Fiqh

(Jurisprudence)

Noor-ul-Idha wa Najatul Arwaah

(The light of clarification and the Salvation of Souls)


The Chapter Of Adhan

 Linguistically, adhan means to inform. According to the Sacred Law, it is to carry out and notify the people about the entrance of the time of prayer with specific sayings.


The Ruling Of Adhan And Iqama

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The call to prayer (Adhan) and the call to commence (iqama) are an emphasised Sunna for the obligatory prayers even if one offers the prayer alone, or whether one is performing the current prayer making up a missed prayer or whether one is a traveller or resident. In addition, it is disliked for women to call Adhan or Iqama.


The Sayings Of The Adhan And Iqama


The person announcing the Adhan is to recite Allahu akbar four times at the start and twice at the end, and likewise he is to recite the remainder of the sayings twice. There is no repetition (Tarji) in the two Shahadas.

The Iqama is like the Adhan with respect to its words.

During the Adhan for the dawn prayer after the caller recites come to success, he is to add the words prayer is better than sleep twice. And after uttering come to success in the Iqama, he is to add the words the prayer is commencing, the prayer is commencing.


Recommended Actions For The Caller


It is recommended for the caller to pronounce the Adhan without haste by taking a short pause between every two words, and to utter the Iqama speedily. It is not permitted to call the Adhan in Persian or any other language except Arabic, even if it known and evident that it is the Adhan.

It is recommended that the called be righteous since he is like a trustee of the religion, and that he have knowledge of the Sunan of Adhan, and knowledge of the prayer times.

It is recommended that the caller be in a state of ablution and face the direction of prayer (Qibla) except if he is riding.


It is recommended that he place his fingers in his ears and turn his head to the right when saying come to prayer and to the left when saying come to success.

In addition it is recommended to revolve (or turn in a circular fashion) within the minaret as one is calling the Adhan so people in every direction can hear the Adhan.

It is recommended to allocate a sufficient amount of time between the Adhan and Iqama that allows the regular people to attend the congregation, taking into consideration the recommended time to pray in.


With regards to the sunset prayer (Maghrib), the caller is to separate between the Adhan and Iqama the amount of time it takes to recite three short verses or the time it takes to walk three steps and he is to repeat some of the sayings after the Adhan, such as prayer, prayer, O worshippers or rise to power.


That Which Is Disliked In The Adhan and Iqama


It is disliked to melodise the Adhan i.e to sing the call in a way that changes the words or to commit mistakes in the expression. It is disliked for the caller to be in a state of minor impurity when announcing the Ahdan and Iqama.

It is disliked if the announcer of Adhan is; i) in a state of sexual impurity (Janaba) ii) a boy who has not yet acquired intellect iii) insane or under the influence of alcohol iv) a female v) an immoral person


It is disliked for the caller to speak during the Adhan and the Iqama even if it was for returning Salam. And if he does so during the Adhan, it is recommended to repeat it, though not the Iqama.

It is disliked to call the Adhan for the noon prayer (Adhan) on Friday in the city.


Calling The Adhan and Iqama For Missed Prayers


The one who misses a prayer is to announce the Adhan and the Iqama prior to the makeup of that prayer.

Equally, when one has missed a number of prayers, he is to call the Ahdan for the first and make the Iqama. And for the remainder, it is disliked to abandon the Iqama, though not the Adhan, provided the missed prayers are being observed in the same sitting.


What The Listener Of The Adhan Should Say


If one hears the Adhan being announced according to the Sunna, he is to cease his actions and is to utter the same words as the caller, though when he hears the words, come to prayer and come to success he is to say, there is no power or strength except with Allah.

And in the Adhan at dawn, after the caller says, prayer is better than sleep, one is to say, you have spoken the truth and have done good or whatever Allah wills.


Upon this, one is to supplicate and say, O Allah, Lord of this comprehensive invitation and enduring prayer, grant Muhammad a place near to You, an excellence and exalted degree and bestow on him the praiseworthy station that You have promised him.