ADHAAN (CALL FOR PRAYER)

Bismillah ir-rahman ir-rahim

Assalam alaykum warahamtullah wabarakatu

The call for prayer, the call for success.

Some people say that the Adhaan (Call for prayer) was known to all the prophets from the time Adam (AS) came down to earth. Others say it was known to prophet Ibraheem (AS) but all this are strange things to say and it is not correct. The sahih evidence and correct view is that the adhaan was prescribed during the time of the prophet Muhammad in Madeenah and not in Makkah or during the Israa.

Among the hadeeths one was reported from Abu Umayr ibn Anas from his paternal uncles among the Ansaar: the Prophet was concerned about the prayer and how he could bring the people together to pray. It was said to him, raise a flag when the time for prayer comes, and when they see it they will call one another but he did not like the idea. The ram’s horn or shofar of the Jews. But he did not like this idea, and said, “This belongs to the Jews.” A bell was suggested to him, but he said, “This belongs to the Christians.” AbdAllah ibn Zayd ibn Abd Rabbihi went away, thinking about the concern of the Messenger of Allah. He saw the adhaan in a dream and the next morning he came to the Messenger of Allah and told him about it. He said, “O Messenger of Allah, whilst I was half asleep, someone came to me and showed me the adhaan. Umar ibn Khattab had also seen it before that, but he kept quiet for twenty days. Then he told the Prophet, who said to him, “What stopped you from telling me about it?” he said, “Abd-Allah ibn Zayd beat me to it, and I felt shy.” The messenger of Allah said, “O Bilal, get up and see what Abd-Allah ibn Zayd teels you to do, and do it.” So Bilal gave the adhaan.

Due to the time differences, there is not a single moment when few thousand, if not hundreds of thousands of muadhins around the world are not proclaiming the Oneness of Almighty Allah and the universal apostleship of Noble Prophet Muhammad on the surface of this earth. Personally, I find the adhaan movingly stunning, it evokes a deep sense of longing and inspiration. Others weep because of its beauty touching the heart, no wonder it is sacred and a powerful call around the world. Subhana Allah, when you listen to the words very carefully then you can understand what I’m saying. The correct version of the adhaan is “Allahu akbar Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar Allahu akbar, Ash hadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allah, Ash hadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allah, Ash hadu anna Muhammadan Rasul-Allah, Ash hadu anna Muhammadan Rasul-Allah. Haiyya ‘ala’l-salaah, haiyya ‘ala’l-salaah, haiyya ‘ala’l-falaah, haiyya ‘ala’l-falaah. Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, La illaha ill-Allah.” (Allah is the most Great, Allah is the most Great, Allah is the most Great, Allah is the most Great. I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Come to prayer, come to success. Come to prayer, come to success. Allah is the most Great. Allah is the most Great. There is no God but Allah).

As for the Fajr Adhaan, there were two calls, the first just before dawn for those who are awake performing night prayer (Qiyaam ul-layl) so as for them to either rest for Fajr or have food if they intend to fast the next day, and for those who are asleep in order they may begin to arouse and be ready for Fajr. The second is the actual time of Fajr to indicate the appropriate time and to call people to the prayer, among other benefits of the adhaan. And regarding the added statement “prayer is superior to sleeping” should be said in the second adhaan and it is a sunnah that should not be abandoned.

Immediately before the salah starts, this call to prayer is called the Iqamah. “Allahu akbar Allahu akbar, Ash hadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allah, Ash hadu anna Muhammadan Rasul-Allah. Haiyya ‘ala’l-salaah, haiyya ‘ala’l-falaah. Qad qaamat is-salah, qad qaamat is-salah.  Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, La illaha ill-Allah.” (Allah is the most Great, Allah is the most Great. I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Come to prayer, come to success. Prayer is about to begin, prayer is about to begin. Allah is the most Great. Allah is the most Great. There is no God but Allah).

But which success does it mean? The success of the world and the hereafter. Why haven’t we realized it yet, that Allah has chosen ‘success’ to be associated with the masjid? The muadhin pronounces Adhaan five times a day and the words also repeated during Iqamah. The adhaan is more than an invitation to the masjid for the obligatory prayers. The Qur’an says, “fidduniya hasana wa fil akhirati hasana” therefore the ‘success’ as pronounced in the Adhan also means and includes both the successes. Surely, we all know that by performing obligatory acts prescribed by Islam, we can attain success in the hereafter and by visiting the Masjid to perform Salaah can lead us to Jannaah for sure.  So how exactly is this call for success in this world? The role of the masjid is not only limited for a prayer hall during the time of the prophet, it was center for learning, libraries etc. When the muadhin says, “Haiyya ‘ala’l-falaah” he not only calls for the purpose of salaah but to find solutions to your problems crying and asking to our Lord for answers as well as thanking Him five times a day. Remembering that salaah is a pillar of faith and that Islam is our way of life, our success fi duniya wal akhira that is why for us it is a call to our success.  

There are etiquettes the muadhin has to observe so as to call the adhaan. Firstly the man should be clean from major and minor impurities, secondly the muadhin has to turn his head to the right upon saying “Haiyya ‘ala’l-salaah” and to the left upon saying “Haiyya ‘ala’l-falaah”. Thirdly the index finger is put in the ears, the voice has to be raised even if the maudhin is alone and it’s to be noted, it’s better not to speak to a man while he is calling the Adhaan or Iqamah. Can a woman call the Adhaan? Yes but only if she is in a group of Muslim women or by herself and say the Iqamah in a low voice.

In a hadith of the Prophet he taught a supplication to be said after the Adhaan, “Allahumma Rabba haa-dhihi’l-dawati taammah wa’salaat il-qaaimah aati muhammadan lil waseelata wa’lfadheela, waba’athu maqaman mahmooda lil ladhi wa’ata.” (O Allah, Lord of this complete all and the established prayers, grant Muhammad the place of wasilah, the most virtuous place and raise him to a praiseworthy position that you have promised him.) and also it is not allowed to leave the masjid after the Adhaan is said unless there is a valid reason or one has the intention to return for the prayer.

May Allah guide us to be those who respond to His call and success In Sha Allah.

And Allah knows best.