Written by: Sheikh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani (May Allah protect him)
Question:
Is it correct to say the words "Ash-hadu anna Ameer-ul-Mu'mineen Aliyyan Waliullah" after the two testimonies in the Adhan? Please explain this in light of the Quran and Hadith.
Answer:
The Adhan is one of the symbols of Islam, and its words are valid only as transmitted from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It is neither permissible to add nor to omit any words from it. Whoever adds certain phrases to the Adhan is engaging in innovation (bid'ah) and becomes deserving of a curse.
The narration regarding the Adhan, reported by Abdullah bin Zayd bin Abdur-Rabbah, explains that when the Prophet (PBUH) ordered the ringing of a bell to gather people for prayer, Abdullah had a dream where he saw a man holding a bell. He asked the man, "Will you sell the bell?" The man replied, "What will you do with it?" Abdullah said, "I will use it to call people to prayer." The man then said, "Shall I guide you to something better?" Abdullah agreed, and the man instructed him to say the following words:
"Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,
Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Allah, Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Allah,
Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar Rasoolullah, Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar Rasoolullah,
Hayya 'alas-Salah, Hayya 'alas-Salah,
Hayya 'alal-Falah, Hayya 'alal-Falah,
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illa Allah."
When Abdullah narrated this dream to the Prophet (PBUH), he responded:
"Indeed, this is a true dream if Allah wills."
The Prophet (PBUH) then instructed him to teach these words to Bilal, as Bilal had a better voice.
[Abu Dawood, Kitab as-Salah: How to call the Adhan 499, Ibn Majah 706, Tirmidhi 189, Ahmad 43/4, Darimi 214/1]
Similarly, it is established from the Sunnah to say "As-Salatu Khayrun min an-Nawm" twice after "Hayya 'alal-Falah" in the Fajr Adhan. Anas (RA) narrated:
"It is from the Sunnah that when the Mu'adhin says 'Hayya 'alal-Falah' in the Fajr Adhan, he should say 'As-Salatu Khayrun min an-Nawm'."
[Ibn Khuzaymah 386, Daraqutni 243/1, Bayhaqi 423/1, Ibn Munzir 21/3]
This indicates that saying "As-Salatu Khayrun min an-Nawm" in the Fajr Adhan is part of the Sunnah. It is also established in the principles of Hadith that when a Companion says "From the Sunnah is such-and-such", it holds the status of a Musnad (elevated) and Marfu’ (attributed to the Prophet) Hadith.
Imam Nawawi in Al-Majmoo’ (232/5), Imam Ibn Humaam in At-Tahreer, and other scholars have endorsed this position. Likewise, the Hadith of Abu Mahdhurah (RA) confirms that the Prophet (PBUH) taught him the Adhan, and instructed him to say "As-Salatu Khayrun min an-Nawm" in the morning Adhan. This Hadith is recorded through multiple authentic chains in various books.
[Ahmad 408/3, Abu Dawood 501, Nasai 72, Ibn Khuzaymah 385, Daraqutni 224/1, Bayhaqi 422/1, Ibn Hibban 289, Tarikh al-Kabir 123/1, Abdul Razzaq 472/1, Hilyat-ul-Awliya 310/8]
Moreover, the Hadith of Abdullah bin Umar (RA) also confirms the recitation of "As-Salatu Khayrun min an-Nawm" in the first Adhan of Fajr.
[Tahaawi 137/1, Bayhaqi 423/1, Talkhis al-Habeer 201/1]
Abu Mahdhurah’s (RA) narration also confirms the concept of Tarji' in the Adhan, where the words of the testimonies are repeated—first softly and then loudly. The aforementioned authentic narrations make it clear that only the specified words are established in the Adhan according to the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH). There is neither allowance for additions nor omissions. The phrase "Ash-hadu anna Aliyyan Waliullah" is not part of the Adhan.
Those who add these words to the Adhan are guilty of introducing innovations (bid'ah) in religion. Even within the Jafari Fiqh, adding this phrase to the Adhan is considered a sin, and those who do so are deemed deserving of a curse.
In the authoritative Shi'a book Al-Faqih Man La Yahduruhu Al-Faqih (188/1), Ibn Babawayh Al-Qummi recorded the words of the Adhan. He stated that the proper Adhan consists of the same words as the Sunni Adhan, with the only difference being the addition of "Hayya 'ala Khayr al-Amal" after "Hayya 'alal-Falah". He also mentioned that adding "Ash-hadu anna Aliyyan Waliullah" is not part of the Adhan and was fabricated by the heretical group known as Al-Mufawwida.
Ibn Babawayh further explained:
"This is the correct Adhan, with no additions or omissions. The Mufawwida, may Allah curse them, fabricated narrations and added 'Muhammad wa Aal Muhammad Khayr ul-Bariyyah' and 'Ash-hadu anna Aliyyan Waliullah'. It is true that Ali (RA) is Waliullah and Ameer ul-Mu'mineen, but these words are not part of the Adhan."
This statement clearly shows that adding "Ash-hadu anna Aliyyan Waliullah" is a fabrication by the heretical group Mufawwida and has no basis in authentic teachings. Many authoritative Shi’a scholars, including Abu Jafar Al-Tusi and Al-Tusi in Al-Mabsut, have clarified that adding such words is not allowed in the Adhan, and doing so is sinful.
In conclusion, the words of the Adhan are a sacred part of the Islamic faith, established by the Prophet (PBUH). No individual has the right to alter them. Adding or omitting words from the Adhan is considered an innovation (bid'ah) and a cause for earning a curse. Even prominent Shi’a scholars have condemned adding "Ash-hadu anna Aliyyan Waliullah" to the Adhan, emphasizing that such an act is a sin and a deviation from the Sunnah.
May Allah grant us and all Muslims the ability to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) in the proper way.
