The Excellence Of Adhan

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said: “Were people to know the blessing of pronouncing Adhan and the standing in the first row, they would even draw lots to secure these privileges. And were they to realize the reward of performing Salat early, they would race for it; and were they to know the merits of Salat after nightfall (Isha) and the dawn (Fajr) Salat, they would come to them even if they had to crawl.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Commentary: This expression to crawl is used to illustrate the high merit of praying Isha and Fajr in congregation in the mosque. This Hadith also urges making the best effort to occupy the first rows, as the ‘Angels of Mercy’ pray for the Imam first, then for those who pray immediately behind him in the first row, then for those behind them, and so on. The Hadith also points out the excellence of Adhan and the great reward of the person who pronounces it.

Muawiyah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) saying: “The Muadhdhinun (callers to prayer) will have the longest necks on the Day of Resurrection.” [Muslim].

Commentary: This Hadith highlights the importance of the Mu’adhdhin and the Adhan. Adhan means calling people to the worship of Allah. Muadhdhin (the caller) gets a reward for the Salat of all those who hear his Adhan. The phrase “will have the longest necks” has been given different interpretations. One of them is that they are those who long for the Mercy of Allah more than anyone else. Another interpretation is that their necks will grow longer on the Day of Requital and so sweat will not reach them, for everyone will sweat on that day depending on his deeds: sweat will reach up to one’s ankles or knees or waists. In the case of some people, sweat will reach up to their mouths. Another interpretation is that those who call Adhan will have an honorable and great status on the Day of Requital.

Abdullah bin Abdur-Rahman reported: Abu Said Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) said to me: “I see that you like living among your sheep in the wilderness. So whenever you are with your sheep or in the wilderness, and you want to call Adhan, you should raise your voice because whoever hears the Adhan, whether a human or jinn or any other creature, will testify for you on the Day of Resurrection.” Abu Said added: “I heard this from the Messenger of Allah (PBUH).” [Al-Bukhari].

Commentary: Shayun is used for everything, or every other thing, and covers animals, vegetables, and inanimate matter. On the Day of Requital, Almighty Allah will grant the faculty of speech, and all these things will testify for the Mu’adhdhin, as would be done by mankind and jinn.

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said, “When Adhan for Salat is pronounced, the devil takes to his heels and breaks wind with noise so as not to hear the call. When the Adhan is finished, he returns. When the Iqamah is announced, he turns his back, and after it is finished, he returns again to distract the attention of one and makes him remember things which he does not recall in his mind before the Salat, and says `Remember this, and this,’ and thus causes one to forget how many Rak’at he performed.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary: The words signify that Satan runs with great speed, and he breaks wind, or he intentionally does so. In any case, it shows that he has an aversion to Adhan. The second point that we learn from this Hadith is that the concentration of the mind is a must for Salat to defeat all attempts of Satan to disrupt it.

Abu Said Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said, “When you hear the Muadhdhin (pronouncing the call to Salat), repeat after him what he says.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary: This Hadith also tells us to repeat the words of Adhan when we hear them. But when he says “Hayya alas-Salah” or “Hayya alal-Falah” we must say “La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.”

Sad bin Abu Waqqas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, “He who says after the Adhan:

[I testify that there is no true god except Allah Alone; He has no partners and that Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is His slave and Messenger; I am content with Allah as my Rubb, with Muhammad (Peace be upon him)as my Messenger and with Islam as my Deen], his sins will be forgiven.” [Muslim].

Commentary: This Hadith mentions another prayer which should be recited beside the already mentioned Du’a-al-Wasilah.

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said: “The supplication made between the Adhan and the Iqamah is never rejected.” [Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].