https://www.khutbah.info/the-athan/ When the Prophet ﷺ came to Medina and built a mosque and established prayer, there was no athan. Rather, the Muslims used to wait for the time of prayer and gather in the masjed. So the Messenger of Allah was concerned with how to gather the people for prayer, and the Muslims were concerned as a result of his concern, so they consulted among themselves. Some of them said: we can raise a banner at the time of prayer. If the Muslims see it, they can call each other to prayer. But the Prophet ﷺ did not like that suggestion. And some said: we can light a fire. So the Prophet ﷺ said that is what the Magians do. Some of them mentioned a trumpet but he ﷺ did not like that and he said it is from the matters of the Jewish community. And some of them mentioned a bell. Then the Prophet ﷺ said that is from the matters of the Christian community. This was due to his caution in distinguishing this ummah (nation) in its rituals and the manifestations of its religion.
إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ ,نَحْمَدُهُ ,وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ , وَنَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا ,مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ , وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ , وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Verily, all praise is for Allah. We praise Him, we seek His assistance and we ask for His forgiveness. And we seek refuge in Him from the evils of our selves. Whoever Allah guides, none can misguide. Whoever He misguides, none can guide. And I bear witness that there is no deity other than Allah and I bear witness that Mohammad is His slave and messenger.
يَا أَيُّهَا الّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ – آل عمران:102
Al Imran 102 : O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam.
Oh people:
When the Prophet ﷺ came to Medina and built a mosque and established prayer, there was no athan. Rather, the Muslims used to wait for the time of prayer and gather in the masjed.
So the Messenger of Allah was concerned with how to gather the people for prayer, and the Muslims were concerned as a result of his concern, so they consulted among themselves. Some of them said: we can raise a banner at the time of prayer. If the Muslims see it, they can call each other to prayer. But the Prophet ﷺ did not like that suggestion.
And some said: we can light a fire. So the Prophet ﷺ said that is what the Magians do. Some of them mentioned a trumpet but he ﷺ did not like that and he said it is from the matters of the Jewish community. And some of them mentioned a bell. Then the Prophet ﷺ said that is from the matters of the Christian community. This was due to his caution in distinguishing this ummah (nation) in its rituals and the manifestations of its religion.
Abdallah bin Zaid, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
فانصرفتُ إلى أهلي وأنا مهمومٌ لهمِّ رسولِ الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم-، فطافَ بي من الليل طائِفٌ وأنا نائِمٌ، رجلٌ عليه ثوبان أخضران وفي يدِه ناقوسٌ يحمِلُه، فقلتُ: يا عبد الله! أتبيعُ الناقوس؟ قال: وما تصنعُ به؟ فقلتُ: ندعُو به إلى الصلاة. قال: أفلا أدلُّك على ما هو خيرٌ من ذلك؟ فقلتُ له: بلى، قال: تقول: “الله أكبر الله أكبر، الله أكبر الله أكبر، أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله، أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله، أشهد أن محمدًا رسولُ الله، أشهد أن محمدًا رسولُ الله، حيَّ على الصلاة، حيَّ على الصلاة، حيَّ على الفلاح، حيَّ على الفلاح، الله أكبر الله أكبر، لا إله إلا الله .
Then I went to my family and I was preoccupied with the concern of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. When I was sleeping, I saw a man wearing two green garments, and in his hand he was carrying a bell. So I said: Oh servant of Allah, will you sell the bell. He said: and what will you do with it? I said: We will use it to call to the prayer. Shall I not guide you to something better than that? So I said to him, indeed. He said: say: Allah is The Most Great, Allah is The Most Great; Allah is The Most Great, Allah is The Most Great; I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah; I bear witness that Muhammed is the Messenger of Allah, I bear witness that Muhammed is the Messenger of Allah; Come to the Prayer, Come to the Prayer; Come to the prosperity, Come to the prosperity; Allah is the Most great, Allah is the Most Great; None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.
ثم استأخرَ عني غير بعيدٍ، ثم قال: وتقولُ إذا أقمتَ الصلاة: “الله أكبر الله أكبر، أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله، أشهد أن محمدًا رسولُ الله، حيَّ على الصلاة، حيَّ على الفلاح، قد قامَت الصلاة قد قامَت الصلاة، الله أكبر الله أكبر، لا إله إلا الله”.
