Question:
Asalaamualaykum,
I came across a hadith in Sahih Muslim narrated by Abu Mahdura, and was told by one of my teachers that it is the adhan of the Shafii Madhab. I was curious to know if this is the official adhan and in what regions this adhan is practiced. If it is not the adhan of the madhab, then can we still call this adhan seeing that it is a sunnah of the Prophet salAllahualayhi wasalaam?
jazakAllahkhayr.
Abu Mahdhura said that the Prophet of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) taught him Adhan like this:
“Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest; I testify that there is none worthy of worship (in truth) but Allah, I testify that there is none worthy of worship (in truth) but Allah; I testify that Muhammad Is the Messenger of Allah, I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and it should be again repeated: I testify that there is none worthy of worship (in truth) but Allah, I testify that there is none worthy of worship (in truth) but Allah; I testify that Muhammad Is the Messenger of Allah, I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Come to the prayer (twice). Come to the prayer (twice).”
Is-haq added: “Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest; there is none worthy of worship (in truth) but Allah.”
Sahih Muslim 704
Country: United States
Answer:
Wa alaykum salam wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuHu,
Abu Mahdhurah was the Prophet Muhammad’s appointed mu’adhdhin [one who calls to prayer] in Makkah. The scholars differ regarding his name. According to Imam Bukhari, Ibn Ma’in, and Imam Nawawi, his name is Samurah. (al-Isti’ab v. 4; Sharh Sahih Muslim v. 4, p. 82) According to Hafiz Ibn Hajar and Hafiz Dhahabi, his name is Aws. (Siyar v. 3; p. 117; Taqrib al-Tahdhib p. 671) He passed in the year 59, upon which his children inherited the duty of adhan. Thus, the way in which the Prophet Muhammad instructed Abu Mahdhurah to call the adhhan was practiced in Islam’s holiest city, Makkah. (Sharh Sahih Muslim v. 4, p. 82)
There are two issues regarding Abu Mahdhurah’s adhan:
1) Whether tarbi’ (in Arabic التربيع) which is saying “Allahu Akbar” four times in the beginning, or tathniyah (in Arabic التثنية) saying it twice, is preferred.
2) Tarji’ (in Arabic الترجيع), the repeating of the shahadatayn [Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Allah and Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan RasuluLlah].
Regarding the first, the majority, including Imam Shafi’i, go the way of tarbi’. The version of Abu Mahdhurah’s hadith which Imam Shafi’i related includes four “Allahu Akbar”s. (Kitab al-Umm v. 2, p. 185-187) Other versions of the hadith establish saying it four times as well. (See: al-Mu’jam al-Kabir v. 7, p. 171; Musnad Ahmad v. 3, p. 408; Sahih Ibn Hibban v. 4, p. 575; Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah v. 1, p. 195; al-Sunan al-Kubra v. 1, p. 392, 394) Accordingly, the majority opined that it should be said four times. The opinion of saying it twice is related from Imam Malik, and as the practice of the people of Medina. The version of the aforementioned hadith from Sahih Muslim supports saying it twice. Even so, the majority accept ziyadat al-thiqah [an authority’s added wording]; thus they opine that tarbi’ is desired. (Sharh Sahih Muslim v. 4, p. 81)
Regarding tarji’, it is first saying the shahadatayn twice in a lowered voice, and again twice thereafter in a loud voice. This is as found in Imam Shafi’i’s Kitab al-Umm (v. 2, p. 185-87) where he related Abu Mahdhurah’s hadith. The adhan’s wording there is:
فقال قل
الله أكبر
الله أكبر
الله أكبر
الله أكبر
أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله
أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله
أشهد أن محمدا رسول الله
أشهد أن محمدا رسول الله
ثم قال ارجع وامدد من صوتك ثم قال
أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله
أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله
أشهد أن محمدا رسول الله
أشهد أن محمدا رسول الله
حي على الصلاة
حي على الصلاة
حي على الفلاح
حي على الفلاح
الله أكبر
الله أكبر
لا إله إلا الله
“The Prophet Muhammad then said, ‘Say:
Allah is the greatest,
Allah is the greatest,
Allah is the greatest,
Allah is the greatest,
I testify that there is no god except Allah,
I testify that there is no god except Allah,
I testify that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger,
I testify that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger,
Then, he said, ‘Go back, raise your voice, and say,’
I testify that there is no god except Allah,
I testify that there is no god except Allah,
I testify that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger,
I testify that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger,
Come to prayer,
Come to prayer,
Come to success,
Come to success,
Allah is the greatest,
Allah is the greatest,
There is not god except Allah.’”
In conclusion, the adhan called out in Makkah was taught to Abu Mahdhurah by the Prophet Muhammad. Imam Shafi’i transmitted it, and recommended that it be made accordingly.
And Allah knows best.
Shafiifiqh.com Fatwa Dept.