Question:
Assalamualaikum SS Dato’ Seri Mufti. Is it sufficient to play a recording of the adhan like using cassettes or CDs when the time of prayer started?
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.
Adhan is a specific zikr. Islam sanctioned it as a declaration and announcement that the time for obligatory prayers have started, calling out to Muslims to perform the prayer. The ruling for calling out the adhan for obligatory prayers and qadha’ (replacement) prayer is sunnah muakkadah, which is sunnah kifayah for congregational prayer and sunnah ‘ainiah for prayers performed alone. Adhan plays an important role in showcasing the eminence of Islam. (See al-Fiqh al-Manhaji, 1/337)
In answering the above question, here we include the fatwa issued by Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta’ (9/179) where Syeikh ‘Athiyah Saqar said: Recording of the adhan or adhan that is called out through the radio in fulfilling the commandment to call out the adhan is not enough, for Muslims are commanded to call out the adhan when the time of prayer started as instructed by the Prophet PBUH:
إِذَا حَضَرَتْ الصَّلاةُ فَلْيُؤَذِّنْ لَكُمْ أَحَدُكُمْ وَلْيَؤُمَّكُمْ أَكْبَرُكُمْ
“And when the stated time for the prayer becomes due, then one of you should pronounce its call (i.e. the Adhan), and the eldest of you should lead you in prayer.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (6705) Sahih Muslim (674)
The text of the hadith states; then one of you should pronounce its call (i.e. the Adhan), which means a living human who are present at the time and not through a recording.
This is in line with a statement of the fatwa issued by the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta which also states: It is not enough for the adhan which is sanctioned for obligatory prayers to be called out just through a recording, furthermore, it is obligatory for the muezzin to call out the adhan for himself as instructed by the Prophet PBUH to call out the adhan, and the original ruling for a commandment is obligatory. (See Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Da’imah, number 10189)
Majma’ al-Fiqh al-Islami Council also issued a resolution regarding this issue, among others, it states: Calling out of the adhan with only recording devices in mosques when the time of prayer has started is insufficient. It is impermissible and does not fulfil the sanctioning of the worship of adhan. Thus, it is obligatory for the Muslim ummah to call out the adhan live for every time of prayer in every mosques as this is how it has been practiced by Muslims from the time of our Prophet Muhammad PBUH until today. (See Resolusi al-Majma’ al-Fiqhi al-Islami (al-Majma’ al-Fiqhi al-Islami Resolution) on 19/7/1406 Hijrah)
Their opinion is based on the following arguments:
- Adhan is one of the eminences of Islam which is the manifestation of ta’abbudi(total submission to Allah). It is included as al-ma’lum min al-din bi al-darurah(a ruling that is generally known) with evidences and ijma’ (consensus) of the Muslims. Thus, the adhan is one of the signs or symbols that differentiates a Muslim country from a non-Muslim country. It has been narrated that if the residents of a certain place have agreed to neglect the adhan, then it is permissible to declare war towards them.
- The Muslims have practised it since its first sanctioning on the first year of Hijrah until today, the practise of calling out the adhan continues for the five times of obligatory prayers in every mosque, even when there are numerous mosques in a state.
- In a Hadith from Malik bin al-Huwairith RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
إِذَا حَضَرَتْ الصَّلاةُ فَلْيُؤَذِّنْ لَكُمْ أَحَدُكُمْ وَلْيَؤُمَّكُمْ أَكْبَرُكُمْ
“And at the time of the prayer one of you should pronounce the Adhan and the oldest of you should lead the prayer.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (6705)
- Intention is one of the conditions of adhan. Hence, the adhan is invalidate if it is called out by a person who is insane, intoxicated and in other similar situations, for the absence of intention in performing it. The same is applicable in the case of the adhan being called out using a recording device as stated.
- The adhan is a badaniyyah worship (a physical act of worship). Ibn Qudamah said: It is impermissible for a man to continue the adhan of another, for the adhan is a worship of the body and cannot be performed by two people, the same as prayer. (al-Syarh al-Kabir, 1/ 407)
The Benefits of Adhan and Muezzin
There are numerous hadiths which state the virtues of those who call out the adhan. Among them is a hadith from Muawiyah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
الْمُؤَذِّنُونَ أَطْوَلُ النَّاسِ أَعْنَاقًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
"The Mu'adhdhinun (callers to prayer) will have the longest necks on the Day of Resurrection."
Sahih Muslim (387)
Imam al-Nawawi when commenting on the above hadith said that salaf and khalaf scholars have differing opinions in understanding the meaning of this hadith. It is said that the hadith means that many people who see the blessings of Allah SWT, for those who see it will crane their necks to see what they are able to get. This means, they (the muezzin) will crane their necks to see their rewards (that has been prepared for them). (See al-Minhaj fi Syarh Sahih Muslim Ibn al-Hajjaj, 4/91-92)
In another hadith, the Prophet PBUH said:
لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي النِّدَاءِ وَالصَّفِّ الْأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَجِدُوا إِلَّا أَنْ يَسْتَهِمُوا عَلَيْهِ لَاسْتَهَمُوا
“If the people knew the reward for pronouncing the Adhan and for standing in the first row (in congregational prayers) and found no other way to get that except by drawing lots they would draw lots,”
Sahih al-Bukhari (615)
The Prophet PBUH also said:
فَإِذَا كُنْتَ فِي غَنَمِكَ أَوْ بَادِيَتِكَ فَأَذَّنْتَ بِالصَّلَاةِ فَارْفَعْ صَوْتَكَ بِالنِّدَاءِ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَسْمَعُ مَدَى صَوْتِ الْمُؤَذِّنِ جِنٌّ وَلَا إِنْسٌ وَلَا شَيْءٌ إِلَّا شَهِدَ لَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
“So, whenever you are with your sheep or in the wilderness and you want to pronounce Adhan for the prayer raise your voice in doing so, for whoever hears the Adhan, whether a human being, a jinn or any other creature, will be a witness for you on the Day of Resurrection.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (609)
In another hadith:
الإِمَامُ ضَامِنٌ وَالْمُؤَذِّنُ مُؤْتَمَنٌ ، اللَّهُمَّ أَرْشِدِ الأَئِمَّةَ وَاغْفِرْ لِلْمُؤَذِّنِينَ
“The imam is responsible and the mu'adhdhin is trusted, O Allah, guide the imams and forgive the mu'adhdhins.”
Sunan Abu Daud (517)
Conclusion
It is insufficient to use recording devices or radio as a replacement in fulfilling the commandment of calling out the adhan when the time of prayer starts according to the above evidences and discussion.
Thus, one should try his best in ensuring that the adhan is called out the same way as how it has been practised by the salafus soleh, which is being called out by a Muslim who fulfils the conditions and not just using tasjil or recording devices. The body of authorities such as Islamic Religious Council should prioritize the appointment of bilal (muezzin) to call out the adhan as an eminence of the religion in a certain place.
May Allah SWT give us the knowledge and understanding in obeying His every commandment. Amin.