This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Hussain bin Mubarak Al-Mawsili's Arabic book Al-Awamer wal-Nawahi, whose Urdu translation has been done by Muhammad Sarwar Gohar Sahib under the title Ahkamat o Mamnoaat.
Adhan and its related rulings
الأذان, The hamzah with a zabar literally means "announcement" for the adhan.
Reference: (See Al-Qamus Al-Muheet by Al-Fayroozabadi 4/195)
Legally, it means: "Those specific words through which the time for the obligatory prayer becomes known."
Reference: (See Hashiyat Al-Jamal ala Al-Manhaj 295/1)
① Sayyiduna Muawiyah رضي الله عنه narrates, I heard the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم say:
المؤذنون أطول الناس أعناقا يوم القيامة
"On the Day of Resurrection, the necks of those who give the adhan will be the longest."
Reference: Muslim, Book of Prayer, Hadith 14/387. Ibn Majah, Book of Adhan and Sunnah in it, Hadith 725.
The Salaf and Khalaf differed in its meaning. Some said that they will be witnessing Allah’s mercy more than all others, because one who looks at something high stretches his neck to see it, so it means they will be seeing abundant reward.
Nazar bin Shumail said: "On the Day of Resurrection, when people will be drenched in sweat, their necks will become long so that they do not suffer from that distress and sweat."
Some said: "They will have more followers."
Ibn Al-A’rabi said: "They will be those who perform more deeds among the people."
Qadi Iyad and others said: "Some have narrated اعناقا with a kasra on the hamzah, meaning اعناقا, that they will hasten towards Paradise. This implies speed."
Reference: (See Sharh Sahih Muslim by An-Nawawi 92/3)
② Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates, we were present with the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم when Sayyiduna Bilal رضي الله عنه stood up to give the adhan. When he fell silent, the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
من قال مثل هذا يقينا دخل الجنة
"Whoever says it with certainty (i.e., as the mu’adhdhin says) will enter Paradise."
Reference: An-Nasa’i, Book of Adhan 2/20, Chapter on the reward of that, its chain is Hasan.
③ Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
من أذن سبع سنين محتسبا كتب الله له براءة من النار
"Whoever gives the adhan for seven years with the intention of reward, Allah will write for him disassociation from Hellfire."
Reference: At-Tirmidhi, Book of Prayer, Hadith 206, its chain is weak. It includes Jabir bin Yazid bin Harith Al-Ja’fi who is weak and Rafidhi. (See At-Taqreeb: 878)
④ Sayyiduna Bara’ رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
إن الله وملائكته يصلون على الصف الأول والمؤذن يغفر له بمد صوته ويصدقه من سمعه من رطب ويابس وله مثل أجر من صلى معه
"Allah and His angels send mercy upon the first row, and for the mu’adhdhin, whatever his voice reaches, the things there seek forgiveness, every moist and dry thing that hears his voice confirms it, and the one who prays with him receives the same reward."
Reference: An-Nasa’i, Book of Adhan, Chapter on raising the voice with the adhan, At-Tabarani Al-Awsat 8194, Al-Kamil by Ibn ‘Adi 2426/6, Musnad Ahmad 284/4.
Responding to the Mu'adhdhin and His Supplication
① Sayyiduna Abu Saeed رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
إذا سمعتم النداء فقولوا كما يقول المؤذن
"When you hear the Adhan, then say as the Mu'adhdhin says."
Reference: Al-Bukhari, Book of Adhan, Hadith 611. Muslim, Book of Prayer, Hadith 383/10. Abu Dawood, Prayer, Hadith 522.
From the apparent words of the Hadith, it seems that responding to the Adhan is specifically for the one who hears the Adhan. For example, if someone sees the Mu'adhdhin on the minaret and thinks he is giving the Adhan, but due to distance or deafness does not hear the Adhan, then following it is not prescribed for him. Sheikh Nawawi رحمه الله said this in Sharh al-Muhadhdhab.
Reference: (See Fath al-Bari 2/108)
Karmani said: The Hadith contains the words "__ARABIC_8" (what he says), it does not say "ARABIC_9__" (as he said) so that it is understood that he will respond after uttering such words.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar رحمه الله said: "I say that in the narration reported by Sayyida Umm Habiba رضي الله عنها in al-Nasa'i, there is clarity that the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم would say exactly as the Mu'adhdhin says until he becomes silent."
