Authored by: Abu al-Hasan al-Muhammadi
Responding to the Adhan (call to prayer) is a beloved Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ):
Translation of Hadith:
"Narrated by Abu Sa'id al-Khudri:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, 'When you hear the call (Adhan), say what the Mu'adhdhin (the one who gives the Adhan) says.'"**
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 86/1, Hadith 611; Sahih Muslim: 166/1, Hadith 383)
This Hadith is also narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari (86/1) from Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (رضي الله عنه).
Another Hadith states:
"Narrated by Abdullah bin Amr bin al-As (رضي الله عنهما):
He heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, 'When you hear the Mu'adhdhin, say what he says, then send blessings upon me. For whoever sends blessings upon me once, Allah will send ten blessings upon him. After that, ask Allah for "Al-Wasilah" for me, as it is a rank in Paradise that is granted to only one of Allah's servants, and I hope to be that one. Whoever asks for "Al-Wasilah" for me, my intercession will be obligatory for him.'"
(Sahih Muslim: 166/1, Hadith 384)
These two "Sahih" (authentic) Hadiths establish the recommendation and the reward for responding to the Adhan. Additionally, the generality of these Hadiths suggests that one should repeat the same words that the Mu'adhdhin says. However, another Hadith specifies that in response to "حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ" (Hasten to the prayer) and "حَيَّ عَلَى الْفَلاحِ" (Hasten to success), one should say "لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ" (There is no power and no strength except with Allah).
Narrated by Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "When the Mu'adhdhin says 'حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ', one of you should say 'لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ'. And when the Mu'adhdhin says 'حَيَّ عَلَى الْفَلَاحِ', one of you should say 'لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ'."
(Sahih Muslim: 167/1, Hadith 385)
This exception of words is established by Hadith.
Some people suggest that in response to these phrases, one should say "صَدَقْتَ وَبَرَرْتَ" (You have spoken the truth and done well). However, these words are not authentically proven from the Prophet (ﷺ).
Regarding this, Hafiz Ibn Hajar (رحمه الله) writes:
"There is no basis for these words."
(Al-Talkhis al-Habir by Ibn Hajar: 211/1)
Mawlana Ashiq Ilahi Baland Shehri Deobandi writes:
"In response to 'حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ' and 'حَيَّ عَلَى الْفَلَاحِ', one should say 'لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ', and for the remaining phrases, one should repeat the same words as the Mu'adhdhin. This is proven by the Hadiths. However, saying specific words in response to 'الصَّلَاةُ خَيْرٌ مِنَ النَّوْمِ' is not proven. The directive 'قُولْوا مِثْلَ مَا يَقُولْ' (Say as the Mu'adhdhin says) implies that the responder should also say 'الصَّلَاةُ خَيْرٌ مِنَ النَّوْمِ' and address his own self with it. As for what is written in the Hanafi and Shafi'i books, that one should say 'صَدَقْتَ وَبَرَرْتَ' in response, there is no basis for this."
(Hashiya Hisn Haseen by Ashiq Ilahi Deobandi: 255)
Responding to the Adhan (call to prayer) is a beloved Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ):
Translation of Hadith:
"Narrated by Abu Sa'id al-Khudri:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, 'When you hear the call (Adhan), say what the Mu'adhdhin (the one who gives the Adhan) says.'"**
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 86/1, Hadith 611; Sahih Muslim: 166/1, Hadith 383)
This Hadith is also narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari (86/1) from Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (رضي الله عنه).
Another Hadith states:
"Narrated by Abdullah bin Amr bin al-As (رضي الله عنهما):
He heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, 'When you hear the Mu'adhdhin, say what he says, then send blessings upon me. For whoever sends blessings upon me once, Allah will send ten blessings upon him. After that, ask Allah for "Al-Wasilah" for me, as it is a rank in Paradise that is granted to only one of Allah's servants, and I hope to be that one. Whoever asks for "Al-Wasilah" for me, my intercession will be obligatory for him.'"
(Sahih Muslim: 166/1, Hadith 384)
These two "Sahih" (authentic) Hadiths establish the recommendation and the reward for responding to the Adhan. Additionally, the generality of these Hadiths suggests that one should repeat the same words that the Mu'adhdhin says. However, another Hadith specifies that in response to "حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ" (Hasten to the prayer) and "حَيَّ عَلَى الْفَلاحِ" (Hasten to success), one should say "لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ" (There is no power and no strength except with Allah).
Narrated by Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "When the Mu'adhdhin says 'حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ', one of you should say 'لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ'. And when the Mu'adhdhin says 'حَيَّ عَلَى الْفَلَاحِ', one of you should say 'لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ'."
(Sahih Muslim: 167/1, Hadith 385)
This exception of words is established by Hadith.
Some people suggest that in response to these phrases, one should say "صَدَقْتَ وَبَرَرْتَ" (You have spoken the truth and done well). However, these words are not authentically proven from the Prophet (ﷺ).
Regarding this, Hafiz Ibn Hajar (رحمه الله) writes:
"There is no basis for these words."
(Al-Talkhis al-Habir by Ibn Hajar: 211/1)
Mawlana Ashiq Ilahi Baland Shehri Deobandi writes:
"In response to 'حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ' and 'حَيَّ عَلَى الْفَلَاحِ', one should say 'لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ', and for the remaining phrases, one should repeat the same words as the Mu'adhdhin. This is proven by the Hadiths. However, saying specific words in response to 'الصَّلَاةُ خَيْرٌ مِنَ النَّوْمِ' is not proven. The directive 'قُولْوا مِثْلَ مَا يَقُولْ' (Say as the Mu'adhdhin says) implies that the responder should also say 'الصَّلَاةُ خَيْرٌ مِنَ النَّوْمِ' and address his own self with it. As for what is written in the Hanafi and Shafi'i books, that one should say 'صَدَقْتَ وَبَرَرْتَ' in response, there is no basis for this."
(Hashiya Hisn Haseen by Ashiq Ilahi Deobandi: 255)