The Sunnats and Mustahabs of Adhaan and Iqaamah

The Sunnats and Mustahabs of Adhaan and Iqaamah

The sunnats of adhaan and iqaamah are of two types. Some are related to the mu’azzin, while others are related to the adhaan and iqaamah. We will first mention the sunnats related to the mu’azzin, and then those that are related to the adhaan and iqaamah.

Sunnats related to the Mu’azzin

1. The Mu’azzin has to be a male: The adhaan and iqaamah of a female is makruh-e-tahrimi. If a woman calls out adhaan, it will have to be repeated, but not the iqaamah.

2. The Mu’azzin has to be of sound mind: The adhaan and iqaamah of a lunatic, intoxicated person, or immature child is makruh. Their adhaan will have to be repeated and not their iqaamah.

3. The Mu’azzin must know the necessary rules applicable to him: He must also know the times of the different salaats. If an ignorant person calls out the adhaan, he will not get the same reward as that of a mu’azzin.

4. The Mu’azzin must be pious and religiously-minded: He must be aware of the condition of the people – reminding those who do not attend the congregation. He must do this if he has no fear of anyone causing harm to him.

5. The Mu’azzin must have a loud voice:

Sunnats related to the Adhaan and Iqaamah

1. The Adhaan should be called out at an elevated place outside the Musjid: The iqaamah should be called out inside the Musjid. To call out the adhaan inside the Musjid is makruh-e-tanzihi. However, it is not makruh to call out the second adhaan of Jumu’ah inside the Musjid in front of the pulpit (mimbar). In fact, this is practised in all Muslim countries.

2. The Adhaan has to be called out standing: If anyone calls it out while sitting, this will be makruh and it will have to be repeated. However, if a traveller is on his mount or a person gives adhaan for his own salaat, it will not have to be repeated.

3. The Adhaan has to be called out in a loud voice: However, if a person is calling out adhaan for his own salaat, he has the choice to say it aloud or softly. Even then, there is more reward in saying it aloud.

4. It is Mustahab to insert the fore-fingers into the ears at the time of calling out the Adhaan.

5. The words of the Adhaan should be said with a pause between them, while the Iqaamah should be said quickly: When saying the takbeers of the adhaan, the mu’azzin should pause after every two takbeers so that those who are listening to the adhaan can repeat the words. Apart from the takbeers, he should pause after every sentence and thereafter continue with the next word. If, due to some reason, he does not pause in this way, it will be mustahab to repeat the adhaan. If the iqaamah was called out by pausing, it is not mustahab to repeat it.

6. When calling out Adhaan, it is Sunnah to turn towards the right and left when saying Hayya alas salaat and Hayya alal falaah: This is irrespective of whether the adhaan is for a salaat or for some other reason. However, his chest and feet should not turn away from the qiblah.

7. Adhaan and Iqaamah should be called while facing the Qiblah as long as he is not mounted on an animal: It is makruh-e-tanzihi to call out adhaan and iqaamah while one is not facing the qiblah.

8. At the time of calling out the Adhaan, it is necessary for the person to be pure from Hadath-e-Akbar (major impurity) and Mustahab to be pure from both the major and minor impurities: At the time of calling out the iqaamah, it is necessary to be pure from both the impurities. If a person calls out adhaan while in a state of hadath-e-akbar, this will be makruh-e-tahrimi and it will be mustahab to repeat that adhaan. Similarly, if a person calls out iqaamah while in a state of major or minor impurity, this will be makruh-e-tahrimi but it is not mustahab to repeat the iqaamah.

9. It is Sunnah to say the words of the Adhaan and Iqaamah in the sequence shown to us: If a person says a latter word first, for example, he says Ash hado anna Muhammadar Rasulullah before Ash hado an la ilaaha illa Allahu, or he says Hayya alal falaah before Hayya alas salaat; then in such a case, just the latter word should be repeated. In the first example, after saying Ash hado an la ilaaha illa Allahu he should repeat Ash hado anna Muhammadan Rasulullah. In the second example, after saying Hayya alas salaat, he should repeat Hayya alal falaah. It is not necessary to repeat the entire adhaan.

10. While calling out the Adhaan and Iqaamah, no other words should be spoken, even if they be a greeting or a reply to a greeting: If a person speaks while calling out adhaan or iqaamah and he spoke considerably, he should repeat the adhaan and not the iqaamah.