Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … Despite the many virtues of the call to prayer (adhan), there is found a strange kind of lack of enthusiasm regarding giving the adhan. Perhaps there are even some people who, throughout their lives, have never given the adhan, nor has any longing for it arisen within them. (We seek refuge with Allah Ta'ala.) As for the matter of the first row, in those mosques where two or three rows of worshippers are formed, it is often the case that at the beginning of the prayer there are only five or six worshippers, and many people, despite arriving early, prefer to sit in the back rows, especially while listening to the blessed Friday (Jumu'ah) sermon. All these are forms of indifference towards the religion. Imam al-Albani rahimahullah said: … It is also greatly astonishing that the scholars of Islam and the preachers have, in practice, also adopted an attitude of disregard towards this great act of worship and symbol of Islam. It is very rarely seen that any scholar is giving the adhan in a mosque; rather, at times, they feel embarrassed to give the adhan and are surprised that they should perform this good deed. But when it comes to leading the prayer (imamah), they rush towards it, even to the point of quarreling over it. Thus, we present our complaint before Allah Ta'ala as to why such estrangement is found in this era. (Sahihah: 42)