Adhaan and Iqaamah for the One Praying Alone (Hadith No. 2496)

Bismillah.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 101 :
Narrated by Malik bin Al-Huwairith (radiallaahu `anhu)
On my departure from the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) he said to me and to a friend of mine, “You two, pronounce the Adhan and the Iqama for the prayer and let the elder of you lead the prayer.”

We’ve established previously that the minimum number of people required for a congregational prayer is two. This hadith further proves the importance of the adhaan and iqaamah regardless of the number of people in congregation and the place. Adhaan and iqaamah are NOT limited to the mosque, they should be established wherever the congregation is being held – even while traveling.

While looking up the importance of adhaan and iqaamah, I came across this absolutely beautiful hadeeth of ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Aamir, who said that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

‘Your Lord likes it when a shepherd at the top of a mountain pass calls the Adhaan for prayer and then prays. Then Allaah says, “Look at this slave of mine, saying the Adhaan and the Iqaamah for prayer and fearing Me. I ask you to bear witness that I have forgiven My slave and will admit him to Paradise.”’” (Narrated by al-Nisaa’i)

This is just too good to ignore. Such beautiful rewards for an easy act. It also proves the importance of adhaan and iqaamah for a person who’s praying alone (men only). Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) said in reply to a related question:

The Sunnah is to give the adhaan and iqaamah. As to whether it is obligatory, there is a difference of opinion among the scholars. It is better and more on the safe side for you to give the adhaan then the iqaamah, because of the general meaning of the evidence. But you should pray in congregation whenever possible. If there is a congregation or you can hear the call to prayer from a mosque near you, then it is obligatory for you to respond to the muezzin and attend the prayer in congregation. If you cannot hear the call and there is no mosque near you, the Sunnah is for you to give the adhaan yourself, then the iqaamah. End quote.

Al-Shaafa’i (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

“If a man neglects to say the Adhaan and Iqaamah when he is praying alone or in congregation, I regard that as makrooh, but he does not have to repeat the prayers he did without the Adhaan or Iqaamah.”

Source: IslamQA

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How to Answer the Adhaan – II (Hadith No. 735)

Assalamu`alaykum,
Bismillah.

One way to answer the Adhaan is described here. There’s another way according to the Sunnah. It’s more or less the same as the previous one, just a slight change in the answer..

Volume 2, Book 13, Number 735:

Narrated Abu Umama bin Sahl bin Hunaif:

I heard Muawiya bin Abi Sufyan (repeating the statements of the Adhan) while he was sitting on the pulpit. When the Muadh-dhin pronounced the Adhan saying, “Allahu-Akbar, Allahu Akbar”, Muawiya said: “Allah Akbar, Allahu Akbar.” And when the Muadh-dhin said, “Ash-hadu an la ilaha illal-lah (I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah)”, Muawiya said, “And (so do) I”. When he said, “Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah” (I testify that Muhammad is Allah’s Apostle), Muawiya said, “And (so do) I”. When the Adhan was finished, Muawiya said, “O people, when the Muadh-dhin pronounced the Adhan I heard Allah’s Apostle on this very pulpit saying what you have just heard me saying”.

“And (so do) I” is wa ‘ana (وأنا) in Arabic. Cool, eh? ;)

Wassalam.

Adhaan for Jumu`ah Prayer (Ahadith 733 – 734)

Assalamu`alaykum,
Bismillah.

Volume 2, Book 13, Number 733:

Narrated As-Saib bin Yazid:

In the life-time of the Prophet, Abu Bakr and Umar, the Adhan for the Jumua prayer used to be pronounced when the Imam sat on the pulpit. But during the Caliphate of ‘Uthman when the Muslims increased in number, a third Adhan at Az-Zaura’ was added. Abu ‘Abdullah said, “Az-Zaura’ is a place in the market of Medina.”

Volume 2, Book 13, Number 734:

Narrated As-Saib bin Yazid:

The person who increased the number of Adhans for the Jumua prayers to three was Uthman bin Affan and it was when the number of the (Muslim) people of Medina had increased. In the life-time of the Prophet there was only one Muadh-dhin and the Adhan used to be pronounced only after the Imam had taken his seat (i.e. on the pulpit).

As to how many Adhaans should actually be called out for the Jumu`ah prayer, go do your own research. You might want to go through this.

Anyhow, there’s one Adhan and one Iqamah for the Jumu`ah prayer.

Wassalam.

Night Prayer: Not Compulsory (Ahadith 696-698)

Salam,
Bismillah.

Hadith no. 693, 694 and 695 are repeats.

Volume 1, Book 11, Number 696:

Narrated ‘Aisha:

Allah’s Apostle used to pray in his room at night. As the wall of the room was low, the people saw him and some of them stood up to follow him in the prayer. In the morning they spread the news. The following night the Prophet stood for the prayer and the people followed him. This went on for two or three nights. Thereupon Allah’s Apostle did not stand for the prayer the following night, and did not come out. In the morning, the people asked him about it. He replied, that he was afraid that the night prayer might become compulsory.

Volume 1, Book 11, Number 697:

Narrated ‘Aisha:

The Prophet had a mat which he used to spread during the day and use as a curtain at night. So a number of people gathered at night facing it and prayed behind him.

Volume 1, Book 11, Number 698:

Narrated Zaid bin Thabit:

Allah’s Apostle made a small room in the month of Ramadan (Sa’id said, “I think that Zaid bin Thabit said that it was made of a mat”) and he prayed there for a few nights, and so some of his companions prayed behind him. When he came to know about it, he kept on sitting. In the morning, he went out to them and said, “I have seen and understood what you did. You should pray in your houses, for the best prayer of a person is that which he prays in his house except the compulsory prayers.”

Night prayer is not compulsory during or outside Ramadan. The one who performs it gets huge rewards though.

With this, Kitaab-ul-Adhaan ends. Alhamdulillah.

Wassalam.

Straighten Your Rows! (Ahadith 685-692)

Salam,
Bismillah.

Hadith no. 684 is a repeat. Read it here.

Volume 1, Book 11, Number 685:

Narrated An-Nu’man bin ‘Bashir:

The Prophet said, “Straighten your rows or Allah will alter your faces.”

Volume 1, Book 11, Number 686:

Narrated Anas:

The Prophet said, “Straighten your rows, for I see you from behind my back.”

Volume 1, Book 11, Number 687:

Narrated Anas bin Malik:

Once the Iqama was pronounced and Allah’s Apostle faced us and said, “Straighten your rows and stand closer together, for I see you from behind my back.”

Read Hadith no. 688 here and Hadith no. 689 here.

Volume 1, Book 11, Number 690:

Narrated Anas bin Malik:

The Prophet said, “Straighten your rows as the straightening of rows is essential for a perfect and correct prayer. “

Volume 1, Book 11, Number 691:

Narrated Anas bin Malik:

I arrived at Medina and was asked whether I found any change since the days of Allah’s Apostle. I said, “I have not found any change except that you do not stand in alignment in your prayers.”

Volume 1, Book 11, Number 692:

Narrated Anas bin Malik:

The Prophet said, “Straighten your rows for I see you from behind my back.” Anas added, “Everyone of us used to put his shoulder with the shoulder of his companion and his foot with the foot of his companion.”

Need I say more?

Wassalam.