❖ Reviving the Forgotten Sunnah: The Adhan Before Fajr for Tahajjud ❖
✒ Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
◈ Purpose of Adhan: Informing About Prayer Times
The primary purpose of Adhan is to inform the community about the timing of prayers. However, it is permissible to give an Adhan before the time of Fajr prayer, not for the Fajr prayer itself, but for:
✔ Encouraging people to perform Tahajjud and other night prayers
✔ Waking up those who are asleep
✔ Reminding people of the approaching time for Suhoor and Fajr
✿ Evidences for Pre-Fajr Adhan
➊ Hadith of Ibn Mas‘ud رضي الله عنه
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Let not the Adhan of Bilal prevent anyone of you from his Suhoor, because he gives Adhan at night to awaken your sleeper and to bring back your one who is praying Tahajjud.”
[Bukhari 621, Book of Adhan: Chapter on Adhan Before Fajr; Muslim 1093; Ibn Majah 1696; Nasai 4/148; Ahmad 1/435; Bayhaqi 1/381; Abu ‘Awanah 1/373; Ibn Khuzaymah 1928]
➋ Hadith of Ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنهما
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Bilal gives Adhan during the night, so eat and drink until Ibn Umm Maktum gives the Adhan.”
[Bukhari 617; Muslim 1092; Muwatta 1/74; Humaydi 611; Darimi 1/269; Tirmidhi 203; Nasai 2/10; Ahmad 2/123; Ibn Khuzaymah 401; Sharh Ma‘ani al-Athar 1/82]
➌ Hadith of Samurah رضي الله عنه
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Let not the Adhan of Bilal deceive you with regard to your Suhoor.”
[Muslim 1094; Book of Fasting: Chapter on Beginning of Fasting by Appearance of Fajr; Abu Dawood 2346; Tirmidhi 701; Nasai 4/148; Ahmad 5/18; Daraqutni 2/167; Bayhaqi 4/215]
◈ Scholarly Opinions on Pre-Fajr Adhan
✔ Majority Opinion (Jumhoor):
Permissible to give Adhan before Fajr time.
✖ Imam Abu Hanifah رحمه الله:
Considers it not permissible.
Sources: Al-Umm by Imam Shafi‘i 1/170, Sharh al-Muhadhdhab 3/98, Bada’i‘ al-Sana’i‘ 1/154, Al-Mabsut 1/134, Al-Hujjah ‘ala Ahl al-Madinah 1/71, Al-Insaf 1/420
❗ Misunderstood Hadith Used by Opponents
Some cite the narration that Bilal رضي الله عنه once gave Adhan before the actual Fajr time, and the Prophet ﷺ instructed him to announce:
“ألا إن العبد نام، ألا إن العبد نام”
“Verily, the servant slept… Verily, the servant slept.”
[Saheeh: Saheeh Abi Dawood 498, Book of Salah: Chapter on Adhan Before Its Time; Also Abu Dawood 532; Daraqutni 1/244; Bayhaqi 1/383]
However, scholars explain that if this Hadith is authentic, it refers to an early incident before the Sunnah of pre-Fajr Adhan was legislated. Bilal رضي الله عنه was the first official Mu’adhdhin, and after that, Ibn Umm Maktum رضي الله عنه was also appointed. Bilal would then call the early Adhan, and Ibn Umm Maktum would call the Adhan at Fajr time.
References: Al-Sayl al-Jarrar 1/434, Subul al-Salam 1/260
◈ Is the First Adhan Sufficient for Fajr?
The Adhan given before Fajr is not sufficient for the Fajr prayer itself. A second Adhan must be given after the time enters.
➤ This was the practice of Bilal and then Ibn Umm Maktum رضي الله عنهما.
✔ Imam Malik, Imam Ahmad, and Imam Shafi‘i:
Hold the view that the first Adhan suffices for Fajr.
✖ Imam Ibn Khuzaymah, Imam Ibn al-Mundhir, Imam Ghaza‘i, and Ahl al-Hadith:
Do not consider the early Adhan sufficient, due to the lack of any supporting evidence.
This is the stronger opinion (Rajih).
References:
➤ Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi 1/631
➤ Fath al-Bari 2/312
➤ Nayl al-Awtar 1/515
✿ A Revivable Sunnah
Shaykh Al-Albani رحمه الله remarked:
“Giving Adhan before Fajr for Tahajjud is a Sunnah that has been neglected. Blessed is the one whom Allah enables to revive it.”
[Tamam al-Minnah, p. 148]
◈ Responding to the Adhan
Responding to Adhan is legislated even if it is the early Adhan:
➊ Hadith of Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri رضي الله عنه
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“When you hear the call (Adhan), say as the Mu’adhdhin says.”
[Bukhari 611; Muslim 383; Muwatta 1/67; Ahmad 3/6; Darimi 27231; Abu Dawood 522; Tirmidhi 208; Nasai 2/23; Ibn Majah 720; ‘Abd al-Razzaq 1842; Ibn Khuzaymah 411]
➋ How to Respond
Repeat the same words as the Mu’adhdhin, except:
✔ When hearing:
“حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ“ and “حَيَّ عَلَى الْفَلَاحِ“,
say: “لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ“
As narrated by Mu‘awiyah رضي الله عنه who said:
“I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say it this way.”
[Ahmad 4/91; Bukhari 613; Nasai 677]
➌ Virtue of Responding to Adhan
Narrated from ‘Umar رضي الله عنه, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever says (in response to Adhan) from the heart ‘Allahu Akbar’ to ‘La ilaha illallah’, will enter Paradise.”
☛ This Hadith also mentions responding to “حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ“ and “حَيَّ عَلَى الْفَلَاحِ“ with “لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ“.
[Muslim 385; Abu Dawood 527; Abu ‘Awanah 1/339; Sharh Ma‘ani al-Athar 1/86; Bayhaqi 1/409]