Question:
Is it correct to say the words "Ash-hadu anna Ameer-ul-Mu'mineen Aliyyan Waliullah" after the two testimonies in the Adhan? Please explain this in light of the Quran and Hadith.
Answer:
The Adhan is one of the symbols of Islam, and its words are valid only as transmitted from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It is neither permissible to add nor to omit any words from it. Whoever adds certain phrases to the Adhan is engaging in innovation (bid'ah) and becomes deserving of a curse.
The narration regarding the Adhan, reported by Abdullah bin Zayd bin Abdur-Rabbah, explains that when the Prophet (PBUH) ordered the ringing of a bell to gather people for prayer, Abdullah had a dream where he saw a man holding a bell. He asked the man, "Will you sell the bell?" The man replied, "What will you do with it?" Abdullah said, "I will use it to call people to prayer." The man then said, "Shall I guide you to something better?" Abdullah agreed, and the man instructed him to say the following words:
"Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,
Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Allah, Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Allah,
Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar Rasoolullah, Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar Rasoolullah,
Hayya 'alas-Salah, Hayya 'alas-Salah,
Hayya 'alal-Falah, Hayya 'alal-Falah,
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illa Allah."
When Abdullah narrated this dream to the Prophet (PBUH), he responded:
"Indeed, this is a true dream if Allah wills."
The Prophet (PBUH) then instructed him to teach these words to Bilal, as Bilal had a better voice.
[Abu Dawood, Kitab as-Salah: How to call the Adhan 499, Ibn Majah 706, Tirmidhi 189, Ahmad 43/4, Darimi 214/1]
Similarly, it is established from the Sunnah to say "As-Salatu Khayrun min an-Nawm" twice after "Hayya 'alal-Falah" in the Fajr Adhan. Anas (RA) narrated:
"It is from the Sunnah that when the Mu'adhin says 'Hayya 'alal-Falah' in the Fajr Adhan, he should say 'As-Salatu Khayrun min an-Nawm'."
[Ibn Khuzaymah 386, Daraqutni 243/1, Bayhaqi 423/1, Ibn Munzir 21/3]
This indicates that saying "As-Salatu Khayrun min an-Nawm" in the Fajr Adhan is part of the Sunnah. It is also established in the principles of Hadith that when a Companion says "From the Sunnah is such-and-such", it holds the status of a Musnad (elevated) and Marfu’ (attributed to the Prophet) Hadith.
Imam Nawawi in Al-Majmoo’ (232/5), Imam Ibn Humaam in At-Tahreer, and other scholars have endorsed this position. Likewise, the Hadith of Abu Mahdhurah (RA) confirms that the Prophet (PBUH) taught him the Adhan, and instructed him to say "As-Salatu Khayrun min an-Nawm" in the morning Adhan. This Hadith is recorded through multiple authentic chains in various books.
[Ahmad 408/3, Abu Dawood 501, Nasai 72, Ibn Khuzaymah 385, Daraqutni 224/1, Bayhaqi 422/1, Ibn Hibban 289, Tarikh al-Kabir 123/1, Abdul Razzaq 472/1, Hilyat-ul-Awliya 310/8]
Moreover, the Hadith of Abdullah bin Umar (RA) also confirms the recitation of "As-Salatu Khayrun min an-Nawm" in the first Adhan of Fajr.
[Tahaawi 137/1, Bayhaqi 423/1, Talkhis al-Habeer 201/1]
Abu Mahdhurah’s (RA) narration also confirms the concept of Tarji' in the Adhan, where the words of the testimonies are repeated—first softly and then loudly. The aforementioned authentic narrations make it clear that only the specified words are established in the Adhan according to the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH). There is neither allowance for additions nor omissions. The phrase "Ash-hadu anna Aliyyan Waliullah" is not part of the Adhan.
Those who add these words to the Adhan are guilty of introducing innovations (bid'ah) in religion. Even within the Jafari Fiqh, adding this phrase to the Adhan is considered a sin, and those who do so are deemed deserving of a curse.
In the authoritative Shi'a book Al-Faqih Man La Yahduruhu Al-Faqih (188/1), Ibn Babawayh Al-Qummi recorded the words of the Adhan. He stated that the proper Adhan consists of the same words as the Sunni Adhan, with the only difference being the addition of "Hayya 'ala Khayr al-Amal" after "Hayya 'alal-Falah". He also mentioned that adding "Ash-hadu anna Aliyyan Waliullah" is not part of the Adhan and was fabricated by the heretical group known as Al-Mufawwida.
Ibn Babawayh further explained:
"This is the correct Adhan, with no additions or omissions. The Mufawwida, may Allah curse them, fabricated narrations and added 'Muhammad wa Aal Muhammad Khayr ul-Bariyyah' and 'Ash-hadu anna Aliyyan Waliullah'. It is true that Ali (RA) is Waliullah and Ameer ul-Mu'mineen, but these words are not part of the Adhan."
This statement clearly shows that adding "Ash-hadu anna Aliyyan Waliullah" is a fabrication by the heretical group Mufawwida and has no basis in authentic teachings. Many authoritative Shi’a scholars, including Abu Jafar Al-Tusi and Al-Tusi in Al-Mabsut, have clarified that adding such words is not allowed in the Adhan, and doing so is sinful.
In conclusion, the words of the Adhan are a sacred part of the Islamic faith, established by the Prophet (PBUH). No individual has the right to alter them. Adding or omitting words from the Adhan is considered an innovation (bid'ah) and a cause for earning a curse. Even prominent Shi’a scholars have condemned adding "Ash-hadu anna Aliyyan Waliullah" to the Adhan, emphasizing that such an act is a sin and a deviation from the Sunnah.
May Allah grant us and all Muslims the ability to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) in the proper way.