How to Respond to the Adhan: Sunnah Procedure & Dua (Asna al-Matalib)

The Adhān (Call) is a sound very familiar to our ears, echoing five times a day from our local mosques. However, we often listen to it in passing without truly paying attention to its proper etiquette. In fact, responding to the Adhān that is called is highly recommended in Islam and there is great blessing stored within it.

In addition, many questions arise: Are women menstruating allowed to respond to it? How do you respond to the Adhān of the Fajr prayer, “As-salātu khayrun minan-naum“? And most importantly, what is the complete recitation for responding to the Adhān and the supplication after the Adhān so that we may receive the intercession of the Prophet?

This article will thoroughly examine the guidelines for responding to the Adhān in accordance with the Sunnah, referencing directly the classical Shafi’i fiqh text Asna al-Matalib Syarh Raudh at-Thalib by Shaykh al-Islam Zakaria al-Anshari.

The Law of Responding to the Adhān According to Islamic Jurisprudence

The first thing we need to understand is its legal status. Some people may doubt, is responding to the Adhān legally obligatory or recommended?

Also learn: The Ruling of Adhān and Iqāmah.

In the book Asna al-Matalib, it is explained clearly:

(ويستحب أن يجيب)

السامع (المؤذن) والمقيم (وإن كان جنبا) أو حائضا (بمثل قوله عقيبه)

Meaning: “It is recommended for the listener (to the Adhān) and the one performing Iqāmah to respond to it, even if they are in a state of janabah or menstruation, with a similar statement immediately following the Adhān.”

So, The ruling on responding to the Adhan is Sunnah (highly recommended). Interestingly, this practice remains recommended even for those in a state of impurity (junub or menstruation). This is because responding to the Adhān falls into the category of remembrance (dhikr), not reciting the Quran.

The basic principle is simple: we imitate what the mu’adhin says. If the mu’adhin proclaims takbir, we proclaim takbir. However, there are exceptions in certain phrases.

The Proper Way to Respond to the Adhān

To practice responding to the Adhān correctly, pay attention to the following reading details. Generally, we repeat the words of the mu’adhin. For example, when responding to the Adhān asyhadu anna muhammadarrasulullah, we also utter the same declaration of faith.

However, note the difference in this section:

1. Replacing with Hauqalah

When the muezzin calls to prayer (Hayya ‘ala Sholah) and to success (Hayya ‘ala Falah), we do not repeat him, but rather utter the Hauqalah.

The book states:

( إلا في الحيعلتين فإنه يحولق )

بأن يقول عقبهما في الأذان لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله أربعا

Meaning: “Except on two occasions, then he says hauqalah… namely: La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.”

The reason is, the speech of a mu’adhin is a call to perform the Ṣalāt because the time has entered. We answer the call by asking for strength from Allah (La haula wa la quwwata illa billah) so that we are able to step our feet towards the mosque.

2. Specifically Regarding Answering the Adhān for the Fajr Prayer

This is a frequently asked question: how to respond to the Adhān of Fajr (dawn prayer) in the Tatswib phrasing?

When the muezzin proclaims “Ash-shalatu khairun minan naum” (Prayer is better than sleep), we do not repeat the sentence.

In Asna al-Matalib it is written:

( وفي التثويب يقول صدقت وبررت )

مرتين بكسر الراء الأولى

Meaning: “And at-Tatswib he answered: Shadaqta wa barirta (You are truthful and you have done a good deed) twice.”

So, for those of you looking for a way to answer the adhān of Fajr (subuh) Aṣ-ṣalātu khayrun min an-nawm., the correct answer is “Sadaqta wa barirta”. Its meaning is that we affirm that prayer is indeed better than sleep.

3. Responding to the Adhān of Maghrib and Isha

There is no specific difference in responding to the Adhān of Maghrib or responding to the Adhān of ‘Ishā’ compared to the daytime Adhān. The principle is the same: follow the recitation, replace the call to prayer with Hauqalah, and conclude with a prayer.

A Complete Guide to Prayers After the Adhān (Wasilah Prayer)

This series of sunnahs is not complete without reciting a prayer. This package of practices is commonly referred to as responding to the Adhān and the prayer after the Adhān.

According to Asna al-Matalib, the order is:

1. Reciting Salawat (blessings) upon the Prophet. It is recommended to recite Salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ immediately after the Adhān is completed.
2. Reciting the Wasilah Prayer. After sending blessings upon the Prophet, continue with a prayer seeking Wasilah (a high station in Paradise) for the Prophet.

Here is the complete text of a well-known prayer (Wasila Prayer), accompanied by Arabic, Latin transliteration, and its translation:

Arabic Text:

اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ هَذِهِ الدَّعْوَةِ التَّامَّةِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْقَائِمَةِ آتِ مُحَمَّدًا الْوَسِيلَةَ وَالْفَضِيلَةَ وَابْعَثْهُ مَقَامًا مَحْمُودًا الَّذِي وَعَدْتَهُ

Allāhumma rabba hādhihi ad-daʿwati at-tāmmati wa-aṣ-ṣalāti al-qāʾimati, āti Muḥammadan al-wasīlata wa-al-faḍīlata, wabʿath-hu maqāman maḥmūdan alladhī waʿadtahu.

Translation: “O Allah, Lord of this perfect Adhān and the established prayer. Bestow upon Prophet Muhammad al-Wasilah (a degree in Paradise) and excellence, and raise him to the praiseworthy station which You have promised.”

The book mentions the hadith: “Whoever asks for Wasilah for me, then my intercession is guaranteed for him.”

Special Situations When Hearing the Adhān

We often hear the Adhān when we are busy. What is the ruling on this?

1. Currently Reciting the Quran

If you are engaged in tadarus or dhikr, the Sunnah is to pause for a moment.

ويقطع القراءة والذكر ندبا (للجواب)

“And he breaks off his recitation of the Quran and dhikr—as a sunnah—to answer the Adhān.”

2. If You Miss the Response

If the Adhān has finished and we forget to respond, we may make up (qadha) the response as long as the time lapse is still close (not long).

3. Responding to the Adhān While Praying

Be careful with this point. The original ruling is that it is makruh (disliked) to respond to the Adhān while praying, but the prayer remains valid if the response is purely a remembrance of God (such as “Allahu Akbar”).

However, prayer can be INVALIDATED if:

• You respond to the Adhān (call to prayer) of Fajr (dawn) with “Shadaqta wa barirta”. This phrase is considered human speech (kalam adami).
• You respond with “Hayya ‘ala Sholah”. Repeating this phrase invalidates the prayer because it carries the meaning of a command, not remembrance.

إلا إن أجاب (بصدقت وبررت) فتبطل لأنه كلام آدمي

“Unless he responds with ‘You have spoken truthfully and blessed you,’ his prayer is invalidated, as it is considered speech from a human being (kalam adami).”

Conclusion

Reviving the Sunnah by responding to the Adhān in accordance with the Sunnah is a simple way to draw closer to Allah. From the explanation in the book Asna al-Matalib, we learn that this act of worship is very flexible—it can be performed by menstruating women, can be made up for if missed briefly, but requires caution if done during prayer.

Let’s make this a routine. Starting with responding to the Adhān of Maghrib prayer later, or when responding to the Adhān of the Fajr prayer tomorrow morning, conclude with the Wasilah supplication that we have learned above. May consistently practicing this include us among those who receive the intercession of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Bagikan Kajian: