CALL FOR PRAYER (AZAN)
Q. What do we mean by the term Azan?
The word “Azan” means to proclaim. In
Shari’ah Azan means making proclamation about particular Salat in particular
terms.
Q. Is Azan a command or the Prophet’s
precept?
Azan is the Prophet’s precept. But since
it has come to signify the glory of Islam, it is much stressed upon.
Q. For what Salat is Azan, the Prophet’s
precept?
Azan is the Prophet’s precept for all the
five commanded Salat of the day plus the one for Jum’ah. It is not so for other
Salat.
Q. At what time should Azan be proclaimed?
Azan should be proclaimed on time for
every Fard Salat. It must be called again if it has been said before time.
Q. What is the mustahab way of Azan?
There are seven mustahab (desirable) acts
in Azan:
i. To face the Qiblah;
ii. To say each part of it slowly and
distinctly;
iii. To put the first fingers of both hands
into one’s ears while saying the Azan;
iv. To say it from a raised place;
v. To call it in a loud voice;
vi. To turn the face to the right while
pronouncing HAY-YA ‘ALAS-SALAH and to the left, while saying HAY-YA ‘ALAL-FALAH
vii. To proclaim AS-SALATU KHAIRUM-MINAN-NAUM
twice after in the Azan of Fajr.
Q. What does Iqamah (standing) mean?
The formula for the Azan is also repeated
before the Fard Salat, but the words QAD-QAMATIS-SALAH are also repeated twice
in Iqamah after HAY-YA ‘ALAL-FALAH.
Q. How is it to proclaim Iqamah?
Iqamah too is Prophet’s precept for Fard
Salat. It is not so for the other Salats.
Q. Are Azan and Iqamah masnun both for men
and women?
No, it is masnun only for men.
Q. How is it to say the Azan or Iqamah
without making ablution?
It is allowed to call the Azan without
ablution, but to form a habit of it is bad. To say the Iqamah without ablution
is undesirable.
Q. Must a person say the Azan and Iqamah
while offering the Fard Salat at home?
The Azan and the Iqamah said in the
neighbouring mosque will suffice. But it is better to say it there also.
Q. Must a person on journey say the Azan and
Iqamah?
Yes, if one is on journey and out of a
populated area, both Azan and Iqamah should be said. But there is no harm if he
says only the Iqamah and no Azan. It is undesirable to give up both.
Q. Is it allowed that two different persons
say the Azan and the Iqamah?
Yes, it is allowed if the person who has
said the Azan is not present or if present has no objection to the other
person’s calling the Iqamah. If however, another man’s calling causes
unhappiness to the former it would be undesirable.
Q. How long should we wait for the Iqamah
after the Azan?
In all Salats except Maghrib
prayer the interval should be sufficient to allow people engaged in eating
meals etc., or satisfying nature’s call to be free from these acts and join the
prayers. In Maghrib, the interval should be just sufficient for one to
repeat three verses (Ayahs) from the Holy Qur-an.
Q. What do we mean by the Ijabah of Azan and
Iqamah and what is its position in Shari’ah?
Responding to both Azan and Iqamah is
desirable. Responding means repeating the words being proclaimed by the person
calling the Azan or the Iqamah. But the words HAY-YA ‘ALAS-SALAH and HAY-YA
‘ALAL-FALAH shall be responded to by the words :
LA HAULA WALA QUW-WATA ILLA BIL-LAH
In
the Azan for Fajr, on hearing AS-SALATU KHAIRUM-MINAN-NAUM we should say
:
SADAQTA WA BARARTA
And
in Iqamah :
AQAMAHAL-LAHU WA ADAMAHA
should be the response to QAD
QAMATIS-SALAH.
Q. What formula (invocation) should be said
after the Azan?
The formula to be chanted is as follows:
AL-LAHUM-MA
RAB-BA HAZIHID-DA’WATIT-TAM-MATI WAS-SALATIL-QA-IMATI ATI
MUHAM-MADANIL-WASILATA WAL-FADILATA WAB’ATHU MAQAMAM-MAHMUDANIL-LAZI WA’
AT-TAHU IN-NAKALA TUKHLIFUL MI’AD.
