❖ Response to Iqamah: Rulings and Clarifications ❖
✒ Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
Responding to Iqamah is legislated, as narrated from Abu Sa’id al-Khudri رضي الله عنه, that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"إذا النداء فقولوا مثل ما يقول المؤذن"
[Bukhari 611, Book of Adhan: Chapter on What to Say When Hearing the Caller; Muslim 383]
"When you hear the call, then say as the Mu’adhdhin says."
In this Hadith, the word "النداء" (the call) includes both the Adhan and Iqamah. The phrase "مثل ما يقول المؤذن" (say as the Mu’adhdhin says) implies that even in response to "قَدْ قَامَتِ ٱلصَّلَاةُ", one should repeat the same words.
The Hadith in which the Prophet ﷺ is reported to have said "أقامها الله وأدامها" when Bilal رضي الله عنه pronounced "قَدْ قَامَتِ ٱلصَّلَاةُ" during the Iqamah is weak.
References indicate that this narration is not authentic:
➤ Da‘eef Abi Dawood 104, Irwa’ al-Ghaleel 241, Abu Dawood 528, Book of Prayer: Chapter on What to Say Upon Hearing the Iqamah
➤ Al-Bayhaqi 1/411, Hilyat al-Awliya’ by Abu Nu‘aym 7/81
➤ Hafiz Ibn Hajar declared it weak in Talkhees al-Habeer 1/378
Reasons for weakness include:
① Shahr bin Hawshab, a narrator, is criticized.
• Refer to Meezan al-I‘tidal 2/283, Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 4/369
② Another narrator in the chain is a Majhool (unknown) man from the people of al-Sham
③ Muhammad bin Thabit al-‘Abdi is also weak.
• Meezan al-I‘tidal 3/495, Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 9/85
Shaykh Ibn Jibreen رحمه الله also stated that the Hadith "أقامها الله وأدامها" is weak.
[Al-Fatawa al-Islamiyyah 1/327]
In response to this, the Saudi Permanent Committee for Ifta stated:
"ولا نعلم دليلا يصح يدل على ذكر شيء من الأدعية بين انتهاء الإقامة وقبل تكبيرة الإحرام"
"We do not know of any sound evidence that indicates the recitation of any supplication between the end of Iqamah and the start of Takbir al-Ihram."
[Al-Fatawa al-Islamiyyah 1/325]
According to Ibn Baz رحمه الله:
✔ If the speech is related to the prayer, such as correcting the rows, then it is permissible (Mashro‘).
✔ If the speech is not related to the prayer, it should be avoided for the sake of maintaining order in the prayer.
[Al-Fatawa al-Islamiyyah 1/328]
✒ Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
◈ The Ruling on Responding to Iqamah
Responding to Iqamah is legislated, as narrated from Abu Sa’id al-Khudri رضي الله عنه, that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"إذا النداء فقولوا مثل ما يقول المؤذن"
[Bukhari 611, Book of Adhan: Chapter on What to Say When Hearing the Caller; Muslim 383]
"When you hear the call, then say as the Mu’adhdhin says."
In this Hadith, the word "النداء" (the call) includes both the Adhan and Iqamah. The phrase "مثل ما يقول المؤذن" (say as the Mu’adhdhin says) implies that even in response to "قَدْ قَامَتِ ٱلصَّلَاةُ", one should repeat the same words.
✿ Weakness of the Hadith: "أقامها الله وأدامها"
The Hadith in which the Prophet ﷺ is reported to have said "أقامها الله وأدامها" when Bilal رضي الله عنه pronounced "قَدْ قَامَتِ ٱلصَّلَاةُ" during the Iqamah is weak.
References indicate that this narration is not authentic:
➤ Da‘eef Abi Dawood 104, Irwa’ al-Ghaleel 241, Abu Dawood 528, Book of Prayer: Chapter on What to Say Upon Hearing the Iqamah
➤ Al-Bayhaqi 1/411, Hilyat al-Awliya’ by Abu Nu‘aym 7/81
➤ Hafiz Ibn Hajar declared it weak in Talkhees al-Habeer 1/378
Reasons for weakness include:
① Shahr bin Hawshab, a narrator, is criticized.
• Refer to Meezan al-I‘tidal 2/283, Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 4/369
② Another narrator in the chain is a Majhool (unknown) man from the people of al-Sham
③ Muhammad bin Thabit al-‘Abdi is also weak.
• Meezan al-I‘tidal 3/495, Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 9/85
Shaykh Ibn Jibreen رحمه الله also stated that the Hadith "أقامها الله وأدامها" is weak.
[Al-Fatawa al-Islamiyyah 1/327]
◈ Can the Supplications Recited After Adhan Be Recited After Iqamah?
In response to this, the Saudi Permanent Committee for Ifta stated:
"ولا نعلم دليلا يصح يدل على ذكر شيء من الأدعية بين انتهاء الإقامة وقبل تكبيرة الإحرام"
"We do not know of any sound evidence that indicates the recitation of any supplication between the end of Iqamah and the start of Takbir al-Ihram."
[Al-Fatawa al-Islamiyyah 1/325]
❀ Speaking After the Iqamah
According to Ibn Baz رحمه الله:
✔ If the speech is related to the prayer, such as correcting the rows, then it is permissible (Mashro‘).
✔ If the speech is not related to the prayer, it should be avoided for the sake of maintaining order in the prayer.
[Al-Fatawa al-Islamiyyah 1/328]
