Written by: Sheikh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani (may Allah preserve him)
Question:
Is Tarji' in Adhan, meaning the repetition of the testimonies (Shahadatain), proven from the Sunnah of the Prophet? Please clarify this and may you be rewarded by Allah.
Answer:
Tarji' in Adhan refers to the practice of repeating the testimony of faith (Shahadatain) in a lower voice first, followed by repeating it in a louder voice. This form of Adhan, known as the "double Adhan," is established in the Shariah. Abu Mahdhura (may Allah be pleased with him) remained the Mu'adhin of Makkah for his entire life, as mentioned in Asad al-Ghabah [6/273, biography no. 6229], and he used to give such an Adhan.
This form of Adhan is not limited to any particular prayer but can be used for all prayers. Abu Mahdhura (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "I said, 'O Messenger of Allah! Teach me the words of the Adhan.' The Prophet (peace be upon him) held the front part of my head and said:
"Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar."
He instructed me to raise my voice with these words, then said:
"Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah, Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah."
(The narration continues...)
[Abu Dawood, Book of Salah, Chapter: How the Adhan should be called, 500; Tirmidhi, Chapter: What is said about Tarji' in Adhan, 191; Bayhaqi 1/394; Ahmad 3/409; Ibn Khuzayma 377; Muslim 6/379; Ibn Hibban 1680, 1681]
◈ Imam Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) stated:
"This hadith is a clear and evident proof for the view of Imam Malik, Imam Shafi'i, Imam Ahmad, and the majority of scholars that Tarji' in the Adhan is established and permissible. Tarji' means to repeat the words of the Shahadatain twice in a lower voice and then repeat them again in a louder voice."
[Sharh Muslim 4/70]
According to Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) and the scholars of Kufa, Tarji' is not considered permissible because the hadith of Abdullah bin Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) does not mention Tarji'. However, the majority base their ruling on the authentic hadith mentioned above, which includes the mention of Tarji', and in such matters, the mention of something extra takes precedence. Additionally, the hadith of Abu Mahdhura (may Allah be pleased with him) came later, after the hadith of Abdullah bin Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him).
The hadith of Abu Mahdhura (may Allah be pleased with him) occurred after the Battle of Hunayn in 8 AH, while the hadith of Abdullah bin Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) pertains to the time when the Adhan was first introduced, which was before this. The people of Makkah and Madinah, as well as other cities, all adopted this practice. Therefore, these additional phrases in the Adhan are not innovations but are indeed established from the Sunnah. Abu Mahdhura (may Allah be pleased with him) continued to give this form of Adhan throughout his life in Makkah.
It is also important to note that the Iqamah associated with this Adhan is also doubled (i.e., the phrases are repeated). The Iqamah of Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) consists of single phrases. Our Hanafi brothers have adopted Bilal's version of the Adhan, but they have chosen the Iqamah of Abu Mahdhura. As a result, they are not fully adhering to any single hadith. If they choose to follow Bilal's Adhan, then they should also adopt his Iqamah, and if they prefer Abu Mahdhura's Iqamah, they should not reject his Adhan with Tarji'. May Allah guide us all to the straight path (Ameen).
Question:
Is Tarji' in Adhan, meaning the repetition of the testimonies (Shahadatain), proven from the Sunnah of the Prophet? Please clarify this and may you be rewarded by Allah.
Answer:
Tarji' in Adhan refers to the practice of repeating the testimony of faith (Shahadatain) in a lower voice first, followed by repeating it in a louder voice. This form of Adhan, known as the "double Adhan," is established in the Shariah. Abu Mahdhura (may Allah be pleased with him) remained the Mu'adhin of Makkah for his entire life, as mentioned in Asad al-Ghabah [6/273, biography no. 6229], and he used to give such an Adhan.
This form of Adhan is not limited to any particular prayer but can be used for all prayers. Abu Mahdhura (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "I said, 'O Messenger of Allah! Teach me the words of the Adhan.' The Prophet (peace be upon him) held the front part of my head and said:
"Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar."
He instructed me to raise my voice with these words, then said:
"Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah, Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah."
(The narration continues...)
[Abu Dawood, Book of Salah, Chapter: How the Adhan should be called, 500; Tirmidhi, Chapter: What is said about Tarji' in Adhan, 191; Bayhaqi 1/394; Ahmad 3/409; Ibn Khuzayma 377; Muslim 6/379; Ibn Hibban 1680, 1681]
◈ Imam Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) stated:
"This hadith is a clear and evident proof for the view of Imam Malik, Imam Shafi'i, Imam Ahmad, and the majority of scholars that Tarji' in the Adhan is established and permissible. Tarji' means to repeat the words of the Shahadatain twice in a lower voice and then repeat them again in a louder voice."
[Sharh Muslim 4/70]
According to Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) and the scholars of Kufa, Tarji' is not considered permissible because the hadith of Abdullah bin Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) does not mention Tarji'. However, the majority base their ruling on the authentic hadith mentioned above, which includes the mention of Tarji', and in such matters, the mention of something extra takes precedence. Additionally, the hadith of Abu Mahdhura (may Allah be pleased with him) came later, after the hadith of Abdullah bin Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him).
The hadith of Abu Mahdhura (may Allah be pleased with him) occurred after the Battle of Hunayn in 8 AH, while the hadith of Abdullah bin Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) pertains to the time when the Adhan was first introduced, which was before this. The people of Makkah and Madinah, as well as other cities, all adopted this practice. Therefore, these additional phrases in the Adhan are not innovations but are indeed established from the Sunnah. Abu Mahdhura (may Allah be pleased with him) continued to give this form of Adhan throughout his life in Makkah.
It is also important to note that the Iqamah associated with this Adhan is also doubled (i.e., the phrases are repeated). The Iqamah of Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) consists of single phrases. Our Hanafi brothers have adopted Bilal's version of the Adhan, but they have chosen the Iqamah of Abu Mahdhura. As a result, they are not fully adhering to any single hadith. If they choose to follow Bilal's Adhan, then they should also adopt his Iqamah, and if they prefer Abu Mahdhura's Iqamah, they should not reject his Adhan with Tarji'. May Allah guide us all to the straight path (Ameen).