'Umar bin al-Khattab reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When the Mu'adhdhin says: Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and one of you should make this response: Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest; (and when the Mu'adhdhin) says: I testify that there is no god but Allah, one should respond: I testify that there is no god but Allah, and when he says: I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, one should make a response: I testify that Muhammad is Allah's Messenger. When he (the Mu'adhdhin) says: Come to prayer, one should make a response: There is no might and no power except with Allah. When he (the Mu'adhdhin) says: Come to salvation, one should respond: There is no might and no power except with Allah, and when he (the Mu'adhdhin) says: Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, then make a response: Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. When he (the Mu'adhdhin) says: There is no god but Allah, and he who makes a response from the heart: There is no god but Allah, he will enter Paradise.
Related hadith on this topic
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Maulana Abdul Aziz Alvi
Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: (1)
The adhan (call to prayer) has two aspects. From one perspective, it is an announcement and invitation to congregational prayer. In this regard, it is an obligation upon every Muslim that as soon as they hear the adhan, they should prepare and make arrangements to participate in the prayer, and by arriving at the mosque on time, join the congregation.
The second aspect of the adhan is that it is a call and proclamation of faith, and a manifesto of the true religion. The requirement of this aspect is that every Muslim, upon hearing the adhan, should affirm with the depth of their heart and with their tongue every part and every phrase of this call to faith and every clause of this manifesto of the true religion, and should say these words along with the mu’adhdhin (caller to prayer). In this way, at every time of adhan, the Muslim community renews its pledge and covenant of faith and its commitment to act upon the manifesto of the true religion. (2)
From these ahadith, it is established that the listener, upon hearing the adhan, may also repeat the words of the mu’adhdhin, and in response to (حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلاةِ. حَيَّ عَلَى الْفَلاحِ) ("Come to prayer, come to success"), may also say (لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّابِاللَّهِ) ("There is no power and no strength except with Allah"). Both ways of responding are correct, and according to some, both can even be combined.
Source: Tuhfat al-Muslim: Commentary on Sahih Muslim, Page: 850
Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi
527. Commentary:
Entry into Paradise is based solely on affirming the Oneness of Allah (tawhid), the Messengership (risalah), and confirming the Shari‘ah through word and deed. And the adhan encompasses all of these.
➋ The meaning of «لاحول ولا قوة إلابالله» is that avoiding any evil or harm, and attaining any good or righteousness, is not possible without Allah’s help.
➌ This hadith clearly shows the virtue of responding to the adhan; however, in response to «حي على الصلوة» and «حي على الفلاح», one should say «لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله».
Source: Sunan Abu Dawood – Commentary by Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi, Page: 527