Taken from: "Ahkam wa Masail in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith", Volume 02
While giving the Adhan, is it necessary to place the fingers in the ears, or is it permissible to leave the hands free?
✦ The narration that mentions the Prophet ﷺ commanding Bilal رضي الله عنه to place his fingers in his ears while giving Adhan is considered weak.
Therefore, there is no binding command in the Sunnah requiring one to place the fingers in the ears during the Adhan.
However, the narration of Abu Juḥayfah رضي الله عنه is authentic, in which he stated:
"I saw Bilal رضي الله عنه giving the Adhan while turning around and moving his mouth to the right and left, and his fingers were in his ears, while the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was in a red tent."
(Musnad Ahmad, Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, Abwab al-Salah, Bab Ma Ja’a fi Idkhal al-Isbaʿ fi al-Udhun ʿInd al-Adhan)
This shows that placing fingers in the ears during Adhan is a practice of Bilal رضي الله عنه, and it is regarded as Sunnah in action, though not obligatory.
① Placing fingers in the ears during Adhan is Sunnah based on the action of Bilal رضي الله عنه.
② No explicit command from the Prophet ﷺ makes it obligatory.
③ Adhan is valid whether the fingers are placed in the ears or not.
Wallāhu Aʿlam.
❀ Question:
While giving the Adhan, is it necessary to place the fingers in the ears, or is it permissible to leave the hands free?
❀ Answer:
✦ The narration that mentions the Prophet ﷺ commanding Bilal رضي الله عنه to place his fingers in his ears while giving Adhan is considered weak.
Therefore, there is no binding command in the Sunnah requiring one to place the fingers in the ears during the Adhan.
✿ Authentic Hadith:
However, the narration of Abu Juḥayfah رضي الله عنه is authentic, in which he stated:
"I saw Bilal رضي الله عنه giving the Adhan while turning around and moving his mouth to the right and left, and his fingers were in his ears, while the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was in a red tent."
(Musnad Ahmad, Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, Abwab al-Salah, Bab Ma Ja’a fi Idkhal al-Isbaʿ fi al-Udhun ʿInd al-Adhan)
This shows that placing fingers in the ears during Adhan is a practice of Bilal رضي الله عنه, and it is regarded as Sunnah in action, though not obligatory.
✦ Practical Ruling:
- Placing fingers in the ears during Adhan is permissible and recommended based on the established action of Bilal رضي الله عنه.
- Leaving the hands free and not placing the fingers in the ears is also permissible, and the Adhan remains valid in both cases.
✔ Summary:
① Placing fingers in the ears during Adhan is Sunnah based on the action of Bilal رضي الله عنه.
② No explicit command from the Prophet ﷺ makes it obligatory.
③ Adhan is valid whether the fingers are placed in the ears or not.
Wallāhu Aʿlam.
