In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

What should one do when the adhaan is being called while reciting the Qur’an? 

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Aziz bin Abdillah bin Baaz may Allah have mercy on him

Question: When the Muadh-dhin (caller to prayer) makes the Adhaan while one is reciting the Qur’an, is it more virtuous to follow the Muadh-dhin by repeating what he says or continue reciting?

Answer: The Sunnah when one is reciting Qur’an and then hears the Adhaan is to respond to the Muadh-dhin. This is done in accordance to the statement of the Prophet (peace be upon him),

إِذَا سَمِعْتُمُ الْمُؤَذِّنَ فَقُولُوا مِثْلَ مَا يَقُولُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ ثُمَّ صَلُّوا عَلَىَّ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَىَّ صَلاَةً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ بِهَا عَشْرًا ثُمَّ سَلُوا لِيَ الْوَسِيلَةَ فَإِنَّهَا مَنْزِلَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ لاَ تَنْبَغِي إِلاَّ لِعَبْدٍ مِنْ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ وَأَرْجُو أَنْ أَكُونَ أَنَا هُوَ وَمَنْ سَأَلَ لِيَ الْوَسِيلَةَ حَلَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّفَاعَةُ

“If you hear the Muadh-dhin then say as he says. Then send Salat upon me, because whoever sends Salat upon me, Allah will send Salat upon him ten times due to it. Then ask Allah that He gives me Al-Wasilah, because it is a place in Paradise which is not for anyone except for a slave from the slaves of Allah, and I hope that I am him. And whoever asks that I have Al-Wasilah, then (my) intercession will be made lawful for him.” [Tirmidhi, Muslim]

This was collected by Muslim in his Sahih from the hadith of Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin al-Aws, may Allah be pleased with them both.

And in the Sahihayn (Bukhari and Muslim) from the hadith of Abu Sa’eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated the Prophet (peace be upon him) as saying,

إِذَا سَمِعْتُمُ الْمُؤَذِّنَ فَقُولُوا مِثْلَ مَا يَقُولُ

“If you hear the Muadh-dhin then say as he says.”

In the Sahih of Bukhari is a hadith on the authority of Jaabir bin Abdillah (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

مَنْ قَالَ حِينَ يَسْمَعُ النِّدَاءَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ هَذِهِ الدَّعْوَةِ التَّامَّةِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْقَائِمَةِ آتِ مُحَمَّدًا الْوَسِيلَةَ وَالْفَضِيلَةَ وَابْعَثْهُ مَقَامًا مَحْمُودًا الَّذِي وَعَدْتَهُ، حَلَّتْ لَهُ شَفَاعَتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ

“Whoever after listening to the Adhan says,

‘Allahumma Rabba hadhihi-dda` watit-tammah, was-salatil qa’imah, ati Muhammadan al-wasilata wal-fadilah, wa b`ath-hu maqaman mahmudan-il-ladhi wa`adtahu’

[O Allah! Lord of this perfect call (perfect by not ascribing partners to You) and of the regular prayer which is going to be established, give Muhammad the right of intercession and illustriousness, and resurrect him to the best and the highest place in Paradise that You promised him (of)], then my intercession for him will be allowed on the Day of Resurrection.” 

And al-Bayhaqi included in an authentic chain the words,

“Innaka laa tukh-lifa al-mi’aad”

[Verily you do not break promises]

Responding the the Muadh-dhin is a Sunnah that is missed if one continues in their recitation, and one can recite the Qur’an at any time they wish. May Allah grant us all success.

Source: Fee Rawdatil Qur’an p. 93-95.

Translated by: Abu Awzaa’ee AbdusSalaam

الفقير الى الله