Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Karim Yahya, SunniPath Academy Teacher
In our school it is allowed to add sayyidina to the Call to Prayer (adhan) and Call to Commence the Prayer (iqama) for Allah’s messenger (Allah bless and grant him peace), but is it allowed to add other words such as Sayyidina wa Mawlana or just Mawlana? Also, is it permissible to add Allah’s (Most High) attributes such as Ash hadu alla ilaha illAllah ar Rahman ar Raheem? If not, then why for the Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) and not for Allah (‘azza wa jall)?
In The Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate
The Call to Prayer (adhan) is not invalidated by a small amount of speech that interrupts its continuity. However speaking during the Call to Prayer for other than the interest of the call is offensive (makruh)[1], and it is sunna not to speak even for its interest[2]. All of the examples mentioned would appear to be considered a small amount of speech, so they should not invalidate the Call to Prayer. Then if these additions were considered to be in the interest of the Call it would still be sunna not to add them, otherwise it is offensive to add them.
This whole affair is by transmission. Abdullah Ibn al-Mubarak (Allah have mercy on him) said: “Were it not for connected transmission (isnad), whoever wanted would say whatever they wanted.” None of the scholars we have encountered in any of the lands in which we have studied have made any of the additions that were mentioned. In the light of this, we would humbly advise adherence to the Call as it has been narrated back to the Prophet (Allah bless and grant him peace) with out any additions. And Allah knows best and He alone gives success (tawfiq).
[1] See: Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, Hawashi al-Sharwani Wa Ibn Qasim al-Abbadi ‘Ala Tuhfah al-Muhtaj Bisharh al-Minhaj (Beruit, Dar Ihya’ al-Turath al-‘Arabi), 1:470.
[2] See: Muhammad Ramli, Nihayah al-Muhtaj ila Sharh al-Minhaj (Beruit, Dar Ihya’ al-Turath al-‘Arabi), 1:412.