Sunnats and Aadaab of Azaan and Iqaamah – Part 9

Replying to the Azaan

Azaan is among the salient symbols of Islam. When azaan holds such great importance in Deen, then we should show respect to the azaan by replying to it and not being engaged in any worldly talk at that time. The Fuqahaa have written that it is incorrect to engage in worldly talk at the time of azaan.
1. On hearing the azaan, reply to the azaan by repeating the words that the muazzin has called out.
For example, when one hears the muazzin saying, اَللهُ أَكْبَرْ اَللهُ أَكْبَرْ (Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar), he should reply by also saying, اَللهُ أَكْبَرْ اَللهُ أَكْبَرْ (Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar).

عن عمر رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا قال المؤذن الله أكبر الله أكبر فقال أحدكم الله أكبر الله أكبر … ثم قال لا إله إلا الله قال لا إله إلا الله من قلبه دخل الجنة (صحيح مسلم، الرقم: 385)

Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “When the muazzin calls out اَللهُ أَكْبَرْ اَللهُ أَكْبَرْ (Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar) and one of you replies اَللهُ أَكْبَرْ اَللهُ أَكْبَرْ (Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar) (and one thereafter replies to all the remaining phrases of the azaan called out by the muazzin) with a good and true heart, then he will enter Jannah.”

2. When the muazzin says حَيَّ عَلٰى الصَّلَاةْ (hayya alas salaah) and  حَيَّ عَلٰى الْفَلَاحْ (hayya alal falaah), one should recite لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهْ  (la hawla wa la quwwata illa billaah). However, if one repeats the words of the muazzin by saying حَيَّ عَلٰى الصَّلَاةْ (hayya alas salaah) and حَيَّ عَلٰى الْفَلَاحْ (hayya alal falaah) and thereafter recites لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهْ (la hawla wa la quwwata illa billaah), it will be better, as both have been mentioned in the Hadith.

عن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال إذا سمعتم النداء فقولوا مثل ما يقول المؤذن (صحيح البخاري، الرقم: 611)

Hazrat Abu Sa’eed Khudri (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “When you hear the azaan, then reply by repeating the words of the muazzin.”

عن عمر رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا قال المؤذن الله أكبر الله أكبر فقال أحدكم الله أكبر الله أكبر … ثم قال حي على الصلاة قال لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله ثم قال حي على الفلاح قال لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله (صحيح مسلم، الرقم: 385)

Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “When the muazzin says اَللهُ أَكْبَرْ اَللهُ أَكْبَرْ (Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar), then you should say اَللهُ أَكْبَرْ اَللهُ أَكْبَرْ (Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar)… and when he says حَيَّ عَلٰى الصَّلَاةْ (hayya alas salaah), then you should say لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهْ (la hawla wa la quwwata illa billaah), and when he says حَيَّ عَلٰى الْفَلَاحْ (hayya alal falaah), then you should say لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهْ (la hawla wa la quwwata illa billaah).”

3. During the Fajr azaan, when the muazzin calls out اَلصَّلَاةُ خَيْرٌ مِّنَ النَّوْمْ, reply by saying صَدَقْتَ وَبَرَرْتَ.