This excerpt is taken from the book Tuhfa Juma by Sheikh al-Hadith Maulana Muhammad Yusuf (Founder of Dar al-Hadith Jamia Kamalia).
There is only one Adhan for Jumu'ah:
عليكم بسنتي وسنة الخلفاء الراشدين المهديين (Hadith)
There is only one Adhan for Jumu'ah (Friday prayer).
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ﴾
"When the call to prayer is made on the day of Jumu'ah, hasten to the remembrance of Allah."
Reference: (Surah Al-Jumu'ah: Ayah 9)
Adhan means announcing the time of prayer with specific words.
Great virtue and honor of Adhan and the Mu'adhdhin (caller to prayer) have been described extensively in the noble teachings of the Trustworthy Messenger.
It is stated somewhere that the neck of the Mu'adhdhin will be the longest on the Day of Judgment. Elsewhere it is said that angels pray for mercy for those in the first row and the Mu'adhdhin. In another place, it is mentioned that if you knew the reward of the first row and Adhan, you would draw lots to obtain that reward.
On some occasions, a prayer for forgiveness is uttered from the tongue of Prophethood for the Mu'adhdhin.
اللهم اغفر للمؤذنين أو كما قال
For details, refer to the books of Hadith. This great practice was established in Madinah Munawwarah in the very first year of Hijri, whose legitimacy is mentioned in authentic Ahadith. Its manner and words are also recorded in authentic Ahadith, over which no one has any authority to add or subtract. Because Adhan is a Shariah matter and the Shariah of the Seal of the Prophets, peace be upon him, is complete, as the Creator of the universe has informed through revelation.
اليوم أكملت لكم دينكم.
This announcement was publicly declared by the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, in the presence of the Companions, and this testimony of the Holy Quran will continue to be recited on people's tongues until the Day of Judgment, with no possibility of change.
It is very clear from the pure Seerah that only one Adhan is prescribed for every obligatory prayer. Two Adhans for any prayer are not established from the Master of the Shariah, peace be upon him. Similarly, the Friday prayer is also a fixed obligatory prayer for which only one Adhan is prescribed. Imam Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, explained this as follows.
باب الآذان يوم الجمعة :
① عن السائب بن يزيد قال كان النداء يوم الجمعة أوله إذا جلس الإمام على المنبر على عهد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وأبي بكر وعمر رضي الله عنهما فلما كان عثمان رضى الله عنه وكثر الناس زاد النداء الثالث على الزوراء
"Sayyiduna Hazrat Saib bin Yazid, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that during the blessed eras of the Imam of the Universe and the First Caliph Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, and the Second Caliph Sayyiduna Umar Farooq, may Allah be pleased with him, the Adhan for Jumu'ah was given when the Imam sat on the pulpit. But during the era of Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, due to the large number of Muslims, an additional Adhan was added at the place of Zawra."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari Hadith 912, Maktabah Dar Islam
Narrator of the Hadith:
Sayyiduna Saib bin Yazid رضي الله عنه’s kunya is Abu Yazid Kindi. He was born in the year 2 Hijri. He came to Hajj al-Wada’ with his father when he was seven years old. Imam Zahri رحمه الله and Muhammad bin Yusuf رحمه الله narrate from him. He passed away in the year 91 Hijri. He is the last Sahabi who died in Madinah Munawwarah.
His hadiths are very few; one hadith is muttafaqun ‘alayh (agreed upon), and in five hadiths Imam Bukhari رحمه الله is unique.
قال أبو عبد الله الزوراء موضع بالسوق بالمدينة
Imam al-Muhaddithin, Hazrat Imam Bukhari رحمه الله says that Zura’ is the name of a place in the market of Madinah.
From the mentioned hadith, the issue is established that during the blessed eras of Sayyid al-Bashar and the two noble Sheikhs, there was only one adhan for Jumu’ah, and that was when the khateeb sat on the minbar. During the blessed era of Hazrat Uthman Ghani رضي الله عنه, when the number of Muslims increased greatly, the caliph of the time felt the need to start an adhan to gather people in the mosque on time for Jumu’ah. Under this necessity, Sayyiduna Hazrat Uthman رضي الله عنه added an adhan which was given outside the mosque in the market on a high place. Even today, if such a situation arises somewhere, it would be permissible to follow the Sunnah of Uthmani. However, inside the mosque and in this advanced era, where modern devices have been invented to carry the human voice from far away and the human voice can be easily heard miles away, if an additional adhan is given, it will not be the Sunnah of Uthmani but will fall under the category of bid’ah (innovation). Because loudspeakers are installed inside mosques and every person has a device to know the time. Certainly, under such circumstances, following the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ is preferable. Additional adhan will be considered bid’ah.
This has been explained by the Quranic commentator and renowned Muhaddith of the subcontinent, Maulana Abdul Sattar Muhaddith Dehlvi رحمه الله, in the footnotes of his translation of the Quran.
See:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ﴾ in the footnotes.
He writes that it is in Sahih Bukhari Sharif that during the time of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, and Umar رضي الله عنه, the adhan was only given when the Imam came to the minbar. In the era of Uthmani رضي الله عنه, due to the large number of Muslims, an additional adhan was given outside the mosque at the place called Zura’ (hill). Giving two adhans in the mosque on Jumu’ah is not proven from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ or his noble companions رضي الله عنهم. But nowadays, two adhans are given in the mosque on Jumu’ah, and this custom should be abandoned because it is bid’ah.