Abu al-Fath al-Yamari states: "From the apparent meaning of the Hadith, it appears that the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم would say like the Mu'adhdhin after he finished. But the Ahadith which imply responding after every word of the Mu'adhdhin indicate that uniformity is meant. This refers to the Hadith of Sayyiduna Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه in Muslim and others. If he does not respond until the Mu'adhdhin finishes, it is preferable to make up for it if the pause is not long."
Sheikh Nawawi رحمه الله discussed this in Sharh al-Muhadhdhab and said the same ruling applies if a person has an excuse such as prayer, etc.
Reference: (See Fath al-Bari 2/109, and al-Uddah Sharh al-Umdah 2/190)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar رحمه الله said: "Ibn Waddah claimed that the word '__ARABIC_10' is inserted because the Hadith ends with 'ARABIC_11__', but it was followed up that insertion is not established by mere claim (evidence is required)."
Reference: (See Fath al-Bari 2/109)
② Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Amr ibn As رضي الله عنهما narrates that he heard the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم say:
إذا سمعتم النداء فقولوا مثل ما يقول ثم صلوا على فإنه من صلى على صلاة صلى الله عليه بها عشرا ثم سلوا الله لي الوسيلة فإنها منزلة فى الجنة لا تنبغي إلا لعبد من عباد الله وأرجو أن أكون أنا هو فمن سأل لي الوسيلة حلت له شفاعتي
"When you hear the Adhan, then say as he (the Mu'adhdhin) says. Then send blessings upon me, for whoever sends blessings upon me once, Allah sends ten mercies upon him in return. Then ask Allah for my Waseelah (a rank in Paradise), which is a position and status in Paradise that only one servant of Allah will be granted, and I hope that I am that one. So whoever asks for my Waseelah, my intercession becomes obligatory for him."
Reference: Muslim, Book of Prayer, Hadith 11/384. Abu Dawood, Book of Prayer, Hadith 523.
③ Sayyiduna Jabir رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
من قال حين يسمع النداء اللهم رب هذه الدعوة التامة والصلاة القائمة آت محمدا الوسيلة والفضيلة وابعثه مقاما محمودا الذى وعدته حلت له شفاعتي يوم القيامة
"Whoever after hearing the Adhan recites this supplication:
'اللهم رب هذه الدعوة التامة والصلاة القائمة آت محمدا الوسيلة والفضيلة وابعثه مقاما محمودا الذى وعدته' (O Allah! Lord of this perfect call and established prayer! Grant Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم the Waseelah and the virtue, and raise him to the praised position which You have promised him)
then my intercession will be obligatory for him on the Day of Resurrection."
Reference: Al-Bukhari, Book of Tafsir, Hadith 4719. Abu Dawood, Book of Prayer, Hadith 529.
④ Sayyiduna Saad ibn Abi Waqqas رضي الله عنهما narrates from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that he said:
من قال حين يسمع المؤذن أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له وأن محمدا عبده ورسوله رضيت بالله ربا وبمحمد رسولا وبالإسلام دينا غفر له ذنبه
"Whoever recites this supplication at the time of hearing the Adhan: 'أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له وأن محمدا عبده ورسوله رضيت بالله ربا وبمحمد رسولا وبالإسلام دينا' (I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah, He is One and has no partner, and Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is His servant and Messenger, I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم as His Messenger, and Islam as the religion)
then his sins will be forgiven."
Reference: Muslim, Book of Prayer, Hadith 13/386. Abu Dawood, Book of Prayer, Hadith 525.
Prohibition of Leaving the Mosque Upon Hearing the Adhan
① Sayyiduna Abu Al-Sha'tha, may Allah have mercy on him, narrates that we were sitting in the mosque with Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, when the muezzin gave the adhan. A man got up and started to leave the mosque. Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, kept watching him until he went outside the mosque, then Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah said:
"This person disobeyed Abu Al-Qasim, peace and blessings be upon him."
Reference: Muslim, Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer 655/258. Abu Dawood 536. At-Tirmidhi, Book of Prayer 204.
