When you hear the Adhan (call to prayer), repeat what the Muezzin says

Arabic text

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الخُدْرِيِّ رضي الله عنه أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «إِذَا سَمِعْتُمُ النِّدَاءَ، فَقُولُوا مِثْلَ مَا يَقُولُ المُؤَذِّنُ».

Translation

Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When you hear the Adhan (call to prayer), repeat what the Muezzin says."

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is urging us here to respond to the Muezzin on hearing him by repeating what he says word for word. So, when he says: "Allāhu Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest), we should say: "Allāhu Akbar" after him; and when he pronounces the two testimonies of faith, we should pronounce them after him. The only exception is when he says: "Hayy ‘ala as-salāh, hayy ‘ala al-falāh" (Come to prayer, come to success), we should say: "La hawla wala quwwata illa billāh" (There is no might or power except through Allah).

Benefits

• After the first Muezzin finishes the Adhan, one should repeat after the second one, even if there are multiple Muezzins, given the general indication of the Hadīth.
• One should respond to the Muezzin in all situations unless he is in the bathroom or answering the call of nature.

Topics

• Jurisprudence and Juristic Principles
• Jurisprudence of Acts of Worship
• Prayer
• The Azan and Iqaamah