Chapter on the Adhan (Call to Prayer) and the Iqamah

Narrated by al-Husayn ibn Sa’id from Fadalah from Mu’awiyah ibn Wahb or Ibn ‘Ammar from al-Sabbah ibn Sayyabah, who said: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said to me (al-Sabbah): "Do not abandon the adhan in any of the prayers. But if you do leave it, then do not leave it for Maghrib and Fajr, for there is no shortening in them."

Narrated by Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Faddal from ‘Amr ibn Sa’id from Musaddiq ibn Sadaqah from ‘Ammar al-Sabati: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: "When you stand for an obligatory prayer, then give the adhan and the iqamah, and separate between the adhan and the iqamah by sitting, or by speaking, or by glorifying (tasbih)."

Narrated by Muhammad ibn Ya’qub from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa’id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Abi Hamzah from Abu Basir from one of the two (Imams عليه السلام), peace be upon them, who said: I asked Him عليه السلام: "Is one adhan sufficient?" Imam عليه السلام said: "If you are praying in congregation, then one adhan and one iqamah are required. But if you are alone and hastening due to a matter you fear may pass you by, then the iqamah suffices, except for Fajr and Maghrib, for it is proper that you give the adhan and the iqamah for them, because they are not shortened like the other prayers."

Narrated by Sa’d ibn Abdillah from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Faddal from Abdullah ibn Bukayr from al-Hasan ibn Ziyad, who said: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: "If the people are not waiting for anyone, then one iqamah alone suffices."

Narrated from him from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad from ‘Ubaydullah ibn Ali al-Halabi: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام (narrates) from his father عليه السلام: "That He (Imam al-Baqir عليه السلام), when He عليه السلام prayed alone in the house, would give the iqamah and would not give the adhan."

Narrated by al-Husayn ibn Sa’id from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from Abdullah ibn Sinan: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: "It suffices you, when you are alone in your house, to give one iqamah without an adhan."

Narrated by al-Husayn ibn Sa’id from his brother al-Hasan from Zur’ah from Sama’ah, who said: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: "Do not pray the morning (ghadah) and Maghrib prayers except with adhan and iqamah, and it is permitted in the rest of the prayers to suffice with the iqamah, but the adhan is better."

Narrated from him from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Ibn Sinan: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: "One iqamah suffices you for the prayer, except for the morning (ghadah) and Maghrib."

As for what was narrated by Sa’d ibn Abdillah from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ja’far ibn Bashir from ‘Umar ibn Yazid, who said: I asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام about giving the iqamah without the adhan for Maghrib. Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm in it, but I do not like that it becomes a habit."

Narrated by Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub from Ali ibn al-Sindi from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn Udhaynah from Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Abdillah from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, who said: I heard Him عليه السلام say: "The adhan is shortened during travel just as the prayer is shortened. One iqamah suffices."

Narrated by al-Husayn ibn Sa’id from Muhammad ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad ibn Uthman from ‘Ubaydullah ibn Ali al-Halabi, who said: I asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام about a man, does it suffice him in travel and at home to give only the iqamah without the adhan? Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes, there is no harm in it."

Narrated by Sa’d from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa’id from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from Aban ibn Uthman from Muhammad ibn Muslim and al-Fudayl ibn Yasar from one of the two (Imams عليه السلام): (Imam عليه السلام), peace be upon them, said: "One iqamah suffices you in travel."

Narrated by al-Husayn ibn Sa’id from Yahya al-Halabi: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: "If you give the adhan and the iqamah in an open, deserted land, two rows of angels will pray behind you. But if you give only the iqamah without the adhan, then one row of angels will pray behind you."

Narrated from him from Fadalah from Husayn ibn Uthman from Ibn Muskan from Muhammad ibn Muslim, who said: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said to me (Muhammad ibn Muslim): "Indeed, if you give the adhan and the iqamah, two rows of angels will pray behind you. But if you give only the iqamah without the adhan, then one row of angels will pray behind you."

Narrated by Muhammad ibn Ya’qub from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad from al-Husayn ibn Sa’id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Yahya ibn ‘Imran al-Halabi from Muhammad ibn Marwan, who said: I heard Abu Abdillah عليه السلام say: "The mu’adhdhin (caller to prayer) is forgiven for the extent of his voice, and everything that hears him bears witness for him."

Narrated by al-Husayn ibn Sa’id from al-Nadr from Yahya al-Halabi from ‘Imran ibn Ali, who said: I asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام about giving the adhan before Fajr. Imam عليه السلام said: "If it is in congregation, then no [it is not permissible]; but if he is alone, then there is no harm."