Then he went away from me but not far, then said: and you say if it is time for the prayer: Allah is The Most Great, Allah is The Most Great, I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, I bear witness that Muhammed is the Messenger of Allah; Come to the Prayer, Come to the prosperity; The prayer is starting, the prayer is starting, Allah is the Most Great, Allah is the Most Great; None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.
فلما أصبَحتُ أتيتُ رسولَ الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم-، فأخبرتُه بما رأيتُ، فقال: “إنها لرؤيا حقّ إن شاءَ الله”، فقُم مع بلالٍ فألقِ عليه ما رأيت فليُؤذِّن به، فإنه أندَى صوتًا منك. فقمتُ مع بلالٍ فجعلتُ أُلقِيه عليه ويُؤذِّنُ به، فسمِع ذلك عُمرُ بن الخطاب وهو في بيته، فخرجَ يجرُّ رداءَه ويقول: “والذي بعثَك بالحق يا رسول الله، لقد رأيتُ مثلَ ما رأى”. فقال رسولُ الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم-: “فلله الحمد” (رواه أحمد وأبو داود وغيرهما بإسنادٍ صحيح).
When the morning came, I went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and informed him of what I had seen in the dream. He said: it is a genuine vision if Allah wills. So go with Bilal and tell him what you saw, so that he can call to prayer with it. For he has a stronger voice than you. So I went with Bilal and taught him, and he began calling to prayer with it. So Omar bin al-Khattab heard that when he was in his house, and he came out dragging his lower garment saying: By Him who has sent you with the truth oh Messenger of Allah, I saw what he had seen. So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: To Allah is all praise. [Sahih Abu Dawood 499]
So after that, the Messenger of Allah had callers for prayer that would raise the mention of Allah. From them was Bilal ibn Abee Rabaah and AbdAllah bin umm Maktoom and Abu Mahthoora (may Allah be pleased with them all).
The words of the athan declare the tawhid of Allah and magnification of Allah. And it is an invitation to prayer and an invitation to success.
The words of the call to prayer cleanse the filth of the soul five times a day. So does any of the filth of the soul remain after that ?! The hearts long for the words of the athan (call to prayer) and the souls are reassured by it. And listeners hear that there is no rightly worshipped other than Allah and that there is none greater than Allah.
The words of athan are proclaimed. If you missed out in times passed then strive in times that will come. And if you have erred, then expiate. And erase a period with another period. For good deeds wipe away bad deeds. And a minute left in life is the greatest hope in the mercy of Allah.
And how many great virtues are missed by the one who hears the caller of prayer but does not respond and does not repeat the words of the athan. Abu Saeed Al Khudree, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺsaid:
إِذَا سَمِعْتُمُ النِّدَاءَ فَقُولُوا مِثْلَ مَا يَقُولُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ
When you hear the call, repeat what the Muadhin (caller to prayer) says.[Bukhari 611, Muslim 383]
And Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet heard a man saying:
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ . فَقَالَ ” عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ ” . فَقَالَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ . فَقَالَ ” خَرَجْتَ مِنَ النَّارِ
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, so he said, Upon the innate state. Then he said, I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah. So he said, You have exited from the Fire. [Muslim 382]
And Saad bin Abee Waqqas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
مَنْ قَالَ حِينَ يَسْمَعُ الْمُؤَذِّنَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ رَضِيتُ بِاللَّهِ رَبًّا وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولاً وَبِالإِسْلاَمِ دِينًا . غُفِرَ لَهُ ذَنْبُهُ
Whoever says, when he hears the Mu’adhdhin, I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah alone, with no partner or associate, and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger; I am content with Allah as my Lord, Islam as my religion and Muhammad as my Messenger, his sins will be forgiven. [Muslim 386]
And AbdAllah bin Amr bin Al Aas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that he heard the Prophet ﷺ say:
إِذَا سَمِعْتُمُ الْمُؤَذِّنَ فَقُولُوا مِثْلَ مَا يَقُولُ ثُمَّ صَلُّوا عَلَيَّ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَيَّ صَلَاةً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ بِهَا عَشْرًا ثُمَّ سَلُوا اللَّهَ لِيَ الْوَسِيلَةَ فَإِنَّهَا مَنْزِلَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ لَا تَنْبَغِي إِلَّا لِعَبْدٍ مِنْ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ وَأَرْجُو أَنْ أَكُونَ أَنَا هُوَ فَمَنْ سَأَلَ لِيَ الْوَسِيلَةَ حَلَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّفَاعَةُ
