❖ Source: Derived from the book Namaz-e-Mustafa ﷺ by Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi
This article is derived from the book “Namaz-e-Mustafa ﷺ” authored by Abu Hamzah Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi.
﴿وَ مَنْ اَحْسَنُ قَوْلًا مِّمَّنْ دَعَاۤ اِلَى اللّٰهِ وَ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا وَّ قَالَ اِنَّنِیْ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِیْنَ﴾
﴿Fussilat: 33﴾
“No one can speak better than the one who invites towards Allah and performs righteous deeds and says: ‘Indeed, I am from among the Muslims.’”
Commentators state: The foremost application of this verse is upon the Prophets, then the scholars, then the Mujahideen, then the Mu'adhdhins (callers to prayer), and then upon those who sincerely call towards Tawheed and the teachings of Qur’an and Sunnah.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Purification, 277]
[Taysīr al-Raḥmān: 2/1343]
❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“The Mu'adhdhins will have the longest necks on the Day of Judgment.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Prayer, 387]
❀ The Prophet ﷺ also said:
“The Mu'adhdhin is forgiven due to the loudness of his voice, and everything—whether wet or dry—that hears his voice will bear witness for him on the Day of Judgment. He will receive a reward equal to those who come to prayer upon hearing his call.”
[Sunan al-Nasā’ī, Book of Adhān, 647 | Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Adhān, 609]
❀ Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“The Imam is a guarantor, and the Mu'adhdhin is trustworthy. O Allah! Guide the Imams and forgive the Mu'adhdhins.”
[Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Book of Prayer, 207 — Authenticated by al-Albānī]
❀ ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Āmir رضي الله عنه narrated:
“The Prophet ﷺ said that Allah is pleased with the shepherd of sheep who, while atop a mountain, gives the Adhān and prays. Allah says:
‘Look at My servant, he gives the Adhān and prays out of fear of Me. I have forgiven him and admitted him into Paradise.’”
[Sunan Abī Dāwūd, 1203 | Sunan al-Nasā’ī, 666 | Irwā’ al-Ghalīl, 214 | al-Ṣilsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah, 41]
❀ Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه also narrated:
“If people knew what virtues lie in the Adhān and the first row (in congregational prayer), they would draw lots for them. If they knew what reward lies in ‘Ishā and Fajr prayers, they would attend them even if they had to crawl.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Adhān, 615 | Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 437]
“What will you do with it?”
He replied: “We will use it to call people to prayer.”
The man then said:
“Shall I not teach you something better?”
He then taught him the full Adhān:
اللهُ أَكْبَرُ... لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
When Abdullah narrated his dream to the Prophet ﷺ, he said:
“Indeed, this is a true dream, In shā’ Allāh. Stand with Bilāl and recite to him what you saw, so he may call the Adhān with these words, for his voice is louder than yours.”
So Abdullah stood beside Bilāl and instructed him, and Bilāl called the Adhān. ‘Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه also heard it and came running, saying:
“By Allah! I too saw the same dream.”
The Prophet ﷺ said: “All praise is due to Allah.”
[Sunan Abī Dāwūd, 499 | Ibn Mājah, 6 | Musnad Aḥmad: 4/42 | Irwā’ al-Ghalīl: 1/264 – Declared ḥasan-ṣaḥīḥ by al-Albānī]
"الصَّلَاةُ خَيْرٌ مِّنَ النَّوْمِ"
(“Prayer is better than sleep”)
This was practiced by the Prophet ﷺ and his Mu'adhdhin as narrated in:
[al-Dāraqutnī, al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī, Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah, and others]
Iqāmah has odd-numbered phrases and includes “قَدْ قَامَتِ الصَّلَاةُ” said twice.
[Abū Dāwūd, 499 | Ibn Mājah, 706 – Declared ḥasan-ṣaḥīḥ by al-Albānī]
[Abū Dāwūd, 502 | al-Tirmidhī, 192 | al-Nasā’ī, 632 | Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 379]
Also, the Iqāmah with 17 phrases was taught to Abū Maḥdhūrah رضي الله عنه by the Prophet ﷺ.
When he says ḥayya ʿala al-ṣalāh or ḥayya ʿala al-falāḥ, the listener replies:
"لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ"
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 385]
And then says:
"لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ" with full sincerity — he will enter Paradise.
After the Shahādah, say the following:
"وَأَنَا أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ... رَضِيتُ بِاللَّهِ رَبًّا..."
This expiates all sins.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah, 422 | al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī: 1/410]
“After hearing the Adhān, repeat its words, then send blessings upon me and ask Allah to grant me al-Wasīlah, for whoever asks this for me, intercession is made permissible for him.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 384]
Then recite:
اللهم رب هذه الدعوة التامة...
