◈ Can Someone Other Than the Mu’adhdhin Give the Iqāmah? Fiqh-Based Ruling and Scholarly Opinions ◈
Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 319
Is it permissible for someone other than the appointed mu’adhdhin to give the iqāmah?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʾAmma baʿd!
✔ It is permissible for a non-mu’adhdhin to give the iqāmah.
This is supported by the narration of ʿAbdullāh ibn Zayd ibn ʿAbd Rabbih (رضي الله عنه) — the Companion who saw the adhān in a dream — which shows that a person who is not the regular mu’adhdhin may give the iqāmah.
While it is allowed for others to give the iqāmah, the preferred and better practice is that:
➤ The iqāmah should be given by the same person who gave the adhān — i.e., the mu’adhdhin.
In a narration involving Ziyād ibn Ḥārith al-Ṣudāʾī (رضي الله عنه):
This shows the preference for the same person to perform both the adhān and iqāmah.
✔ These narrations (including that of ʿAbdullāh ibn Zayd) are not strongly authentic — they are ḍaʿīf (weak).
However...
✔ The majority of scholars have favoured the narration of Ziyād ibn Ḥārith (رضي الله عنه) because:
✔ Imām al-Ḥāzimī (رحمه الله) in his book al-Nāsikh wa al-Mansūkh writes:
“There is flexibility in this issue; both the mu’adhdhin and someone else may give the iqāmah.”
✔ This is also the opinion of:
✔ The Hādawiyyah and Imām al-Shawkānī (رحمه الله) held the view that:
“Only the mu’adhdhin should give the iqāmah.”
It is permissible for someone other than the mu’adhdhin to give the iqāmah.
However, the better and preferred practice is that the mu’adhdhin should give both the adhān and the iqāmah, as inferred from the practice of the Prophet ﷺ.
There is room for flexibility, and scholars have recognized both practices as valid.
ھٰذَا مَا عِندِي، وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 319
❖ Question
Is it permissible for someone other than the appointed mu’adhdhin to give the iqāmah?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʾAmma baʿd!
✿ Main Ruling
✔ It is permissible for a non-mu’adhdhin to give the iqāmah.
This is supported by the narration of ʿAbdullāh ibn Zayd ibn ʿAbd Rabbih (رضي الله عنه) — the Companion who saw the adhān in a dream — which shows that a person who is not the regular mu’adhdhin may give the iqāmah.
✿ What is the Preferred Practice?
While it is allowed for others to give the iqāmah, the preferred and better practice is that:
➤ The iqāmah should be given by the same person who gave the adhān — i.e., the mu’adhdhin.
✿ Supporting Incident
In a narration involving Ziyād ibn Ḥārith al-Ṣudāʾī (رضي الله عنه):
- The Prophet ﷺ instructed Ziyād to call the adhān.
- After the Prophet ﷺ performed wuḍū’ and stood for ṣalāh, Bilāl (رضي الله عنه) began to give the iqāmah.
- The Prophet ﷺ then instructed that Ziyād should also give the iqāmah, not Bilāl.
This shows the preference for the same person to perform both the adhān and iqāmah.✿ Reliability of the Narrations
✔ These narrations (including that of ʿAbdullāh ibn Zayd) are not strongly authentic — they are ḍaʿīf (weak).
However...
✔ The majority of scholars have favoured the narration of Ziyād ibn Ḥārith (رضي الله عنه) because:
- The incident with ʿAbdullāh ibn Zayd (رضي الله عنه) happened earlier
- The narration of Ziyād reflects a later practice of the Prophet ﷺ
✿ Opinions of the Scholars
✔ Imām al-Ḥāzimī (رحمه الله) in his book al-Nāsikh wa al-Mansūkh writes:
“There is flexibility in this issue; both the mu’adhdhin and someone else may give the iqāmah.”
✔ This is also the opinion of:
- Imām Mālik
- Imām Abū Thawr
- Majority of scholars from Ḥijāz and Kūfah
❖ Opposing View
✔ The Hādawiyyah and Imām al-Shawkānī (رحمه الله) held the view that:
“Only the mu’adhdhin should give the iqāmah.”
✿ Summary
It is permissible for someone other than the mu’adhdhin to give the iqāmah. However, the better and preferred practice is that the mu’adhdhin should give both the adhān and the iqāmah, as inferred from the practice of the Prophet ﷺ. There is room for flexibility, and scholars have recognized both practices as valid.ھٰذَا مَا عِندِي، وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
