Desirable acts of azan

The following acts are desirable in Saläh-call:

1. The muazzin (Saläh-caller) should be in a state of wudu (ablution - ritual purity)

2. He should be knowledgeable about the sunnah (traditions) and prayer times

3. He should be pious - righteous i.e. a person of taqwa - as we are entrusting a matter of deen

4. He should face the holy Ka’bah (qibla) at the time of the Saläh-call

5. He should put his forefingers (index finger) inside his ears

   • first method, as above, as was done by Bilalؓ
   • second method - another sahaba would cover his ears with his hands
   • third method - place one hand on the ear
   • the reason for this is to strengthen the voice, desirable.
   • not done for the iqama.

6. He should turn his face (only) right when saying Ḧayya àlas̈ s̈aläh and left when saying Ḧayya àlal faläḧ

   • even when alone
   • and in iqama

7. He should separate the times of azan (Saläh-call) and iqamah (Saläh-start-call) by a duration in which the regulars at the congregation are able to come for the Saläh

   • But if he fears missing the time of the Saläh, he will not delay the Saläh after the Saläh-call.

8. He should separate the Saläh-call and the Saläh-start-call by a duration in which three small verses may be recited or in which one may walk three steps

9. t is desirable for a person listening to Saläh-call to stop his work and say in reply what the Saläh-caller says except that when the Saläh-caller says:

   • Ḧayya àlas̈ s̈aläh and ̈ayya àlal faläḧ, he should say in reply (Lä ḧaula wa lä quwwata illä billäh
   • and when the Saläh-caller says, As̈ s̈alätu khairum minan naum in Fajr, he should say S̈adaqta wa bararta (you have spoken the truth and done good).
   • Don’t need to respond verbally to the second azaan, which is called in front of the khateeb, before the khutbah (sermon) is about to commence
   • Responding to the iqama is also encouraged, but when the muqim says Qad qämat-is̈ s̈aläh (salat is commencing) to reply with Aqamaha Allahu wa adaamaha (may Allah establish it (the prayer) and make it continuous or may Allah allow us to continously establish the salat)

10. It is desirable for the Saläh-caller and the listeners to say this invocation after the Saläh-call has completed:

    Allähumma rabba häzihi-d da wat-it tämmati was̈ s̈alät-il qä'imati, äti Muḧammada nil wasilata wal faz̄ilata, wab ath-hu maqämam maḧmuda nil-lazï wa attahu.

    (O Allah, Lord of this perfect call and enduring prayer (about to be established), grant Muhammad ﷺ the highest rank in nearness to you and excellence and exalted degree above the creation, and bestow upon him the praise worthy station (the intercession) that you have promised him)

    whoever say’s this will receive the intercession on the day of judgement.

    and if you wish, you can add:

    Innaka tukhliful mead (indeed you never break your promise)

    Saying this is commendable after saying salawat on the the prophet ﷺ. The best phrase is the as salatul Ibrahimiya, as you say in salah in the final tashahud

Related topic(s)

Avoidable acts of azan