Narrated from him from al-Nadr from Ibn Sinan from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, who said: I said to Him عليه السلام: "We have a mu’adhdhin who gives the adhan during the night." Imam عليه السلام said: "Indeed, that benefits the neighbors by prompting them to rise for prayer. But as for the sunnah, it is that the call (adhan) is made at the rising of the dawn (tulu’ al-fajr), and there should be nothing between the adhan and the iqamah except the two [Sunnah] rak’ahs."

Narrated from him from Fadalah from Ibn Sinan, who said: I asked Him عليه السلام about calling (the adhan) before the rising of Fajr. Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm, but the sunnah is to call at the time of Fajr. And indeed, that (calling before Fajr) benefits the neighbors", meaning, before the Fajr.

Narrated by al-Husayn ibn Sa’id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Ibn Sinan: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: "There is no harm in giving the adhan while you are not in a state of purity (wuduʾ), but do not give the iqamah except while you are in a state of wuduʾ."

Narrated from him from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Ibn Muskan from Muhammad al-Halabi: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: "There is no harm if a man gives the adhan while not in a state of wuduʾ, but he should not give the iqamah unless he is in a state of wuduʾ."

Narrated by Sa’d ibn Abdillah from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from al-Hasan ibn Musa al-Khashshab from Ghiyath ibn Kallub ibn Fayhas from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام (narrates) from his father (Imam al-Baqir عليه السلام), that (Imam) Ali عليه السلام, peace be upon him, used to say: "There is no harm if a boy gives the adhan before reaching puberty, and there is no harm if the mu’adhdhin gives the adhan while in a state of janabah (major ritual impurity), but he should not give the iqamah until he has performed ghusl."

Narrated by al-Husayn ibn Sa’id from Fadalah from Husayn ibn Uthman from ‘Amr ibn Abi Nasr, who said: I said to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام: "May a man speak during the adhan?" Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm." I asked: "What about during the iqamah?" Imam عليه السلام said: "No."

Narrated from him from al-Hasan from Zur’ah from Sama’ah, who said: I asked Him عليه السلام about the mu’adhdhin, may he speak while giving the adhan? Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm after he finishes his adhan."

Narrated from him from Ahmad from al-Husayn ibn Sa’id from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from al-Husayn ibn Uthman from ‘Amr ibn Abi Nasr, who said: I said to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام: "May a man speak during the adhan?" Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm."

Narrated by Muhammad ibn Ya’qub from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn Isma’il from Salih ibn ‘Uqba from Abu Harun al-Makfuf, who said: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: "O Abu Harun, the iqamah is part of the prayer, so when you have given the iqamah, do not speak and do not gesture with your hand."

As for what was narrated by al-Husayn ibn Sa’id from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Abdullah ibn Muskan from Muhammad al-Halabi, who said: I asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام about a man who speaks during his adhan or during his iqamah. Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm."

Narrated by Sa’d from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ja’far ibn Bashir from Hammad ibn Uthman, who said: I asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام about a man, may he speak after he has given the iqamah for prayer? Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes."

Narrated from him from Ja’far ibn Bashir from al-Hasan ibn Shihab, who said: I (al-Hasan ibn Shihab) heard Abu Abdillah عليه السلام say: "There is no harm if a man speaks while he is giving the iqamah, or after he has given the iqamah, if he wishes."

Narrated by al-Husayn ibn Sa’id from Fadalah from Husayn ibn Uthman from Ibn Muskan from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr, who said: I asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام about a man who speaks during the iqamah. Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes, but when the mu’adhdhin says ‘Qad qamat al-salah’ (the prayer has been established), then speech becomes forbidden for the people in the mosque, except if they have gathered from different places and have no imam; then there is no harm if some of them say to one another, ‘Go ahead, so-and-so (and lead the prayer).’"

Narrated from him from al-Hasan from Zur’ah from Sama’ah, who said: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: "When the mu’adhdhin gives the iqamah for the prayer, then speaking becomes prohibited, except if the people do not have a known imam."

Narrated from him from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Hariz from Muhammad ibn Muslim, who said: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: "Do not speak once you have given the iqamah for the prayer, for if you speak, you must repeat the iqamah."

Narrated by al-Husayn ibn Sa’id from Fadalah from Husayn ibn Uthman from Sama’ah from Abu Basir, who said: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: "There is no harm in giving the adhan while riding, walking, or without wuduʾ. But do not give the iqamah while riding or sitting, except due to an ailment or if you are in a slippery land."

Narrated from him from al-Nadr from Ibn Sinan: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: "There is no harm for a traveller to give the adhan while riding, and to give the iqamah while standing on the ground."

Narrated from him from Hammad from Rib’i from Muhammad ibn Muslim, who said: I said to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام: "May a man give the adhan while sitting?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes, but he should not give the iqamah except while standing."

