al-Khudri Allah' Messenger said "When you hear the Adhan repeat what the caller is saying." Agreed upon.

208. Al-Bukhari related a similar narration on the authority of Mu'awiyah.

209. Muslim transmitted on the authority of 'Umar the virtue of repeating what the caller is saying, word for word, except when the caller says, 'Hayya 'alal-Falah' (come to success), 'Hayya 'alas-salah' (Come to the prayer), he then says, wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa billah 'Aliyyil 'Adheem'. (There is no power or might except by Allah's leave).

210. Narrated 'Uthman bin Abul 'As that he said, "O Messenger of Allah appoint me as the Imam of my people." He replied , "You are their Imam. Be careful about the weak amongst them{5}, and appoint a caller to the prayer, who does not accept payment for his Adhan." Related by the five Imams and At-Tirmidhi authenticated it.


{5} I.e. take into consideration, -when you pray, the weakest among them (whether sick or old), so as not to lengthen the prayer beyond their ability.

211. Narrated Malik Ibn Al-Huwairith The Messenger of Allah said "When the time for the prayer is due, let one of you call the Adhan." Related by the seven Imams.

212. Narrated Jabir The Messenger of Allah said to Bilal, "When you call the Adhan, you should pause between each phrase, but when you say the Iqamah, be quick, and leave enough time between the Adhan and the Iqamah for one who is eating to finish his food." Related by At-Tirmidhi who declared it to be weak.

213. Narrated Abu Hurairah The Prophet said, "None should call for the prayer unless he has ablution." Related by At-Tirmidhi who declared it to be weak.

214. Narrated Zaid bin al-Harith The Prophet said, "Whoever calls the Adhan should also call for the Iqamah." Related by At-Tirmidhi and he also declared it to be weak.

215. Abu Dawud related on the authority of 'Abdullah bin Zaid "I saw it (i.e. the Adhan in a dream) and I wished to call it. The Prophet "Then you call the Iqamah." It is also weak.

216. Narrated Abu Hurairah The Prophet said, "The call maker is the one who is responsible for the Adhan {6}, and the Imam is the one responsible for the Iqamah{7}. Related by Ibn 'Adi who declared it to be weak.


{6} He is entrusted him with the time of the Adhan, and it is his responsibility to decide the time for prayer.
{7} No one should call the Iqamah except when then Imam asks him to do so.


217. Al-Baihaqi transmitted something similar on the authority of 'Ali.


218. Narrated Anas The Prophet said, "A supplication made between the Adhan and the Iqamah is never rejected." Related by an-Nasa'i, Ibn Khuzaimah, who authenticated it.


219. Narrated Jabir The Prophet said, "Whoever says, when he hears the Adhan: 'Oh Allah, Lord of this perfect call{8} and the established prayers{9}, grant Muhammad the status of Wasilah and the most virtuous place{10}, and raise him to the praised position{11}, You have promised him', will be entitled to my intercession on the Day of Judgement." Related by the four Imams.

{8} This most probably refers to "Monotheism," (which is part of the Adhan) and it is perfect as it antagonizes atheism and associating others with Allah in worship (polytheism), and it is also perfect as it is preserved from being changed or altered. (Ibn Hajar in Fath al-Bari).

{9} The established prayer may refer to its being performed constantly (as it is always called for) or may also refer to the prayer about to be performed. (see Fath al-Bari).

{10} This refers to a status which is higher than that of all of Allah's servants.

{11} It refers to intercession on behalf of his followers on the Day of Judgement.