The first Adhan of Jumu`ah Prayer


A: It is authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Adhere to my Sunnah (way) and the Sunnah of the righteous, Rightly-guided Caliphs after me, bite onto it with your molars (i.e. Cling firmly to it)...” The Adhan for Jumu‘ah (Friday) Prayer was first pronounced when the Imam (the one who leads congregational Prayer) sat on the Minbar (pulpit) during the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Abu Bakr, and `Umar (may Allah be pleased with them). During the caliphate of `Uthman - when the number of people increased - `Uthman ordered that a first Adhan be announced for Jumu‘ah Prayer. So, it is not Bid‘ah, because of the previously mentioned command of following the way of the Rightly-guided Caliphs.The basic ruling on this is related by Al-Bukhari, Al-Nasa'y, Al-Tirmidhy, Ibn Majah, and Abu Dawud, and the wording is his: It is reported on the authority of Ibn Shihab who told that Al-Sa’ib ibn Yazid informed him saying, “The first Adhan on Friday used to be when the Imam sat on the Minbar during the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Abu Bakr, and `Umar (may Allah be pleased with them). But during the caliphate of `Uthman - when the number of people increased - `Uthman gave orders for the third Adhan and it was pronounced at Al-Zaura’ (a place in the market of Madinah), and so it remained ever after.” (Part No. 8; Page No. 199)  Al-Qastalany, in his commentary on Al-Bukhari, said about this Hadith that the extra Adhan introduced by `Uthman was given at the beginning of the prayer time. It was called the third in the sense that it was an addition to the Adhan pronounced at the arrival of the Imam and the Iqamah (call to start the Prayer). The Iqamah was also called an Adhan, due to preponderance, because both commonly refer to prayer notification. When the number of Muslims increased, he added this Adhan through his Ijtihad (juristic effort to infer expert legal rulings) and was agreed to by all the Sahabah (Companions), by silence or lack of objection; it was, therefore, considered a tacit Ijma‘ (consensus).May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.


Tags: