3rd Testimony in Adhaan and Iqaamah = Bid'ah

(Innovation)
‫اهشالى ؿوٖنى‬
Salaamun 'Alaykum,

What do I mean by 3rd Testimony in Adhaan and Iqaamah? I am talking about the saying, " ‫أضِد‬
‫ "أً ؿوٕ ّهٕ اهلل‬or any other variation that is said about Imaam 'Alee (AS) during the adhaan.

The first thing I would like to mention is this. The issue of the 3rd testimony in the Adhaan was
condemned by ALL major scholars before Al-Majlisi's father (Muhammad Taqee Al-Majlsi) who
died in the year 1080 AH. Al-Majlisi backed up his father and said that doing this 3rd testimony
in the adhaan / iqaamah is a great act.

So for 1000 years, this issue was either condemned, called a bid'ah, calling the people who do
this action a form of ghullah (exaggerator), or simply hasn't even been mentioned in their
books(for it wasn't important).

There are 0 (zero) SaHeeH hadeeth from Shee'ah books that says that it is permissible to add
the 3rd testimony in Adhaan or Iqaamah. Or ANY hadeeth that says that it is mustahab
(recommended), or anything that says "do it with the intention of it NOT being part of the
adhaan/iqaamah". None. Zero. Nada.

I would like to narrate a muwaththaq (reliable) hadeeth directly from Imaam Muhammad Al-
Baaqir (AS) where he talks about how many parts / phrases are in the Adhaan.

َ‫جـِفِِّٕ كَبل‬
ُ ْ‫ل اه‬
َ ِٖ‫شيَبؿ‬
ِ ‫ً ؿًَِ ِإ‬
َ ‫ً ؿُ ْثيَب‬
ِ ِ‫ً ت‬
ِ ‫ً أَتَب‬
ِ َ‫س ؿ‬
َ ٌُُّٖ ًَِ‫ً ؿُتَِٖدٍ ؿ‬
ِ ِ‫ديَّدِ تًِِ ؿِٖشَٓ ت‬
َ ُ‫ً ي‬
ِ َ‫ُٕ تًُِ إِ ِترَاُِٖ َى ؿ‬
ّ ِ‫ؿو‬
َ
َ‫ً َثيَبٌَِٖج‬
َ ‫م تَِٖدِ ٍِ َّادِداً َّادِدًا اهْأَذَا‬
َ ‫درِفبً َفـَ ّدَ َذِه‬
َ ً
َ ُّ‫خ ِيشَجٌ َّ َثوَبث‬
َ ‫ً َّ اهْئِكَبيَ ُج‬
ُ ‫ل اهْأَذَا‬
ُ ُّ‫جـِ َف ٍر ؽ َٖل‬
َ ‫ح أَتَب‬
ُ ِ‫ش ِيـ‬
َ
ً‫درِفب‬
َ َ‫ضر‬
َ‫ؿ‬َ َ‫درِفًب َّ اهْئِكَبيَ َج شَ ِتـَج‬
َ َ‫ضر‬
َ‫ؿ‬َ

He (AS) said: The Adhaan and the Iqaamah have 35 characters/parts, just check it by his hand
one by one, the adhaan has 18 characters/parts and the Iqaamah has 17 characters/parts."
Source:
· Al-Kaafi, Al-Kulaynee, vol. 3, pg. 302 - 303, hadeeth # 3
Grading:
· Al-Majlisi has said this hadeeth is Muwwaththaq (Reliable)
--> Mir'aat Al-'Uqool, vol. 15, pg. 82

Now if you were to add the 3rd testimony in the Adhaan & Iqaamah, the Adhaan would consist
of 20 part and the Iqaamah would consist of19 parts. These two combined would make it 39
parts, and as you can see the Imaam (AS) never said anything about that.
 Let us look to the major scholars of Shee'ah Islaam pre-Majlisis.
1.) Here is what Al-Sadooq (d. 381 AH) has said concerning the 3rd testimony. Here are his
actual words.
ِٕ‫ط يٌِْ َُ َّ ا ْهيُفَِّّغَ ُج هَـَ ٌَُِ ُى اهوََُّ كَ ِد َّغَـُّا أَخْتَبراً َّ زَادُّا ف‬
ُ َ‫خ هَب ُٖزَا ُد فِٖ َِ َّ هَب ٌُْٖل‬
ُ ِٖ‫ً اهظَّد‬
ُ ‫َُذَا ُُ َّ اهْأَذَا‬
ًَ
ّ َ‫ضَِ ُد أ‬
ْ ‫ل اهوَّ َِ َأ‬
ُ ُّ‫ًَ يُدَيَّدًا َرش‬
ّ َ‫ضَِ ُد أ‬
ْ ‫ع رَِّاَٖب ِخِِىِ َتـِ َد َأ‬
ِ ِ‫ً َّ فِٕ َتـ‬
ِ َِٖ‫ديَّ ٍد خَ ِٖ ُر اهْ َترَِّٖ ِج َيرَّخ‬
َ ُ‫ل ي‬
ُ ‫ديَّ ٌد َّ آ‬
َ ُ‫ً ي‬
ِ ‫اهْأَذَا‬
ًََّ‫مَ فِٕ أ‬
ّ‫ض‬َ ‫ً َّ هَب‬
ِ َِٖ‫ً دَلًّب َيرَّخ‬
َ ٌِِٖ‫ًَ ؿَوًِّٖب َأيِٖ ُر ا ْهيُؤْي‬
ّ َ‫ضَِ ُد أ‬
ْ ‫م َأ‬
َ ‫ل َذِه‬
َ ‫ً رََّْ تَ َد‬
ِ َ‫ُٕ اهوَّ َِ َيرَّخًَِِٖ َّ يٌُِِْ ِى ي‬
ّ ِ‫ؿوِّٖبً َّه‬
َ
‫م‬
َ ‫س َذِه‬
َ َِٖ‫ً ه‬
ِ ِ‫ؿوَِِِٖ ِى خَ ِٖ ُر اهْ َترَِّٖجِ َّ َهن‬
َ َِ َّ‫ح اهو‬
ُ ‫ظوََّا‬
َ َُ َ‫ديَّدًا َّ آه‬
َ ُ‫ًَ ي‬
ّ َ‫ً دَلّبً َّ أ‬
َ ٌِِٖ‫ُٕ اهوَّ َِ َّ أٌََّ َُ َأيِٖ ُر اهْيُ ْؤي‬
ّ ِ‫ؿوِّٖبً َّه‬
َ
‫ج ِيوَخٌَِب‬
ُ ِٕ‫ً أٌَْ ُفشَُِ ِى ف‬
َ ُّ‫ع ا ْهيُ َدّهِش‬
ِ ِّْٖ‫ف ِتَِذِ ٍِ اهزَِّٖبدَ ِث ا ْهيُ ّخَ َِيًَُّ تِبهخَّف‬
َ ‫م هِ ُٖ ِـ َر‬
َ ‫ح َذِه‬
ُ ِ‫ً َّ إِ ٌَّيَب َذنَر‬
ِ ‫ل اهْأَذَا‬
ِ‫ظ‬ِ َ‫فِٕ أ‬
Translation: "This is the Authentic / Correct (SaHeeH) adhaan; nothing is to be added or
subtracted from it. The mufawwidah's (form of ghullah), may Allaah curse them,
have fabricated traditions and have added to the adhaan ِ‫ديَّ ٍد خَِٖ ُر اهْتَرَِّٖج‬
َ ُ‫ديَّدٌ َّ آلُ ي‬
َ ُ‫( ي‬Muhammad
and the family of Muhammad are the best of mankind) twice. In some of their traditions, after
saying ََِّ‫ل اهو‬
ُ ُّ‫ديَّدًا رَش‬
َ ُ‫ضَِ ُد أًََّ ي‬
ْ َ‫( أ‬I bear witness that Muhammad is the Prophet of Allaah) (they
add) ‫يُ اللَّ ِه‬
َّ ‫نَ عَلِيّاً وَ ِل‬
َّ َ‫( أَشْهَ ُد أ‬I bear witness that 'Alee is the Walee of Allaah) twice. Among them there
are others who narrate this َ‫نَ عَلِيّ ًا َأمِي ُر الْمُ ْؤمِهِين‬
َّ َ‫( أَشْهَ ُد أ‬I bear witness that 'Alee is the commander of
the faithfull) twice. There is NO doubt that 'Alee is the walee of God and that he is the true
commander of the faithful and that Muhammad and his family, peace be upon them, are the
best of creatures. However, that is not [part] of the original adhaan. I have mentioned this so
that those who have been accused of concocting tafweed and have insulated themselves in our
ranks should be known."
Source:
1. Al-Sadooq, Man Laa YaHduruh Al-Faqeeh, vol. 1, pg. 290 - 291

2.) Here is what Al-Mufeed (d. 413 AH) had to say about the Adhaan. (he doesn't even
mention the 3rd testimony at all!)
‫ّ األذاً ّ اإلكبيج خيشج ّ ثالثًّ فظال األذاً ثيبٌٖج ؿضر فظال ّ اإلكبيج شتـج ؿضر فظال‬
Translation: "And the Adhaan & Iqaamah has 35 parts, the Adhaan has 18 parts and the
Iqaamah has 17 parts"
Source:
1. Al-Mufeed, Al-Muqnee'ah, vol. 1, pg. 100

3a.) Here is what Al-Toosi (d. 460 AH) had to say about the 3rd testimony in the adhaan.
‫ٕ اهوَّ ّ آل يديّد خٖر اهترّٖج» فييّب ال ٖـيل‬
ّ ‫ً ؿوٖب ّه‬
ّ ‫ «أضِد ا‬:‫ّ أيّب يب رّٔ فٕ ضّاذّ األختبر يً كّل‬
‫ فيً ؿيل تِب نبً يخػئب‬.‫ؿوَٖ فٕ األذاً ّ اإلكبيج‬
Translation: "The are some odd (shaadh) reports of saying ‫ي اللّه‬
ّ ‫ أشهد انّ عليا ول‬and ‫آل يديّد خٖر‬
‫اهترّٖج‬. You must do it in the Adhaan and Iqaamah. And whoever does this action is in mukhTi
(error)"
Source:
 1. Al-Toosi, Al-Nihaayah fee Mujarrad Al-Fiqh wa Al-Fataawaa, pg. 69

3b.) Here is another quote from Al-Toosi regarding the 3rd testimony in Adhaan.
َ‫أٌَ هٖس يً فغٖوج األذاً ّ إلنيبل فظّه‬
Translation: It is not from amongst the faDeelah (recommended parts) of Adhaan and
it doesn't make it more complete (Kaamil)
Source:
1. Al-Toosi, Al-MabsooT fee Fiqh Al-Imaamiyyah, vol. 1, pg. 99

4a.) Another source where Al-Muhaqqiq Al-Hillee (d. 767 AH) talks about the adhaan &
iqaamah but doesn't even mention the 3rd testimony
ٓ‫ّ األذاً ؿوٓ األضِر ثيبٌٖج ؿضر فظال اهخنتٖر أرتؾ ّ اهضِبدث تبهخّدٖد ثى تبهرشبهج ثى ٖلّل دٕ ؿو‬
ً‫اهظالث ثى دٕ ؿوٓ اهفالح ثى دٕ ؿوٓ خٖر اهـيل ّ اهخنتٖر تـدٍ ثى اهخِوٖل نل فظل يرخب‬
Translation: The adhaan has 18 parts: Takbeer 4 times, Witnessing to Tawheed, (Witnessing) to
the Prophethood, Hayya 'Ala Salaah, Hayyah 'Ala FlaaH, Hayyah 'Ala Khayrul 'Amal, Takbeer all
of these have to be done twice.
Source:
1. Al-Muhaqqiq Al-Hillee, Sharaa-'i Al-Islaam Fee Masaa-il Al-Halaal wa Al-Haraam, vol. 1,
pg. 65

4b.) Here is what Al-Muhaqqiq Al-Hillee had to say about anything added to the adhaan &
iqaamah (he mentions the adhaan & iqaamah and the 3rd testimony is not there)
Chapter Title is ‫ ّ اإلكبيج شتـج ؿضر‬،‫( األذاً ثيبٌٖج ؿضر‬The Adhaan has 18 (parts), and the Iqaamah has
17 (parts)
‫ّ يب ٖلبل يً اهزٖبدث ؿً ذهم تدؿج‬
Translation: "And anything that is added to this (adhaan & iqaamah) is a bid'ah"
Source:
1. Al-Muhaqqiq Al-Hillee, Al-Mu'tabar fee sharH Al-MukhtaSar, pg. 141

5.) Here is what 'Allaamah Hillee (d. 726 AH) has said about the 3rd testimony in the
Adhaan and Iqaamah
َ‫ هـدى يضرّؿٖخ‬،ً‫ّ ال ٖجّز كّل «إً ؿوٖب ّهٕ اهوََّ» ّ «آل يديد خٖر اهترٖج» فٕ فظّل اٗذا‬
Translation: "And it is NOT permissible to say ‫ إن عليا ولي اللَّه‬and ‫ آل يديد خٖر اهترٖج‬since there is
no ruling for it in the sharee'ah"
Source:
1. 'Allaamah Hilli, Nihaayah Al-aHkaam fee ma'rifah al-aHkaam, vol. 1, pg. 412

6.) Here is what Shaheed Al-Awwal (d. 786 AH) has said about the 3rd testimony in
Adhaan.
 َّ ِ‫ديَّدًا َّ آهَ َِ خَ ِٖ ُر اهْتَرَِّٖج‬
َ ُ‫ًَ ي‬
ّ َ‫ضُِّ ِد تِبهِّْهَبَٖجِ َّ أ‬
َ َ‫ً َّ اهْئِكَبيَجِ نَبه ّخ‬
ِ ‫َّ هَب َٖجُّزُ اؿِخِلَب ُد ضَرِؿَِّٖجِ غَ ِٖرِ َُذِ ٍِ فِٕ اهْأَذَا‬
َ‫ً اهَّْاكِ ُؾ نَ َذِهم‬
َ ‫ً نَب‬
ِ ِ‫إ‬
Translation: "It is NOT permissible to believe in the legitimacy of Witnessing the
Wilaayah of 'Alee and "Muhammad wa Aalih Khayrul Bariyyah" in the adhaan and iqaamah,
even though these events are factual!
Source:
1. Shaheed Al-Awwal, Al-Lum'ah Al-Dimashqiyyah, pg. 37

