Question:
Is there any hadith that one’s tongue will become tied if he speaks during adhan?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
We often hear people say that when a person speaks during adhan, his tongue will be heavy or tied to utter the articles of faith when he is on his last breath or is passing away.
Firstly, we would like to state first on the ruling of answering to the adhan before we answer the above question:
The Ruling of Answering the Adhan
The ruling of answering the adhan is Sunnah muakkadah (a highly recommended Sunnah). When adhan was called out, we as Muslims are recommended to leave all activities that we are doing while at the same time answering the adhan as a form of respect.
- It is narrated by Abu Sa’id al-Khudri that the Prophet PBUH said:
إِذَا سَمِعْتُمُ النِّدَاءَ فَقُولُوا مِثْلَ مَا يَقُولُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ
When you hear the call (to prayer), repeat what the Mu'adhdhin pronounces.
Sahih al-Bukhari (576)
Pertaining to the above question, it is untrue and it can never be related to the Prophet PBUH. This is because we do not find its basis and we absolutely cannot relate it to the Prophet PBUH because it is a form of deception in the name of our honourable Prophet Muhammad PBUH if we do so.
While chitchatting during adhan is permissible and is not wrong to do so. However, if it may disturb or distract others from answering the call, then leaving it is prioritised because answering to the adhan is among the Sunnah.
In al-Muwattha’, Imam Malik narrated an athar from Tha’labah where he said:
أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا فِي زَمَانِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ يُصَلُّونَ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ حَتَّى يَخْرُجَ عُمَرُ فَإِذَا خَرَجَ عُمَرُ وَجَلَسَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ وَأَذَّنَ الْمُؤَذِّنُونَ قَالَ ثَعْلَبَةُ جَلَسْنَا نَتَحَدَّثُ فَإِذَا سَكَتَ الْمُؤَذِّنُونَ وَقَامَ عُمَرُ يَخْطُبُ أَنْصَتْنَا فَلَمْ يَتَكَلَّمْ مِنَّا أَحَدٌ قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ فَخُرُوجُ الْإِمَامِ يَقْطَعُ الصَّلَاةَ وَكَلَامُهُ يَقْطَعُ الْكَلَامَ
They performed Friday prayer during the time of Umar bin al-Khattab. When Umar went out and sat on the minbar, adhan was called by the muaddhin. Tha’labah said: We sat and we chitchatted. When the muaddhin was done and Umar stood to deliver the sermon, we all be silent and no one talked. Ibn Syihab said: When the imam is out, all prayers are stopped and when khutbah starts, all speech is stopped. [See: al-Muwatha’ (215)]
Based on the above athar, it is clear that the Companions RA talk when adhan was called out. If the statement is true as claimed, then the Companions are among the first persons who abandon the warning.
Sunnah Actions During Adhan (For Listeners)
Among the Sunnah for those who listen to the adhan are: [See: al-Wasith, 1/82,83].
- Be silent when listening to the adhan and answering it whether one is in the pure state or not, junub or in haid, adult or a mumayyiz. Then, he should answer the same as what is called out by the muaddhin except for phrases (حي على الصلاة) and (حي على الفلاح).
- Say salawat to the Prophet PBUH with a low voice, then ask Allah for wasilah and supplicate to Him after the adhan ends with a short gap.
- Supplicate for oneself because the time itself is honoured, blessed and accepted time. It is Sunnah to supplicate after adhan and before the iqamah.
Closing
In conclusion, even if we are permitted to talk during adhan, it is better to leave it unless what is said is important and at the same time, it does not disturb others in answering the adhan because it is a recommended Sunnah in the religion. Lastly, may Allah SWT give us understanding in the religion as well as preserve our tongue from committing falsehood in the name of the Prophet PBUH.
Wallahu a’lam.