When you hear the Adhan, repeat what the Mu’adhdhin says. Then ask Allah to exalt my mention, for whoever sends a blessing upon me, Allah will send ten blessings upon him. Then ask Allah to grant me Al-Wasilah, which is a rank in Paradise, fitting for only one of Allah’s servants; and I hope that I will be that man. If anyone asks Al-Wasilah for me, it becomes incumbent upon me to intercede for him. [Muslim 384]
And Jaber bin AbdAllah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
مَنْ قَالَ حِينَ يَسْمَعُ النِّدَاءَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ هَذِهِ الدَّعْوَةِ التَّامَّةِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْقَائِمَةِ آتِ مُحَمَّدًا الْوَسِيلَةَ وَالْفَضِيلَةَ وَابْعَثْهُ مَقَامًا مَحْمُودًا الَّذِي وَعَدْتَهُ حَلَّتْ لَهُ شَفَاعَتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَة
Whoever says when he hears the call to prayer, O Allah , Lord of this perfect call and established prayer. Grant Muhammad the intercession and favor, and raise him to the honored station You have promised him, will have my intercession on the Day of Resurrection. [Bukhari 614]
With the Athan, there are four sunnahs and five virtues. The first sunnah is to say what the muadhen says. The second is to be pleased with Allah as Lord, and Mohammad as a messenger and Islam as a religion. The third sunnah is to send salat on the Prophet ﷺ. The fourth sunnah is to ask Al-Wasilah (a rank in Paradise) for the Prophet ﷺ.
As far as the five virtues, the first is that paradise is obligated. The second virtue is being saved from the fire. The third is having sins forgiven. And the fourth virtue is receiving the Prophet’s intercession. And the fifth is that the supplication between the adhan and iqama is accepted. AbdAllah bin Omar bin Al Aas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that:
أنَّ رَجُلًا قال لرَسولِ اللهِ: إنَّ المؤَذِّنينَ يَفضُلونَنا بأذانِهم، فقال رَسولُ اللهِ: قُلْ كما يقولونَ، فإذا انتهَيتَ فسَلْ تُعْطَه
A man said to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , Oh Messenger of Allah, those calling to prayer surpass us because of their calling athan. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: say (the same words) as they say, and when you finish, ask and it will be granted to you. [Sunan Abee Dawood 524]
أَقُولُ مَا تَسْمَعُونَ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
I say what you have heard and I seek forgiveness from Allah for me and you from every sin. So seek forgives from Him, Verily He is Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
Second Khutbah
الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ, وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ , وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَاْ إِلَهَ إِلَّاْ اَللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَاْشَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدَاً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ
All praise is to Allah, and peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, and I bear witness that there is no deity other than Allah and I bear witness that Mohammad is His slave and messenger.
Oh Muslims:
Allah Almighty says:
وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًا مِمَّنْ دَعَا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ-فصلت: 33
Fussilat (41) 33: And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allāh and does righteousness and says, “Indeed, I am of the Muslims.”
Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said that this verse was revealed concerning the callers to prayer. And the meaning is that they are included in this verse. And who is more rightful than the caller to the prayer for the title of inviter to Allah, and he invites each day to the tawhid of Allah and to the prayer?! And they are the two greatest pillars of this religion.
And what call is more complete than the athan about which the Prophet ﷺ said:
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ هَذِهِ الدَّعْوَةِ التَّامَّةِ
O Allah , Lord of this perfect call.
And as the Prophet ﷺ informed in the hadith narrated by Muslim, the callers to prayer will have the longest necks on the Day of Resurrection as a representation for glory and honor, and aspiring to the reward of Allah Almighty. And they will have the longest necks on the Day of Resurrection when the people will be submerged in sweat.