7a.) Here is what Shaheed Al-Thaanee (d. 966 AH) has said about 3rd testimony in
Adhaan.
ّ ‫ فٕ األذاً ّ اإلكبيج نبهخضِد تبهّالٖج هـوٕ ؽ ّ أً يديدا‬-‫ّ ال ٖجّز اؿخلبد ضرؿٖج غٖر ُذٍ اهفظّل‬
‫ ّ إً نبً اهّاكؾ نذهم فيب نل ّاكؾ دلب ٖجّز إدخبهَ فٕ اهـتبداح اهيّؼفج‬-‫آهَ خٖر اهترٖج أّ خٖر اهتضر‬
ّ‫ضرؿب اهيددّدث يً اهلل خـبهٓ فٖنًّ إدخبل ذهم فِٖب تدؿج ّ خضرٖـب نيب هّ زاد فٕ اهظالث رنـج أ‬
ً‫خضِدا أّ ٌدّ ذهم يً اهـتبداح ّ تبهجيوج فذهم يً أدنبى اإلٖيبً ال يً فظّل األذا‬
Translation: It is NOT permissible to believe in legitimacy of other parts in adhaan and
iqaamah, like witnessing to wilaayah of 'Alee and "muhammad wa aalihi khayrul bariyyah".
As not EVERY factual reality can be inserted into the legally prescribed rituals ('ibaadaat),
specified by the Allaah (SWT), since inserting theses things will be regarded as bi'dah and
legislation, similar to addition of a rak'ah or tashahhud or alike things to the acts of worship
('ibaadaat)"
Source:
1. Shaheed Al-Thaanee, Al-RawDah Al-Bahiyyah fee SharH Al-Lum'ah Al-Dimashqiyyah, vol.
1, pg. 70
2. Shaheed Al-Thaanee, Al-RawDah Al-Bahiyyah fee SharH Al-Lum'ah Al-Dimashqiyyah, vol.
1, pg. 573
3. Muhammad Jawaad Mughniyyah, Fiqh Al-Imaam Al-Saadiq, vol. 1, pg. 175

7b.) Another source for Shaheed Al-Thaanee talking about 3rd testimony in Adhaan &
Iqaamah
‫ ّ أختبرُب يّغّؿج‬،‫ ّ «آل يديّد خٖر اهترّٖج» ّ ٌدّ ذهم فتدؿج‬،»َّ‫ً ؿوًّٖب ّهّٕ اهو‬
ّ ‫ّ أيّب إغبفج «أ‬
Translation: "And addition (to the adhaan & iqaamah) of َّ‫ ؿوًّٖب ّهّٕ اهو‬and ‫ آل يديّد خٖر اهترّٖج‬is
a bid'ah and the narrations regarding it (3rd testimony) is mawDoo' (fabricated)."
Source:
1. Shaheed Al-Thaanee, Al-RawDah Al-Jinaan fee sharH Irshaad Al-Adhhaan, vol. 2, pg. 646

8.) Here is what Al-Muqqadis Al-Ardabillee (d. 993 AH) has said regarding the 3rd
testimony (he has said this after he quotes Al-Sadooq calling them MufawwiDas)
ّ َٖ‫ ّ هِذا ٖضٌؾ ؿوٓ اهثبٌٕ تبهخغٖٖر فٕ األذاً اهذٔ نبً فٕ زيبٌَ ظوٓ اهلل ؿو‬،‫فٌٖتغٕ اختبؿَ ألٌَ اهدق‬
َٖ‫آهَ فال ٌٖتغٕ ارخنبة يثوَ يؾ اهخضٌٖؾ ؿو‬
Rough Translation: Since the shee'ahs condemn the 2nd ('Umar) for adding to the Adhaan that
wasn't during the time of the Prophet, it is improper for them to emulate such an act (by adding
the 3rd testimony).
Source:
1. Al-Muqqadis Al-Ardabillee (d. 993 AH), Majma' Al-Faa-idah wa Al-Burhaan fee SharH
Irshaad Al-Adhhaan, vol. 2, pg. 181

Now, look at what a during the time of Al-Majlisi, after he said it is okay to put it in the Adhaan.

9.) Here is what Al-Muhaqqiq Al-Sabzawaaree (d. 1090 AH) had to say about the 3rd
testimony in Adhaan.
ّ ‫ٕ اهوََّ ّ آل يديّد خٖر اهترّٖج ّ أيثبل ذهم فلد ظرّح األظدبة تنٌِّب تدؿج‬
ّ ‫ّ أيّب إغبفج أًّ ؿوّٖب ّه‬
‫إً نبً دلّب ظدٖدب إذ اهنالى فٕ دخّهِب فٕ األذاً ّ ُّ يّكّف ؿوٓ اهخّكٖف اهضرؿٕ ّ هى ٖثة‬
Translation: "And about adding the ََّ‫ي اله‬
ّ ‫ أنّ عليّا ول‬and ‫ آل يديّد خٖر اهترّٖج‬, the jurists have clearly
stated that this is a bid'ah. And the statement is true. But adding it to the adhaan is dependent
upon its divine ordainment. (al-tawqeef al-shar'ee)"
Source:
1. Al-Sabzawaareee (d. 1090), Dhakheerah Al-Ma'aad fee sharH Al-Irshaad, vol. 2, pg. 244

As you can see, our major scholars that came before the Al-Majlisis condemned this action.

