What Should I Do When I Hear the Adhan (Call to Prayer)?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Sami’ al-Yakti

Question

What should I do when I hear the Adhan (call to prayer)?

Answer

All praise is due to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah, his family, his companions, and those who follow him.

It is recommended, dear Muslim brother, when you hear the Adhan, to listen attentively to the caller (mu’adhin) and repeat after him exactly what he says, except during the “Hayya ‘ala” phrases. After these you should say “La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah” (There is no power nor strength except through Allah).

Also during the additional phrase in the Fajr Adhan, “Al-Salatu Khayrun Min al-Nawm” (Prayer is better than sleep), you should say “Sadaqta wa bararta” (You have spoken the truth and done good). After the Adhan concludes, send blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him), and then supplicate with the well-known prayer (Allahumma rabba hadhihi al-da’wat il-tamma wal-salat il-qa’ima, ati Muhammadan al-wasilata wal-fadila, wa-b’ath-hu maqaman mahmudan alladhi wa‘adtah).

Then prepare for prayer by performing ablution, and hasten to the mosque. It is also recommended to supplicate between the Adhan and Iqama, especially asking for well-being in this life and the hereafter, and Allah knows best.

Explanation and Detail:

Islam calls for the public display of religious rituals in the Muslim community and for Muslims to gather for some basic acts of worship, such as the prayer and its related practices. Among the most important and greatest of these rituals is the Adhan, and many hadiths have been narrated regarding its virtue.

The Testimony of All that Hears the Adhan

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) said to Abu Sa’sa’ah al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him), “I see you love sheep and the wilderness. If you are among your sheep or in the wilderness and you make the call to prayer, raise your voice with the call, for nothing hears the voice of the mu’adhdhin, be it jinn, human, or anything else, except that it will bear witness for him on the Day of Resurrection.” Abu Sa’id said: “I heard this from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).” (Bukhari)

Returning to the question’s answer, when you hear the Adhan, it is recommended to do the following:

During the Adhan and Iqama

Listen attentively to the mu’adhin and repeat after him, except for the “Hayya ‘ala” phrases, after which you say, “la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah” (there is no power or strength but with Allah). And after “Al-Salatu Khayrum Min al-Nawm” during the Fajr Adhan, you say, “sadaqta wa barart” (you have spoken the truth and done well). After the Iqama’s “Qad qamat al-sala,” say, “aqamaha Allah wa adamaha wa ja‘alani min salihi ahliha” (May Allah establish and perpetuate it and make me among its righteous attendees).

The Evidence for the Response to the Adhan

Umar ibn al-Khattab (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When the mu’adhin says: ‘Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar’ (Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest), and one of you says: ‘Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar’. Then he says: ‘Ashhadu alla ilaha illallah’ (I bear witness that there is nothing worthy of worship but Allah), and he says: ‘Ashhadu alla ilaha illallah’. Then he says: ‘Ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah’ (I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah), and he says: ‘Ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah’. Then he says: ‘Hayya ‘alal-salah’ (Come to prayer), he says: ‘La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah’ (There is no power and no strength but with Allah). Then he says: ‘Hayya ‘ala al-falah’ (Come to success), he says: ‘La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah’. Then he says: ‘Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar’, he says: ‘Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar’. Then he says: ‘La ilaha illallah’, he says: ‘La ilaha illallah’, from his heart, he will enter Paradise.” (Muslim)

The Dua after the Adhan

After the Adhan, send blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him) and then supplicate with the following dua: “Allahumma rabba hadhihi al-da’wat il-tamma wa-salat il-qa’ima, ati Muhammadan al-wasilata wal-fadilah, wa-b‘ath-hu maqaman mahmudan alladhi wa‘adtah” (“Allah, Master of this perfect call and established prayer, give Muhammad the rank and the virtue, and raise him upon the praiseworthy station that you promised him”).

The Evidence for the Dua after the Adhan

Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that he heard the Prophet, (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: “When you hear the mu’adhin, repeat what he says, then send blessings upon me; indeed, whoever sends one blessing upon me, Allah will send ten blessings upon him. Then ask Allah for al-Wasila for me; it is a station in Paradise which befits only one of Allah’s servants, and I hope that I might be him. Whoever asks for al-Wasilah for me, my intercession will be guaranteed for him.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever says upon hearing the call: ‘O Allah, Lord of this perfect call and established prayer, grant Muhammad the rank and virtue, and raise him to the praised station that You promised him,’ will have my intercession on the Day of Resurrection.” (Bukhari)

Saad ibn Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) who said: “Whoever says upon hearing the mu’adhin: ‘I bear witness that there is nothing worthy of worship but Allah alone without partner, and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, with Muhammad as my messenger, and with Islam as my religion,’ then his sins will be forgiven.” (Muslim)

Making Dua between the Adhan and the Iqama

Between the Adhan and Iqamah, supplicate with what you wish, especially asking for well-being in this life and the hereafter. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, as reported by Anas ibn Malik (Allah be pleased with him), “The supplication between the adhan and the iqama is not rejected.” In another narration, Anas asked, “So what should we say, Messenger of Allah?” He responded, “Ask Allah for well-being (‘afiya) in this life and the next.” (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud)

Preparing for the Prayer

Prepare for the prayer by performing ablution and hastening to the mosque as much as possible.

Al-Aswad (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that he asked Aisha (Allah be pleased with her), “What did the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to do in his house?” She responded, “He was in the service of his family. but when the prayer arrived, he would go out to pray.” (Bukhari)

Al-Aswad also narrates that he asked Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) at night. She said, “He would sleep in the beginning of the night, and then get up. Just before dawn, he would pray the witr prayer, and then come to his bed. If he had the need of a man for his wife, it would be so, and when he heard the adhan, he would rise. If he was in a state of major impurity, he would pour water on himself, but otherwise, he would make wudu. Then he would go out to the prayer.” (Sahih Ibn Hibban)

In another narration she said, “When he heard the first adhan (meaning the caller), he would get up. If he was in a state of major impurity, he would bathe, and if he was not in a state of major impurity, he would make his usual wudu for prayer. Then he would pray two rak’a, and then he would go out to the mosque.” (Sunan Abi Ya’la)

Based on the above:

When we hear the call, it is recommended to repeat after the mu’adhin, then make the prescribed supplication, hasten to the prayer, especially in the mosque, and leave all other tasks; this was the practice of our pious predecessors (Allah be pleased with them). Engage in supplication between the Adhan and Iqamah, particularly seeking well-being in this life and the next, as guided by the Prophet (peace be upon him). In doing so, we fulfill the rights of the time, as the scholars say, and act according to what the Shariah requires of us.

Allah ultimately knows best.

May the blessings and peace of Allah be upon our Master and Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and companions.