❀ Ruling on Saying the Iqāmah for Individual Prayer ❀
Taken from: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Vol. 1, Kitāb al-Adhān, p. 253
If a person offers obligatory prayer individually, whether at home or in the mosque, and has no intention of leading or joining a congregation,
is it necessary for him to say the Iqāmah?
Some Arab scholars consider it obligatory, and some even insist on saying the Adhān before individual prayer.
What is the correct Shar‘i ruling on this matter?
Praise be to Allah, and blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
For someone praying individually, it is not obligatory to say the Iqāmah, whether at home or in the mosque. This practice is permissible and recommended, but not compulsory.
➤ 1. ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه):
He led al-Aswad ibn Yazīd and ʿAlqamah ibn Qays in prayer at home but did not instruct them to give Adhān or Iqāmah.
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, ḥadīth 534 | Dār al-Salām: 1191)
✦ This shows that after the main Adhān and Iqāmah in the mosque, repeating them for individual or small group prayer is not required.
➤ 2. ʿUrwah ibn al-Zubayr (رحمه الله):
A man entered the mosque after the main congregation had finished and began saying the Iqāmah.
ʿUrwah stopped him, saying:
“Do not say the Iqāmah. We have already said it.”
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah 1/221, ḥadīth 2305 – authentic chain)
✦ This directly proves that repeating the Iqāmah after a congregation is not necessary.
➤ 3. Imām Mujāhid (رحمه الله):
“If you hear the Iqāmah at home, that suffices for you.”
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah 1/220, ḥadīth 2296 – ḥasan chain)
✦ It indicates that the Iqāmah given at the mosque is sufficient, even for those praying later at home.
➤ 4. ʿUrwah ibn al-Zubayr (رحمه الله) on Travel:
“If you are on a journey, it is up to you whether you say both Adhān and Iqāmah, or only Iqāmah.”
(Muwaṭṭaʾ Imām Mālik 1/73, ḥadīth 156 – authentic)
✦ Even in travel, saying Adhān or Iqāmah is not obligatory, showing that for individual prayers it remains optional.
For individual prayer, neither the Adhān nor the Iqāmah is obligatory.
Saying the Iqāmah is recommended, not required.
Repeating the Adhān or Iqāmah for a second congregation or individual prayer after it has already been called in the mosque is not necessary.
Therefore, the opinion of the Arab scholar who considers Iqāmah obligatory for individual prayer is not correct according to sound evidence and scholarly consensus.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
And Allah knows best what is correct.
Taken from: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Vol. 1, Kitāb al-Adhān, p. 253
❖ Question:
If a person offers obligatory prayer individually, whether at home or in the mosque, and has no intention of leading or joining a congregation,
is it necessary for him to say the Iqāmah?
Some Arab scholars consider it obligatory, and some even insist on saying the Adhān before individual prayer.
What is the correct Shar‘i ruling on this matter?
❖ Answer:
Praise be to Allah, and blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
✿ Summary Ruling
For someone praying individually, it is not obligatory to say the Iqāmah, whether at home or in the mosque. This practice is permissible and recommended, but not compulsory.
✿ Supporting Evidences
➤ 1. ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه):
He led al-Aswad ibn Yazīd and ʿAlqamah ibn Qays in prayer at home but did not instruct them to give Adhān or Iqāmah.
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, ḥadīth 534 | Dār al-Salām: 1191)
✦ This shows that after the main Adhān and Iqāmah in the mosque, repeating them for individual or small group prayer is not required.
➤ 2. ʿUrwah ibn al-Zubayr (رحمه الله):
A man entered the mosque after the main congregation had finished and began saying the Iqāmah.
ʿUrwah stopped him, saying:
“Do not say the Iqāmah. We have already said it.”
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah 1/221, ḥadīth 2305 – authentic chain)
✦ This directly proves that repeating the Iqāmah after a congregation is not necessary.
➤ 3. Imām Mujāhid (رحمه الله):
“If you hear the Iqāmah at home, that suffices for you.”
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah 1/220, ḥadīth 2296 – ḥasan chain)
✦ It indicates that the Iqāmah given at the mosque is sufficient, even for those praying later at home.
➤ 4. ʿUrwah ibn al-Zubayr (رحمه الله) on Travel:
“If you are on a journey, it is up to you whether you say both Adhān and Iqāmah, or only Iqāmah.”
(Muwaṭṭaʾ Imām Mālik 1/73, ḥadīth 156 – authentic)
✦ Even in travel, saying Adhān or Iqāmah is not obligatory, showing that for individual prayers it remains optional.
✔ Final Shar‘i Ruling
For individual prayer, neither the Adhān nor the Iqāmah is obligatory. Saying the Iqāmah is recommended, not required. Repeating the Adhān or Iqāmah for a second congregation or individual prayer after it has already been called in the mosque is not necessary. Therefore, the opinion of the Arab scholar who considers Iqāmah obligatory for individual prayer is not correct according to sound evidence and scholarly consensus.وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
And Allah knows best what is correct.
