❖ Was the Second Adhan on Friday by Uthman (RA) a Bid'ah Hasanah?
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❖ The Objection Regarding Uthman’s (RA) Second Adhan on Jumu‘ah
Some people raise the objection that Uthman ibn Affan (RA) initiated a second Adhan on Friday, and since this was not present during the time of the Prophet ﷺ, they claim this is an example of "Bid‘ah Hasanah" (a good innovation).
According to them, this proves that Bid‘ah (innovation) is of two types: good and bad.
This article presents the doubt, followed by a clear and evidence-based refutation in simple terms.
❖ A Barelwi Argument in Favor of Bid‘ah
The objection is:
"Uthman (RA) introduced an additional Adhan on the day of Jumu‘ah, therefore this is a Bid‘ah Hasanah (good innovation)."
❖ Detailed Refutation of the Doubt
➊ The Statement of the Prophet ﷺ Takes Precedence Over All Others
First and foremost, it should be understood that no one’s statement—even that of a major Companion or an Imam—can serve as proof over the saying of the Prophet ﷺ.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«كُلُّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ»
“Every innovation is misguidance.”
Sahih Muslim (Hadith: 867), Sunan al-Nasa’i (Hadith: 1578)In another Hadith, the Prophet ﷺ specifically instructed his followers to hold firmly to his Sunnah and that of the rightly guided Caliphs:
«عَلَيْكُمْ بِسُنَّتِي وَسُنَّةِ الخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ المَهْدِيِّينَ مِن بَعْدِي، عَضُّوا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ»
“Hold fast to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs after me. Bite onto it with your molars.”
Sunan Abu Dawud (Hadith: 4607), Tirmidhi (Hadith: 2676)➤ This clearly indicates that when the Rightly Guided Caliphs implement something, it aligns with the Sunnah, not contradicts it.
➋ Uthman (RA) Did Not Invent a New Adhan – He Only Changed the Place
According to Sahih al-Bukhari, Saa’ib ibn Yazid (RA) reports:
«كانَ النِّداءُ يومَ الجُمُعةِ أوَّلُه إذا جلسَ الإمامُ على المنبرِ على عهدِ النَّبيِّ ﷺ وأبي بكرٍ وعمرَ رضيَ اللَّهُ عنهما، فلما كانَ عثمانُ رضيَ اللَّهُ عنهُ وكثُرَ النَّاسُ زادَ النداءَ الثالثَ على الزَّوراءِ.»
“In the time of the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Bakr (RA), and Umar (RA), the Adhan for Jumu‘ah was given when the Imam sat on the pulpit. When it was the time of Uthman (RA), and the number of people had increased, he added a third Adhan at al-Zawra’ (the marketplace).”
Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Jumu‘ah (Hadith: 912 and other chains)✔ This clearly proves that Uthman (RA) did not introduce a new act of worship, but relocated the call to ensure it reached more people in the expanded city.
➌ The Action Was Due to a Practical Need (Maslahah)
As the city grew and population increased, people began living farther away from the mosque. Therefore, Uthman (RA) deemed it necessary to give an earlier Adhan in the marketplace so that people could prepare in time for the Khutbah.
Imam al-Qurtubi, quoting al-Mawardi, states:
«فأما الأذان الأول فمُحْدَث، فعله عثمان ليتأهّب الناس لحضور الخطبة عند اتساع المدينة وكثرة أهلها.»
“As for the first Adhan (in al-Zawra’), it was introduced by Uthman so that people could prepare for the sermon due to the expansion of the city and increase in population.”
Tafsir al-Qurtubi (under the verses on Jumu‘ah)✔ This is a classic example of Maslahah Mursalah – an administrative measure introduced not in conflict with Islamic texts, but rather serving the objectives of the Shari‘ah.
➍ Scholarly Clarification: This Was a Linguistic Innovation, Not a Shar‘i One
The term "Bid‘ah" in language (lughat) refers to anything newly introduced. But in Shari‘ah, Bid‘ah refers only to innovations in religion that contradict the Sunnah.
Imam Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله) states:
«البدعة على قسمين: شرعية… ولغوية؛ كقول عمر: نعمت البدعة هذه.»
“Bid‘ah is of two types: Shar‘i (religious) and Lugawi (linguistic); like the saying of Umar (RA): ‘What a good Bid‘ah this is.’”
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (1/271)Imam Ibn Rajab (رحمه الله) writes:
«وأما ما وقع في كلام السلف من استحسان بعض البدع فإنما ذلك في البدع اللغوية لا الشرعية.»
“Whenever the Salaf described some innovations as good, they only meant it in the linguistic sense, not in the Shar‘i sense.”
Jami‘ al-‘Uloom wa al-Hikam (p. 252)Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) states:
«وأما قول عمر: نعمت البدعة هذه… فلا تصلح معارضة الحديث بقول الصاحب.»
“As for the statement of Umar (RA): ‘What a good innovation this is,’ it cannot be used as evidence to contradict the Hadith of the Prophet ﷺ.”
Majmu‘ al-Fatawa (22/234)✔ Therefore, Uthman’s (RA) action was not an addition to worship, but a practical administrative step for public ease and accessibility.
❖ Conclusion
✔ Uthman (RA) initiated the Adhan in the marketplace on Friday, not to change the religion, but to ensure the call to Jumu‘ah reached more people as the city expanded.
✔ It was not in conflict with the Prophet’s ﷺ Sunnah of giving Adhan after the Imam sits on the pulpit.
✔ Hence, calling this a “Bid‘ah Hasanah” is incorrect, because it was not an innovation in religion, but a necessary administrative adjustment.
✔ The concept of "Bid‘ah Hasanah" contradicts the clear texts of the Qur'an and Sunnah and the consensus of the Salaf, for the Prophet ﷺ said:
“كُلُّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ”
“Every innovation is misguidance.”
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