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 614 | al-Bayhaqī: 1/410]
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 634 | Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 503]
② Inserting fingers into the ears while giving Adhān is recommended.
[al-Tirmidhī, 197 | Ibn Mājah, 711 – Declared ḥasan by al-Albānī]
③ Standing during Adhān is Sunnah, and there is consensus on this.
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 604 | Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 377]
④ Facing the Qiblah while giving Adhān is also Sunnah.
[al-Awsaṭ by Ibn al-Mundhir]
⑤ Make duʿā’ between Adhān and Iqāmah as it is not rejected.
[Abū Dāwūd, 521 | al-Tirmidhī, 212 – Authentic]
⑥ It is impermissible to leave the mosque after the Adhān without a valid excuse.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 655]
⑦ With a valid excuse, one may leave even after Iqāmah.
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 640]
⑧ Answer every phrase of the Adhān as prescribed — except innovating words like kissing thumbs at the name of the Prophet ﷺ is bidʿah.
⑨ Saying ṣalāh is better than sleep at Fajr must be replied with the same phrase.
⑩ Innovations like saying Muḥammad Rasūlullāh after lā ilāha illallāh at the end of the Adhān have no basis in hadith.
⑪ On rainy days, add ṣallū fī buyūtikum or al-ṣalāh fī al-riḥāl in place of ḥayya ʿala al-ṣalāh.
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 668 | Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 1699]
⑫ Inserting manmade salāt-o-salām phrases before the Adhān, like “Yā Rasūl Allāh,” is an innovation that began under a Shī‘ah regime in Egypt.
[al-Sunan wa al-Mubtada‘āt | Fatwā by Shaykh Muḥammad ibn ‘Abdah al-Muftī of Egypt]
This article is derived from the book “Namaz-e-Mustafa ﷺ” authored by Abu Hamzah Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi.
◈ The Adhān and Iqāmah
✿ The Virtue of the Adhān
❀ Allah Almighty states:﴿وَ مَنْ اَحْسَنُ قَوْلًا مِّمَّنْ دَعَاۤ اِلَى اللّٰهِ وَ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا وَّ قَالَ اِنَّنِیْ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِیْنَ﴾
﴿Fussilat: 33﴾
“No one can speak better than the one who invites towards Allah and performs righteous deeds and says: ‘Indeed, I am from among the Muslims.’”
Commentators state: The foremost application of this verse is upon the Prophets, then the scholars, then the Mujahideen, then the Mu'adhdhins (callers to prayer), and then upon those who sincerely call towards Tawheed and the teachings of Qur’an and Sunnah.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Purification, 277]
[Taysīr al-Raḥmān: 2/1343]
❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“The Mu'adhdhins will have the longest necks on the Day of Judgment.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Prayer, 387]
❀ The Prophet ﷺ also said:
“The Mu'adhdhin is forgiven due to the loudness of his voice, and everything—whether wet or dry—that hears his voice will bear witness for him on the Day of Judgment. He will receive a reward equal to those who come to prayer upon hearing his call.”
[Sunan al-Nasā’ī, Book of Adhān, 647 | Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Adhān, 609]
❀ Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“The Imam is a guarantor, and the Mu'adhdhin is trustworthy. O Allah! Guide the Imams and forgive the Mu'adhdhins.”
[Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Book of Prayer, 207 — Authenticated by al-Albānī]
❀ ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Āmir رضي الله عنه narrated:
“The Prophet ﷺ said that Allah is pleased with the shepherd of sheep who, while atop a mountain, gives the Adhān and prays. Allah says:
‘Look at My servant, he gives the Adhān and prays out of fear of Me. I have forgiven him and admitted him into Paradise.’”
[Sunan Abī Dāwūd, 1203 | Sunan al-Nasā’ī, 666 | Irwā’ al-Ghalīl, 214 | al-Ṣilsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah, 41]
❀ Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه also narrated:
“If people knew what virtues lie in the Adhān and the first row (in congregational prayer), they would draw lots for them. If they knew what reward lies in ‘Ishā and Fajr prayers, they would attend them even if they had to crawl.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Adhān, 615 | Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 437]
◈ Words, Origin, and Method of the Adhān
Abdullah ibn Zayd رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ once considered using a bell to summon people to prayer. Abdullah then saw a dream wherein a man holding a bell passed by him. He asked the man if he was selling the bell. The man asked:“What will you do with it?”
He replied: “We will use it to call people to prayer.”
The man then said:
“Shall I not teach you something better?”
