Question
Should the words “الصلاة خير من النوم” be said in the first morning Adhan or in the second Adhan?
Answer
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
The words “الصلاة خير من النوم” should be said in the first Adhan, as is proven by an authentic Hadith:
«فَاِذَا اَذَّنْت أذان الصبحَ الْأَوَّلِ فَقُلْ: ’’ اَلصَّلَاةُ خَيْرٌ مِّنَ النَّوْمِ‘‘»
Translation: “When you give the first Adhan of the morning, say: ‘الصلاة خير من النوم‘”
This Hadith is clear evidence that these words are said in the first Adhan, not in the second Adhan. However, to correctly understand this Hadith, it is necessary to know what is meant here by “first Adhan”?
Meaning of the first Adhan:
In this Hadith, “first Adhan” refers to the Adhan that is given after the time of the prayer has begun, that is, the actual Adhan of Fajr time.
Whereas “Second Adhan” refers to Iqamah, because in Shariah, Iqamah is sometimes also referred to as Adhan. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
«بَيْنَ كُلِّ اَذَانَيْنِ صَلَاةٌ»
Translation: “Between every two Adhans there is a prayer.”
Here, “two Adhans” refers to the Adhan and the Iqamah.
Addition by Hazrat Uthman (RA):
It is in Sahih Bukhari that:
“The Commander of the Faithful, Uthman ibn Affan (RA), added a third Adhan on the day of Jumu’ah.”
This narration is evidence that the first Adhan, in which Hazrat Bilal (RA) was commanded to say “الصلاة خير من النوم“, is the original Adhan of Fajr prayer, which is given after the dawn breaks.
Adhan before the dawn breaks:
The call to prayer (Adhan) that is given before the break of dawn is not for the Fajr prayer, rather:
«اِنَّ بِلَا لَا يُؤَذِّنُ بِلَيْلٍ ليوقظ نائمکم ويرجع قائمکمْ»
Translation: “Indeed, Bilal calls the Adhan at night so that those who are sleeping may wake up and those who have prayed may return.”
Meaning, this Adhan is only given for eating Sahur, performing voluntary prayers, or waking up those who are sleeping, and it is not counted as the Adhan of Fajr.
The command to give Adhan at the time of prayer:
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said to Hazrat Malik bin Huwayrith, may Allah be pleased with him:
«فَإِذَا حَضَرَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَلْيُؤَذِّنْ لَکُمْ أَحَدُکُمْ»
Translation: “When the time of prayer comes, let one of you give the Adhan.”
This clarifies that the Adhan for prayer is given after the time of prayer begins, not before the time.
Refutation of misunderstanding:
Those who think that the first adhan refers to the adhan of the last part of the night in which “الصلاة خير من النوم” is said, their assumption is incorrect.
Response to the objection regarding the meaning of “Khair”:
Some people have argued that:
“الصلاة خير من النوم” is said in the adhan that occurs in the last part of the night because that time is for Nafl prayer, and here the word “Khair” indicates superiority.
The response to this objection is that “Khair” is also applied to obligatory acts, not only to recommended ones. For example:
In the Holy Quran:
﴿يـأَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنوا هَل أَدُلُّكُم عَلى تِجارةٍ تُنجيكُم مِن عَذابٍ أَليمٍ ﴿١٠﴾ تُؤمِنونَ بِاللَّهِ وَرَسولِهِ وَتُجـهِدونَ فى سَبيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمولِكُم وَأَنفُسِكُم ذلِكُم خَيرٌ لَكُم إِن كُنتُم تَعلَمونَ﴾
Translation: “O you who believe! Shall I guide you to a trade that will save you from a painful punishment? (It is that) you believe in Allah and His Messenger and strive hard in the cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives. That is better (Khair) for you if you only knew.”
Here “Khair” is applied to obligations like faith and jihad, which are not Nafl but duties.
Similarly:
﴿يـأَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنوا إِذا نودِىَ لِلصَّلوةِ مِن يَومِ الجُمُعَةِ فَاسعَوا إِلى ذِكرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا البَيعَ ذلِكُم خَيرٌ لَكُم﴾
Translation: “O believers! When the call is made for the prayer on Friday, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trade. That is better for you.”
Here too, “better” refers to the obligatory prayer (Friday prayer).
Therefore: The word “better” can be used for both obligatory and recommended acts.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