Narrated from him from Ahmad ibn Muhammad: The Righteous servant (Abd Salih عليه السلام), peace be upon him, said: "A man may give the adhan while sitting, but he should not give the iqamah except while standing." And Imam عليه السلام said: "You may give the adhan while riding, but do not give the iqamah except while on the ground."

Narrated from him from Fadalah from al-’Alaʾ from Muhammad from one of the two (Imams عليه السلام), peace be upon them, who said: I asked Him عليه السلام about a man who gives the adhan while walking, or on the back of his animal, or without being in a state of ritual purity. Imam عليه السلام said: "If the tashahhud (the part of the adhan with ‘Ashhadu...’) is said while facing the qiblah, then there is no harm."

Narrated by Muhammad ibn Ya’qub from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn Isma’il from Salih ibn ‘Uqba from Sulayman ibn Salih: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: "None of you should give the iqamah for prayer while walking, or riding, or lying down, unless he is ill. And let him be firmly settled during the iqamah just as he is firmly settled during the prayer, for when he begins the iqamah, he is already in a state of prayer."

Narrated by Sa’d ibn Abdillah from Muhammad ibn Isma’il ibn Buzay’ from Salih ibn ‘Uqba from Yunus al-Nisbani from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, who said: I said to Him عليه السلام: "May I give the adhan while I am riding?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes." I asked: "Then may I give the iqamah while I am riding?" Imam عليه السلام said: "No." I asked: "May I give the iqamah while I am walking?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes, walking toward the prayer." Then Imam عليه السلام said to me: "When you give the iqamah, give it calmly (with composure), for indeed you are in the prayer." I said to Him عليه السلام: "But I asked you whether I may give the iqamah while walking, and you said yes. So is it permissible for me to walk while in prayer?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes, if you enter from the door of the mosque and you have said the takbir while following a just imam, and then you walk toward the prayer, that suffices for you."

As for what was narrated by Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Abu Khalid from Humran, who said: I asked Abu Ja’far عليه السلام about giving the adhan while sitting. Imam عليه السلام said: "No one gives the adhan while sitting except one who is riding or ill."

Narrated by Sa’d ibn Abdillah from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, who said: al-Husayn ibn Sa’id narrated to us from Fadalah ibn Ayyub and Muhammad ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Jamil ibn Darraj, who said: I asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام about a woman, is adhan and iqamah obligatory upon her? Imam عليه السلام said: "No."

Al-Husayn ibn Sa‘eed from Ibn Abi Umayr from ‘Umar ibn Udhaynah from Zurarah who said: I said to Abu Ja‘far عليه السلام, peace be upon him: “Are women required to perform the Adhan?” Imam عليه السلام said: “If she proclaims the two testimonies, that is sufficient for her.”

And from him, from al-Nadr and Fadhala, from Abdullah who said: I asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام about a woman giving the Adhan for prayer. Imam عليه السلام said: “It is good if she does so, and if she does not do it, it suffices for her to say ‘Allahu Akbar’ and to bear witness that there is no god but Allah سبحانه وتعالى and that Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم is the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى send blessings upon him and his family.”

Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub from Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from Hammad from Hariz from Zurarah who said: Abu Ja‘far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: “The Adhan is to be pronounced clearly, with articulation of the Alif’ and the ‘ha’, and the Iqamah is to be recited quickly in a flowing manner.”

Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Uthman ibn Isa from Khalid ibn Najeeh: (Imam) Al-Sadiq عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: “The Takbir is to be pronounced firmly in the Adhan with clear articulation of the ‘ha’ and the Alif’.”

Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ibn Abi Najran from Hammad from Hariz from Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Abdillah: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: “When you perform the Adhan, do not lower your voice, for Allah سبحانه وتعالى rewards you for extending your voice in it.”

And from him, from Ali ibn Muhammad from Sahl from Ibn Mahbub from Abdullah ibn Sinan: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: “The height of the wall of Mosque of the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, was the height of a man, so He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, peace be upon him, used to say to Bilal; ‘When the time (for prayer) enters, O Bilal, climb up on top of the wall and raise your voice with the Adhan, for indeed Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, has assigned a wind for the Adhan that carries it up to the heavens. And indeed, when the angels hear the Adhan from the people of the earth, they say: ‘These are the voices of the nation of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, proclaiming the oneness of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, and they seek forgiveness for the nation of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, until they complete that prayer.’”

Ali ibn Mahziyar from Muhammad ibn Rashid who said: Hisham ibn Ibrahim narrated to me: He (Hisham ibn Ibrahim) complained to Abu al-Hasan al-Ridha عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about his illness and that he had no children. So He عليه السلام instructed him to raise his voice with the Adhan in his house. He (Hisham ibn Ibrahim) said: ‘I did so, and Allah سبحانه وتعالى removed my illness and increased my children.’