He then taught him the full Adhān:
اللهُ أَكْبَرُ... لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
When Abdullah narrated his dream to the Prophet ﷺ, he said:
“Indeed, this is a true dream, In shā’ Allāh. Stand with Bilāl and recite to him what you saw, so he may call the Adhān with these words, for his voice is louder than yours.”
So Abdullah stood beside Bilāl and instructed him, and Bilāl called the Adhān. ‘Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه also heard it and came running, saying:
“By Allah! I too saw the same dream.”
The Prophet ﷺ said: “All praise is due to Allah.”
[Sunan Abī Dāwūd, 499 | Ibn Mājah, 6 | Musnad Aḥmad: 4/42 | Irwā’ al-Ghalīl: 1/264 – Declared ḥasan-ṣaḥīḥ by al-Albānī]
◈ “Prayer is better than sleep” in the Fajr Adhān
The following words should be added twice after ḥayya ʿala al-falāḥ in the Fajr Adhān:"الصَّلَاةُ خَيْرٌ مِّنَ النَّوْمِ"
(“Prayer is better than sleep”)
This was practiced by the Prophet ﷺ and his Mu'adhdhin as narrated in:
[al-Dāraqutnī, al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī, Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah, and others]
◈ Wording of the Iqāmah
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ... لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُIqāmah has odd-numbered phrases and includes “قَدْ قَامَتِ الصَّلَاةُ” said twice.
[Abū Dāwūd, 499 | Ibn Mājah, 706 – Declared ḥasan-ṣaḥīḥ by al-Albānī]
◈ Two-Part Adhān and Iqāmah (with Repetition)
Tarjīʿ (repeating the shahādah quietly first, then loudly) is affirmed through sound hadiths:[Abū Dāwūd, 502 | al-Tirmidhī, 192 | al-Nasā’ī, 632 | Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 379]
Also, the Iqāmah with 17 phrases was taught to Abū Maḥdhūrah رضي الله عنه by the Prophet ﷺ.
◈ Responding to the Adhān
❖ When the Mu'adhdhin says each phrase, the listener should repeat it, except:When he says ḥayya ʿala al-ṣalāh or ḥayya ʿala al-falāḥ, the listener replies:
"لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ"
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 385]
And then says:
"لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ" with full sincerity — he will enter Paradise.
After the Shahādah, say the following:
"وَأَنَا أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ... رَضِيتُ بِاللَّهِ رَبًّا..."
This expiates all sins.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah, 422 | al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī: 1/410]
◈ Supplication After the Adhān
The Prophet ﷺ said:“After hearing the Adhān, repeat its words, then send blessings upon me and ask Allah to grant me al-Wasīlah, for whoever asks this for me, intercession is made permissible for him.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 384]
Then recite:
اللهم رب هذه الدعوة التامة...
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 614 | al-Bayhaqī: 1/410]
◈ Additional Important Etiquettes & Rulings
① Turning the head right and left during ḥayya ʿala al-ṣalāh and ḥayya ʿala al-falāḥ is Sunnah.[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 634 | Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 503]
② Inserting fingers into the ears while giving Adhān is recommended.
[al-Tirmidhī, 197 | Ibn Mājah, 711 – Declared ḥasan by al-Albānī]
③ Standing during Adhān is Sunnah, and there is consensus on this.
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 604 | Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 377]
④ Facing the Qiblah while giving Adhān is also Sunnah.
[al-Awsaṭ by Ibn al-Mundhir]
⑤ Make duʿā’ between Adhān and Iqāmah as it is not rejected.
[Abū Dāwūd, 521 | al-Tirmidhī, 212 – Authentic]
⑥ It is impermissible to leave the mosque after the Adhān without a valid excuse.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 655]
⑦ With a valid excuse, one may leave even after Iqāmah.
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 640]
⑧ Answer every phrase of the Adhān as prescribed — except innovating words like kissing thumbs at the name of the Prophet ﷺ is bidʿah.
⑨ Saying ṣalāh is better than sleep at Fajr must be replied with the same phrase.
⑩ Innovations like saying Muḥammad Rasūlullāh after lā ilāha illallāh at the end of the Adhān have no basis in hadith.
⑪ On rainy days, add ṣallū fī buyūtikum or al-ṣalāh fī al-riḥāl in place of ḥayya ʿala al-ṣalāh.
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 668 | Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 1699]
⑫ Inserting manmade salāt-o-salām phrases before the Adhān, like “Yā Rasūl Allāh,” is an innovation that began under a Shī‘ah regime in Egypt.
[al-Sunan wa al-Mubtada‘āt | Fatwā by Shaykh Muḥammad ibn ‘Abdah al-Muftī of Egypt]
