Beware of this False Hadeeth about the Adhaan

Beware of this False Hadeeth about the Adhaan
by Asma bint Shameem

Today I want to draw your attention to a very important matter.
I am writing regarding an email that I have received, not just once, but several times during the past few months. And this email is being widely circulated amongst the Muslims by some of us while we are completely ignorant of the false information and lies that are being promoted by this email. By doing so, not only are we misguiding and confusing our fellow Muslims, but we are also being sinful for spreading false information about our Deen.

There are several incorrect points in this email that I want to bring to attention, so that its falseness will become clear and the Truth prevails. And I will give evidence from the Quraan and authentic Sunnah to prove my point.

The email falsely claims the following:

1. That is forbidden to talk or do anything during the adhaan.
2. That the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said to "Stop doing everything during the Azaan, even reading the Quran. The person who talks during the Azaan will not be able to say the Kalima ash-Shahaadah on his/her death bed...."

My Response:

Subhaan Allaah! That is a HUGE thing to say!

Where is the evidence in the Quraan or Saheeh Sunnah that supports what they claim?
Where is the reference to this so-called hadeeth ?

Which ayah of the Quraan or which authentic Hadeeth of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) says that it is haraam to talk or do anything during the Adhaan ?!!

And they claim that not only is it haraam, but the person will also be denied the Shahaadah!!!
Just because he talked during the adhaan ?!!
Surely, Allaahs Mercy is way above and beyond that ! Subhaan Allaahi amma yasifoon.

In fact this hadeeth that they quote is NOT authentic at all.

Those people who quote such things without verifying their authenticity should really fear Allaah and hasten to make tauba and ask Allaahs forgiveness.

Perhaps they forgot that in order to say something about our Deen, especially something about the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) one has to be extremely careful about its authenticity or as the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) said in the Saheeh hadeeth:
‘Whoever tells lies about me deliberately, let him take his place in Hell.’” (Bukhaari and Muslim)

And he (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) also said:

‘Among the greatest of lies is for a man..... to attribute words to the Messenger of Allaah (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) that he did not say.’” (Bukhaari)

The facts are quite the opposite:

There is clear evidence from authentic ahaadeeth that the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) did NOT make it obligatory to keep quite during the adhaan.

1. A person called Maalik ibn al-Huwayrith came to the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) along with some other people to learn about Islaam. The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) taught them various things among which he said:
“When the time for prayer comes, let one of you give the adhaan and let the oldest of you lead you in prayer.” (al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasaa’i --saheeh by al-Albaani)

Here the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) is teaching them basic things about adhaan, iqaamah and the prayer. If speaking during the adhaan was something so bad, something so evil that a person would be denied the Shahaadah on his death bed, do you really think that the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) would not teach them that ?!!
Do you think he would forget to mention something so important?!!
Do you think it is even possible?!!
Wasnt the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) most keen to help us and teach us the best, whatever would save us from Hellfire and take us to Jannah ??!!

"Allaah Subhaanahu wa Taala did not send a Prophet but obliged him to lead his people to the best way which is known to him, and warn them against the worst which is known to him." (Muslim)

2. During adhaan, the only thing the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) instructed the Sahaabah to do was to repeat the words of the muezzin. Sure, there is great reward in repeating the words of the adhaan but that, too, is recommended and not obligatory according to the majority of the Ulama.

Al-Nawawi said in al-Majmoo’: "Our view is that repeating (the words of the adhaan) is Sunnah, not obligatory. This is the view of the majority of scholars."

In al-Mughni, it is narrated that Imam Ahmad said: "If he does not repeat his words there is nothing wrong with that."

Maalik narrated in al-Muwatta’: "At the time of Umar ibn al-Khattaab they would pray on Friday until Umar came out. When Umar came out and sat on the minbar and the muezzin gave the adhaan, Thalabah said: We would sit and talk, then when the muezzins fell silent and Umar stood up to deliver the khutbah, we would listen attentively and none of us would speak."

Shaykh al-Albaani said in Tamaam al-Minnah: "This report indicates that it is not obligatory to repeat the words of the muezzin, because what was done at the time of Umar was that people spoke during the adhaan, and Umar did not say anything about that. I have often been asked about the evidence that repeating the words of the adhaan is not obligatory, and I have replied in this manner."

3. If it was obligatory to keep quite and drop everything you were doing and even stop reading the Quraan as they claim, wouldnt Umar (Radhi Allaahu Anhu) have said anything to the people??!!

Surely, he would have instructed them to do so.

4. Also. the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) allowed the one who intends to fast, to continue eating as long as the Adhaan is going on, if he did not eat his full.

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) said: “If one of you hears the call (to prayer) and the vessel is still in his hand, let him not put it down until he finished with it.” (Ahmad, Abu Dawood; saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood).

Think about it.....if one is supposed to stop dead in his tracks when he hears the adhaan, not say anything, not do anything, then surely, he could not have eaten or drink anything, could he have ??!!!

5. And sure, it is disliked to talk about worldly matters in the masjid generally, but again, that has nothing to do with not talking or dropping everything you are doing as soon as you hear the adhaan.

Based on the above, there is no evidence to support the claim that one should stop doing everything when he hears the adhaan. It is a blatant lie against the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) , and one should fear Allaah and get real knowledge based on Quraan and Sunnah before spreading anything about our deen.

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) said:

“Whoever calls people to right guidance will have a reward like that of those who follow him, without it detracting from their reward in the slightest, and whoever calls people to misguidance will have a burden of sin like that of those who follow him, without it detracting from their burden in the slightest.” ( Muslim)

May Allaah guide us and enable us to worship Him with correct knowledge.
Ameen.