Reference: (Fawaid Sattariya, page 781, Dar al-Salam, Masjid Burns Road, Karachi)
Similarly, the distinguished scholar and translator of Sahih Bukhari Sharif of the subcontinent, Maulana Muhammad Dawood Razi رحمه الله, has written in the explanation of the narration of Sayyiduna Hazrat Saib bin Yazid in Sahih Bukhari which contains these words:
أمر عثمان يوم الجمعة بالأذان الثالث فأذن به على الزوراء فثبت الأمر على ذلك
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari Translator, p. 91, Hadith No. 916)
He writes:
The third adhan is so called because takbeer is also part of the adhan. After Sayyiduna Hazrat Uthman رضي الله عنه, this method continued that in Jumu’ah there is a first adhan, then when the Imam goes to the minbar, a second adhan is given, and then at the start of the prayer, a third adhan, i.e., takbeer, is said. Certainly, the act of Hazrat Uthman رضي الله عنه cannot be bid’ah because he is among the rightly guided caliphs. But he increased the adhan out of necessity because the population of Madinah had spread far and wide, and the adhan of the khutbah was not sufficient for everyone to gather; by the time they arrived, the prayer would be over. However, where this necessity does not exist, we should only give the adhan of the khutbah as the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and it should be given loudly, not as ignorant people do by giving the adhan slowly during the khutbah, which has no basis. Ibn Abi Shaybah has narrated from Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما that the third adhan is bid’ah, meaning a new thing that was not present in the time of the Prophet ﷺ. Now, except for the Ahl al-Hadith, no one properly follows the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ; wherever you look, the custom of Sunnah is prevalent (Maulana Waheed al-Zaman). Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنه, who called it bid’ah, has been explained by Hafiz Ibn Hajar رحمه الله as follows:
فيتحمل أن يكون ذلك على سبيل الأنكار ويتحمل أن يريد أنه لم يكن فى زمن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم وكل ما لم يكن فى زمنه يسمى بدعة
Meaning, it is possible that Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنه said this as a form of rejection, and it is also possible that he meant that this adhan was not during the blessed time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and whatever was not in the time of the Prophet ﷺ is called bid’ah (in the linguistic sense), meaning a new thing. Hafiz Ibn Hajar says:
بلغني أن أهل المغرب الأدنى الآن لا تأذين عندهم سوى مرة
Meaning, I have heard that the practice of the people of the West is still only the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, i.e., one adhan.
The majority of the scholars of Ahl al-Hadith also hold the view that following the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ is better, and if a need like in the time of Hazrat Uthman رضي الله عنه arises, then giving adhan outside the mosque at a suitable place is not objectionable.
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari Translator, p. 91, Hadith 916, Maktaba Qudusiya Lahore)
In the Holy Quran it is stated:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ﴾
“O you who believe! When the call is proclaimed for the prayer on Friday…”
Reference: (Al-Jumu’ah: 9)
From the meaning of the Quranic words, it is very clear that the adhan of Jumu’ah is only one.
Look at the translations of the Quran worldwide; in no translation is it written “when adhans are given.” Without any difference, every translation of the Quranic words will be “when the adhan of Jumu’ah is given.”
Is there any competition between the Owner of Revelation and Allah Almighty? Allah the Glorious says: when the adhan is given and you give two adhans, while the Sunnah of the Noble Prophet ﷺ is one adhan.
Consider that when the Holy Quran was revealed, you ﷺ recited quickly.
Allah Almighty said: ﴿سَنُقْرِئُكَ فَلَا تَنْسَى﴾
“We will make you recite, and you will not forget.”
Reference: (Surah Al-A’la: Ayah 6)
Meaning, He will grant you a Shariah that is very easy, moderate, and straightforward, in which there will be no hardship or difficulty.
The Creator of the universe, Glorified is He, says:
﴿وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ﴾
“This is the reminder We have sent down to you, so that you may explain to the people what has been sent down to them, and perhaps they will reflect.”
Reference: (Surah An-Nahl: Ayah 44, Para 14)
The command of the Mighty Lord is:
﴿ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَهُ﴾
“Then it is for Us to make it clear.” (i.e., Tafsir)
Reference: (Surah Al-Qiyamah: Ayah 19, Para 29)
Meaning, the explanation of its difficult parts and the clarification of halal and haram is also our responsibility. This clearly means that the detailed explanation of the Quranic generalities and the specification of its universals, which is called Hadith, was also inspired and explained by Allah Almighty. Therefore, it is necessary to accept them like the Quran.
Essence of the Speech:
Sayyid, son of Adam Shah Madina, the blessed life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the practical interpretation of the Holy Quran, meaning that the Prophet (peace be upon him) is another Quran. That is why throughout his entire life, the Friday call to prayer (Adhan) remained the same. The Caliph of the Messenger, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), and the second Caliph, Sayyiduna Umar Farooq (may Allah be pleased with him), also continued to say the same Adhan following his example.
عليكم بسنتي وسنة الخلفاء الراشدين المهديين
Some people unsuccessfully try to create confusion by saying that the second Adhan in the mosque is the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, whereas it is clear and evident that you must follow the Sunnah of the Imam of the Universe (peace be upon him) first. This narration, which tries to create confusion, does not fulfill its purpose at all. If the words "you must follow my Sunnah" were not in the narration, then their purpose would be fulfilled and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs would be meant. It is noteworthy that where the Sunnah of the Owner of Revelation (the Prophet) is not present, there the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs will be a proof. That is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) first said "you must follow my Sunnah."
Reference: (Mirqat al-Mafatih, pp. 307, 308)
In summary, the second Adhan being said inside the mosque is not the Ottoman Sunnah but the Marwani Sunnah. If the Adhan is given outside the mosque, without doubt, it will be the Ottoman Sunnah.
