The literal meaning of “Adhaan” is to inform, to call, and to announce.

In the Istalaah of Sharee’ah, Adhaan refers to those specific words by which people are informed that the time for Prayer has arrived.

There are numerous benefits of giving Adhaan, some of which are given as follows:

1 — Shaytaan runs away when he listens to the Adhaan:

1. Sayyidunah Abu Hurayrah (radiallah anhu) narrates that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said:
   

   إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلاَةِ أَدْبَرَ الشَّيْطَانُ لَهُ ضُرَاطٌ حَتَّى لاَ يَسْمَعَ النِّدَاءَ فَإِذَا قُضِيَ النِّدَاءُ أَقْبَلَ حَتَّى إِذَا ثُوِّبَ بِالصَّلاَةِ أَدْبَرَ حَتَّى إِذَا قُضِيَ التَّثْوِيبُ أَقْبَلَ
   

   “When the call to prayer is made, Shaytaan retreats passing wind, so that he will not hear the Adhaan. When the Adhaan is completed he comes back, until, when the Iqaamah is said, he retreats again. When the Iqaamah is completed, he comes back…”
   [Saheeh Bukhaari (608), Saheeh Muslim (389)]

2. Sayyidunah Jaabir (radiallah anhu) narrates that I heard the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) saying:
   

   إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ إِذَا سَمِعَ النِّدَاءَ بِالصَّلاَةِ ذَهَبَ حَتَّى يَكُونَ مَكَانَ الرَّوْحَاءِ”‏‏.‏ قَالَ الراوي والرَّوْحَاءِ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ سِتَّةٌ وَثَلاَثُونَ مِيلاً ‏.‏
   

   “When Satan hears the call to prayer, he runs away to a distance like that of Rauha. The Narrator said: Rauha is at a distance of thirty-six miles from Medina”
   [Saheeh Muslim (388)]

2 —Stopping of Bloodshed due to Adhaan:

• Sayyidunah Anas bin Maalik (radiallah anhu) narrates that:The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) used to attack the enemy when it was dawn. He would listen to the Adhaan; so if he heard an Adhaan, he stopped, otherwise made an attack. Once upon hearing a man say:“Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest”, the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) remarked:

  “He is following al-Fitrah (al-Islam)”. Then hearing him say: “I testify that there is no god but Allah; there is no god but Allah”, the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said: You have come out of the Fire (of Hell). They looked at him and found that he was a goat herd.
  [Saheeh Muslim (382)]

3 — Everything that hears the Adhaan will testify on the Day of Judgment in favor of the Mu’adhdhin:

• Sayyidunah Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (radiallah anhu) narrates that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said:No Jinn, human being or any other creature hears the Mu`adh-dhin’s voice but will be a witness for him on the Day of Resurrection[Saheeh Bukhaari (609)]

4 — Giving Adhaan brushes away the sins:

• Sayyidunah Abu Hurayrah (radiallah anhu) narrates that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said:
  

  وَالْمُؤَذِّنُ يُغْفَرُ لَهُ بِمَدِّ صَوْتِهِ وَيُصَدِّقُهُ مَنْ سَمِعَهُ مِنْ رَطْبٍ وَيَابِسٍ وَلَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِ مَنْ صَلَّى مَعَهُ ‏”‏

  “The Mu’adhdhin will be forgiven as far as his voice reaches, and whatever hears him, wet or dry, will confirm what he says, and he will have a reward like that of those who pray with him.”

[Sunan Nasaa’ee (653), Chain Hasan]

5 — Giving Adhaan will cause entrance to Paradise:

• Sayyidunah Uqbah bin Aamir (radiallah anhu) narrates that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said:
  

  يَعْجَبُ رَبُّكُمْ مِنْ رَاعِيغَنَمٍ فِي رَأْسِ شَظِيَّةٍ بِجَبَلٍ يُؤَذِّنُ بِالصَّلاَةِ وَيُصَلِّي فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ انْظُرُوا إِلَى عَبْدِي هَذَا يُؤَذِّنُ وَيُقِيمُ الصَّلاَةَ يَخَافُ مِنِّي فَقَدْ غَفَرْتُ لِعَبْدِي وَأَدْخَلْتُهُ الْجَنَّةَ

  “Allah is pleased with a shepherd of goats who calls to prayer at the peak of a mountain, and offers prayer, Allah, the Exalted, says: Look at this servant of Mine; he calls to prayer and offers it and he fears Me. So I forgive him and admit him to paradise.”

  [Sunan Abu Dawood (1203), Chain Saheeh]

6 — Innumerable reward for giving Adhaan:

• Sayyidunah Abu Hurayrah (radiallah anhu) narrates that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said:
  

  لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي النِّدَاءِ وَالصَّفِّ الأَوَّلِ، ثُمَّ لَمْ يَجِدُوا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَسْتَهِمُوا عَلَيْهِ لاَسْتَهَمُوا

  “If the people knew what is the reward of making the call (for the prayer) and (of being in) the first row (in the prayer), and if they found no other way to get this privilege except by casting lots, they would certainly cast lots for it”

  [Saheeh al-Bukhaari (615)]

7 — A great good news from the tongue of Allaah’s Messenger, for the one who gives Adhaan:

• Sayyidunah Abu Hurayrah (radiallah anhu) narrates that we were with the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam); Bilaal (radiallah anhu) stood up and started giving Adhaan; thus when he paused the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said:
  

  منْ قَالَ مِثْلَ هَذَا يَقِينًا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ

  “Whoever says the same as this (i.e. the Mu’adhdhin) with certainty, he will enter Paradise”

  [Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (675), Chain Hasan]

8 — A unique reward for the Mu’adhdhin on the Day of Judgment:

• Sayyidunah Mu’aadh (radiallah anhu) narrates that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said:
  

  المؤذنون أطول الناس أعناقًا يوم القيامة‏‏

  “The Mu’adhdhinun (callers to prayer) will have the longest necks on the Day of Resurrection”

  [Saheeh Muslim (387)]

9 — Du’aa is accepted during the Adhaan:

1. Sayyidunah Sahl bin Sa’d (radiallah anhu) narrates that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said:
   

   ثنتان لا تردان، أو قلما تردان‏:‏ الدعاء عند النداء وعند البأس حين يلحم بعضهم بعضًا‏”

   “Supplications at two times are never turned down (or said, “Are seldom turned down”), a supplication after the Adhaan has been proclaimed, and a supplication during the battle combating the enemy.”

   [Sunan Abu Dawood (2540), Chain Hasan]

2. Sayyidunah Abdullah bin Umar (radiallah anhu) narrates that a man said: O Allaah’s Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam), the Mu’adhdhins excel us (in virtue). The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said:
   

   قُلْ كَمَا يَقُولُونَ فَإِذَا انْتَهَيْتَ فَسَلْ تُعْطَهْ

   “Say (the same words) as they say, and when you come to the end, make a petition and that will be granted to you”

   [Sunan Abu Dawood (524), Chain Hasan]

3. Sayyidunah Anas bin Maalik (radiallah anhu) narrates that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
   

   لاَ يُرَدُّ الدُّعَاءُ بَيْنَ الأَذَانِ وَالإِقَامَةِ

   “The supplication made between the Adhaan and the Iqaamah is never rejected.”

   [Sunan Abu Dawood (521), Chain Saheeh]

compiled by Raza Hassan