Taken from: “Ahkam wa Masail in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith”, Volume 02
❀ Question:
Is the additional Adhan before Fajr prescribed to be given throughout the year? How long before the actual Fajr Adhan should it be given, and what is its purpose? There are three common practices:
① Some only give this Adhan during Ramadan, approximately 2.5 hours before Fajr, saying it helps people wake up and prepare Suḥūr.
② Others give this Adhan year-round, about 45 minutes before Fajr, claiming its purpose is to alert those praying at night to rest and those sleeping to wake up.
③ A third group argues even 45 minutes is too long, asserting the gap should only be as long as it takes for one mu’adhin to descend and another to ascend, referencing the narration in Sahih al-Bukhari.
Who among these groups is upon the correct practice?
❀ Answer:
✦ There is no evidence limiting this pre-Fajr Adhan to the month of Ramadan.
Rather, it is authentically established that during the time of the Prophet ﷺ, a “night Adhan” would be called shortly before the actual Fajr Adhan. This Adhan served specific purposes and was not bound to any particular month or season.
✿ Purpose of the Pre-Fajr Adhan:
As recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari:
“Bilal gives the Adhan during the night, so that the person praying may return (to rest), and the one sleeping may wake up (to prepare for Fajr).”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Adhan)
This shows the Adhan was:
- To inform those praying at night (Qiyam) to rest, and
- To wake up those still asleep for Suḥūr or preparation for Fajr.
✦ On the Timing:
- No precise timing (in minutes or hours) is established in Hadith.
- The narration in Sahih al-Bukhari describing the minimal gap between Bilal and Ibn Umm Maktum’s Adhans is valid.
- However, that narration does not impose a strict time limit, nor does it prohibit a slightly earlier Adhan as long as its purpose remains clear and it does not mislead people about the entry of Fajr.
✿ Evaluation of the Three Practices:
① First Group (Ramadan-only, 2.5 hours early):
Incorrect. No evidence supports restricting the pre-Fajr Adhan to Ramadan. Also, 2.5 hours is too early and can mislead regarding Fajr time.
② Second Group (Year-round, ~45 minutes early):
Closer to correct. The timing aligns with the Hadith’s purpose—to alert and awaken without confusing people about the prayer time.
③ Third Group (Minimal gap between two Adhans):
Also valid. Supported by narration in Bukhari, but not obligatory. This short gap reflects the ideal practice during the Prophet’s time but does not restrict slightly longer intervals.
✔ Summary:
① The pre-Fajr Adhan is not limited to Ramadan and can be done year-round.
② Its purpose is to awaken and alert, not to signal Fajr time.
③ The second group, who gives the Adhan 45 minutes before Fajr, is correct in spirit and practice.
④ The third group’s approach is based on Hadith but is not obligatory, while the first group’s practice is too early and incorrectly limited to Ramadan.
Wallāhu Aʿlam.