Even Al-Khomeinee talks about the aHaadeeth that allude to the 3rd testimony in Adhaan and
Iqaamah.

"In some Da'eef (untrustworthy / weak) narratives it is stated that after testifying to the
Messengership in the adhan one is to say: "I testify that 'Ali is waliyullah (Allah's friend)" twice.
In other narratives, one is to say: "I testify that 'Ali is truly Amirul Mu'minin" twice. In some
others, one is to say: "Muhammad and his progeny are the best of people". Ash-Shaykh as-
Saduq(may Allah have mercy upon him) took these narratives to be invented and he denied
them. It is well known among the 'ulama' (may Allah be pleased with them) that these
narratives are not reliable."
Source:
· Khomeinee, Adaab Al-Salaah, Discourse 3, Ch. 4

But unfortunately, even after Al-Khomeinee admits there are no SaHeeH hadeeth about this, he
tries to present a hadeeth, the very same hadeeth that Al-Majlisi has used to add the 3rd
testimony in Adhaan. Here is the hadeeth.
ٔ‫ّ رّْ اهلبشى تً يـبّٖج كبل كوح ألتٕ ؿتد اهلل ؽ ُؤالء ٖرًّّ ددٖثب فٕ يـراجِى أٌَ هيب أشر‬
‫ترشّل اهلل رأْ ؿوٓ اهـرص ينخّتب ال إهَ إال اهلل يديد رشّل اهلل أتّ تنر اهظدٖق فلبل شتدبً اهلل‬
‫غٖرّا نل ضٕء دخٓ ُذا كوح ٌـى كبل إً اهلل ؿز ّ جل هيب خوق اهـرص نخة ؿوَٖ ال إهَ إال اهلل‬
‫يديد رشّل اهلل ؿوٕ أيٖر اهيؤيًٌٖ ّ هيب خوق اهلل ؿز ّ جل اهيبء نخة فٕ يجراٍ ال إهَ إال اهلل‬
 ‫يديد رشّل اهلل ؿوٕ أيٖر اهيؤيًٌٖ ّ هيب خوق اهلل ؿز ّ جل اهنرشٕ نخة ؿوٓ كّائيَ ال إهَ إال‬
‫اهلل يديد رشّل اهلل ؿوٕ أيٖر اهيؤيًٌٖ ّ هيب خوق اهلل ؿز ّ جل اهوّح نخة فَٖ ال إهَ إال اهلل يديد‬
‫رشّل اهلل ؿوٕ أيٖر اهيؤيًٌٖ ّ هيب خوق اهلل إشرافٖل نخة ؿوٓ جتِخَ ال إهَ إال اهلل يديد رشّل اهلل‬
‫ؿوٕ أيٖر اهيؤيًٌٖ ّ هيب خوق اهلل جترئٖل نخة ؿوٓ جٌبدَٖ ال إهَ إال اهلل يديد رشّل اهلل ؿوٕ أيٖر‬
ٕ‫اهيؤيًٌٖ ّ هيب خوق اهلل ؿز ّ جل اهشيبّاح نخة فٕ أنٌبفِب ال إهَ إال اهلل يديد رشّل اهلل ؿو‬
‫أيٖر اهيؤيًٌٖ ّ هيب خوق اهلل ؿز ّ جل األرغًٖ نخة فٕ أػتبكِب ال إهَ إال اهلل يديد رشّل اهلل‬
‫ؿوٕ أيٖر اهيؤيًٌٖ ّ هيب خوق اهلل ؿز ّ جل اهجتبل نخة فٕ رءّشِب ال إهَ إال اهلل يديد رشّل اهلل‬
ٕ‫ؿوٕ أيٖر اهيؤيًٌٖ ّ هيب خوق اهلل ؿز ّ جل اهضيس نخة ؿوِٖب ال إهَ إال اهلل يديد رشّل اهلل ؿو‬
‫أيٖر اهيؤيًٌٖ ّ هيب خوق اهلل ؿز ّ جل اهلير نخة ؿوَٖ ال إهَ إال اهلل يديد رشّل اهلل ؿوٕ أيٖر‬
ٕ‫اهيؤيًٌٖ ّ ُّ اهشّاد اهذٔ خرٌَّ فٕ اهلير فئذا كبل أددنى ال إهَ إال اهلل يديد رشّل اهلل فوٖلل ؿو‬
ًٌٖ‫أيٖر اهيؤي‬

