Evidence and Shar‘i Status of the Pre-Fajr (Tahajjud) Adhan in the Time of the Prophet ﷺ
Source: Ahkam wa Masail – Kitab al-Salat, Vol.1, p.115
Question:
Is there proof that the Prophet ﷺ prescribed an Adhan for Tahajjud? If yes, what is its evidence? The narrations mention the Adhans of Bilal (رضي الله عنه) and Ibn Umm Maktum (رضي الله عنه). Was Bilal’s Adhan for Tahajjud or Suhoor? If it was not for Tahajjud, then what does “Hayya ‘ala al-Salah” mean in his Adhan? Is it connected only to Ramadan (due to the verse “فَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا”), or is it general? And if this is considered a “Tahajjud Adhan,” would it be an innovation (Bid‘ah) or fully in line with the Shari‘ah?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ‘ala Rasulillah, amma ba‘d!
◈ Proof of the Pre-Fajr Adhan
From authentic Ahadith in Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan al-Nasai, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and others, it is confirmed that in the time of the Prophet ﷺ, an Adhan was given before Fajr (Subh Sadiq).
Example from Sahih al-Bukhari:
«إن بلالا يؤذن بليل فكلوا واشربوا حتى ينادي ابن أم مكتوم، وكان رجلا أعمى لا ينادي حتى يقال له: أصبحت أصبحت»
(Bukhari, Vol.1, Bab Adhan al-A‘ma, p.86)
Translation: Ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما) narrated: The Prophet ﷺ said,
“Bilal gives the Adhan at night, so eat and drink until Ibn Umm Maktum gives the Adhan. He was a blind man and did not give the Adhan until he was told, ‘It is morning, it is morning.’”
◈ Key Points Derived
- Bilal (رضي الله عنه) used to give the first Adhan at night before Subh Sadiq.
- Even after his Adhan, eating and drinking (Suhoor) was permissible until the Adhan of Ibn Umm Maktum (رضي الله عنه).
- This shows there was a gap between the two Adhans, not just a few moments.
◈ Was Bilal’s Adhan for Tahajjud?
- The term “Adhan al-Tahajjud” is not found in any Hadith.
- Bilal’s Adhan was not for Tahajjud, rather it was for reminding people of the approaching Fajr and Suhoor time.
- The phrase “Hayya ‘ala al-Salah” in Bilal’s Adhan does not mean Tahajjud specifically; “Salah” here refers to prayer generally, including Fajr.
Thus, this Adhan cannot be strictly labeled as a “Tahajjud Adhan.” The name is an ijtihadi/terminological usage by later people, similar to the name “Salat al-Tarawih.”
◈ Is This Adhan Only for Ramadan?
- Some claimed it was only for Ramadan, but there is no evidence for this restriction.
- Eating Suhoor and the rulings of fasting were also present outside Ramadan, since the Prophet ﷺ and the Sahabah often observed voluntary fasts.
- Therefore, the Adhan before Fajr was general and not limited to Ramadan.
◈ Conclusion
- In the Prophet’s ﷺ time, there was indeed a pre-Fajr Adhan, given by Bilal (رضي الله عنه), established through authentic Ahadith.
- It was not a “Tahajjud Adhan” but rather a Suhoor Adhan (a reminder before Fajr).
- Calling it “Adhan al-Tahajjud” is only an informal name, not an innovation, as long as one believes it is a Sunnah practice proven from the Prophet ﷺ.
- It is not restricted to Ramadan but applies generally.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