And Allah honors the caller to prayer on the Day of Resurrection in that he will see everything that heard his voice. The Prophet ﷺ said:
لَا يَسْمَعُ مَدَى صَوْتِ الْمُؤَذِّنِ جِنٌّ وَلَا إِنْسٌ وَلَا شَيْءٌ إِلَّا شَهِدَ لَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
No jinn, man, or anything that hears the extent of the sound of the caller to prayer, except that it will testify on his behalf on the day of resurrection.[Bukhari 3296]
And regarding competing for the athan and racing for it the Prophet ﷺ said:
لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي النِّدَاءِ وَالصَّفِّ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَجِدُوا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَسْتَهِمُوا عَلَيْهِ لاَسْتَهَمُوا
If people knew what was in calling Adhan and the first row (of prayer), and had nothing but drawing lots to secure these privileges, they would draw lots.[Bukhari 615, Muslim 437]
Omar, may Allah be pleased with him, said that if I was able to handle making adhan along with the caliphate, I would have made adhan.
And Saad bin Abee Waqqas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, that making adhan consistently is more beloved to me than performing hajj, umrah and striving in the path of Allah.
From the rulings of adhan is that it is a sunnah for men and is ordained in residence and travel. And for individuals and congregations. And for prayers offered on time and those made up.
And the sunnah is that the caller to prayer have a powerful and pleasant voice. And is trustworthy and knowledgeable of the prayer timings.
And the sunnah is that he calls adhan standing, in a state of purity and facing the Qibla. And turns when saying come to prayer, come to success. Also carefully and deliberately making the athan and hastening while calling the iqama.
So account for the reward in adhan. And seek the reward for making athan while in the wilderness or desert. And seek the reward for making adhan in wide open spaces. For how many doors of goodness were opened by it and guidance attained through it?!
Oh Allah make us among those who strive in all avenues of good and virtue. Indeed Allah is All Hearing Answering.
هَذَا وَصَلُّوا وَسَلِّمُوا عَلَى نَبِيِّكُم كَمَا أَمَرَكُمْ بِذلِكَ رَبُّكُمْ , فَقَالَ
I conclude with this and send prayers of blessings and peace upon your Prophet as your Lord commanded:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ۚ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا
Al Ahzaab (33) 56: Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [ Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [ Allah to grant him] peace.
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنا فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ وَعَافِنا فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ وَتَوَلَّنا فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ وَبَارِكْ لنا فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ وَقِنا شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ إِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلاَ يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ وَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ
O Allah, guide us with those whom You have guided, grant us well-being among those You have granted well-being, be an ally to us along with those whom You are an ally to, and bless what You have bestowed upon us, and save us from the evil of what You have decreed. For verily You decree and none can decree over You. He whom You support can never be humiliated. Glory is to You, our Lord, You are Blessed and Exalted.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ كُلِّهِ عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ مَا عَلِمْنا مِنْهُ وَمَا لَمْ نَعْلَمْ وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الشَّرِّ كُلِّهِ عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ مَا عَلِمْنا مِنْهُ وَمَا لَمْ نَعْلَمْ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ خَيْرِ مَا سَأَلَكَ عَبْدُكَ وَنَبِيُّكَ وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا عَاذَ بِهِ عَبْدُكَ وَنَبِيُّكَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَا قَرَّبَ إِلَيْهَا مِنْ قَوْلٍ أَوْ عَمَلٍ وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ وَمَا قَرَّبَ إِلَيْهَا مِنْ قَوْلٍ أَوْ عَمَلٍ وَنَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ كُلَّ قَضَاءٍ قَضَيْتَهُ لَنا خَيْرًا
O Allah, We ask You for all that is good, in this world and in the Hereafter, what we know and what we do not know. O Allah, we seek refuge with You from all evil, in this world and in the Hereafter, what we know and what we do not know. O Allah, we ask You for the good that Your servant and Prophet has asked You for, and we seek refuge with You from the evil from which Your servant and Prophet sought refuge. O Allah, we ask You for Paradise and for that which brings one closer to it, in word and deed, and we seek refuge in You from Hell and from that which brings one closer to it, in word and deed. And we ask You to make every decree that You decree concerning us good
عِبَادَ اللّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
Servants of Allah. Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.
اُذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ يَذْكُرْكُمْ واشْكُرُوهُ يَزِدْكُمْ واسْتَغْفِرُوهُ يَغْفِرْ لكُمْ واتّقُوهُ يَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَمْرِكُمْ مَخْرَجًا وَأَقِمِ الصّلَاة
Remember Allah, the Great – He will remember you. Thank Him for His favors – He will increase you therein. And seek forgiveness from Him – He will forgive you. And be conscious of Him – He will provide you a way out of difficult matters. And, establish the prayer.
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