Translation: I said to Aboo 'Abd Allaah (6th Imaam), that they (sunnees) trasmit a tradtion in
their [books about] mi'raaj, that when the Prophet (SAWAS) was taken on the night of ascension
he saw writing on the throne which read, "There is no God, but Allaah, Muhammad is the
Prophet of God and Aboo Bakr is the truthful one." Imaam Al-Saadiq (AS) said: "SubHaanallaah
(Glory be to Allaah), they have changed EVERYTHING including this?" Al-Qaasim said: "Yes",
Imaam Saadiq (AS) said: "When Allaah (SWT), created the throne he wrote on it: "There is no
god, but Allaah and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allaah and 'Alee is Ameer Al-Mu-
mineen......the tradtion goes on until Imaam Saadiq (AS) at the end says this..."Whenever one of
you recites the Shahadatayn, say 'Alee is Ameer Al-Mu'mineen."
Source:
1. Al-Tabarasee, Al-Ihtijaaj, vol. 1, pg. 158
2. Al-Majlisi, Bihaar Al-Anwaar, vol. 27, ch. 10, pg. 1, hadeeth #1
3. Al-Majlisi, Bihaar Al-Anwaar, vol. 81, ch. 13, pg. 112, hadeeth #1

There are A LOT of things wrong with this hadeeth itself and the way it is used as a proof (for
3rd testimony):

1. This hadeeth is not found in any other book before Al-Tabarasee narrates it in his book (Al-
Ihtijaaj).

2. There is no sanad (chain of narrators) that is accompanied with this hadeeth, just the primary
narrator

3. The primary narrator is HIGHLY majhool (unknown)

a. There are 0 (zero) hadeeth from this specific narrator in our Kutub Al-Arba’ (Al-
Kaafi, Al-Faqeeh, Tahdheeb & Al-IstibSaar) or Wasaa-il Al-Shee’ah
 b. The ONLY hadeeth that is narrated from this narrator is this specific hadeeth

It is very unlikely that a person just appears and narrates a lengthy hadeeth like this and then
disappears. Since this hadeeth is talking against the Sunnees and Aboo Bakr, it would seem that
the companion had to be VERY close to the Imaam (AS), that he would trust him. Usually our
Imaams (AS) would do taqiyyah (dissimulation), and only narrate such hadeeth with their close
companions.

One thing to note, this hadeeth has NOTHING to do with Adhaan and Iqaamah. In order to
"add" things into you 'ibaadah, you must have tawqeef (divine ordainment), meaning there has
to be a SaHeeH hadeeth from the Prophet (SAWAS) or the Imaams (AS) that allow this.

In conclusion, doing the 3rd testimony in the adhaan / iqaamah is reprehensible bid'ah
(innovation), that must be stopped immediately. Doesn't matter what "intention" you say it. A
bid'ah is a bid'ah.

Wa 'Alaykum Assalaam,
Nader Zaveri