Is Adhan and Iqama Required for Individual Prayer?

Answered by Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Faiz Awad

Question

Is it obligatory to give the call to prayer (Adhan) and the call to commence the prayer (Iqamah) only when praying in congregation or is it also obligatory when praying individually at home?

Answer

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, and his companions. To proceed:

The Origin of the Adhan and Iqama

Scholars unanimously agree that the Adhan is one of Islam’s distinct characteristics and outward hallmarks. The practice of Adhan was legislated in the city of Madina during the first year of the Hijrah (Migration).

We know this from the narration of Abdullah ibn Umar who said: ‘When the Muslims arrived in Madina, they gathered to wait for the prayer, but there would be no announcement for it. They discussed this one day, and some said, ‘Use a bell like that of the Christians,’ while others said, ‘Rather a horn, like that of the Jews.’ Umar said, ‘Why don’t you send a man who would call for the prayer?’ So, the  Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, ‘Bilal, get up and call for the prayer.’” [Bukhari; Muslim]

Abdullah ibn Zaid then had a dream about which he narrates: “When the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) instructed for a bell to be rung for the people to gather for the prayer, a man came to me in my sleep carrying a bell in his hand. I asked him, ‘Servant of Allah, would you sell the bell?’

He asked, ‘What will you do with it?’ I said, ‘We will call to the prayer with it.’ He said, ‘Should I direct you to something better than that?’ I said, ‘Indeed.’ He said, ‘Say: Allahu akbar, Allahu Akbar, ash-hadu al-la ilaha illa Allah, ash-hadi al-la ilaha illa Allah, ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasul Allah, ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasul Allah, hayya ʿala al-salah, hayya ʿala al-salah, hayya ʿala al-falah, hayya ʿala al-falah, Allahu akbar Allahu akbar, la ilaha illa Allah.’ He then waited for a short time and said, ‘When the prayer is established, say, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, ash-hadu al-la ilaha illa Allah, ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasul Allah, hayya ʿala al-salah, hayya ʿala al-falah, qad qamat al-salah, qad qamat al-salah, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la ilaha illa Allah.’

In the morning, I came to the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) and told him what I saw. He said, “It is a true dream, God willing. Stand with Bilal and relay to him what you saw so that he may make the call to prayer with it, as his voice is more resonant than yours.’ I stood with Bilal and began to tell it to him, and he made the call to prayer with it.

Umar ibn al-Khattab heard it while he was in his house, and he came out dragging his cloak, saying, ‘I swear by the One who sent you with the truth, I saw exactly what I see!’ The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, ‘Then all praise is for Allah.’” [Abu Dawud, Ahmad, Ibn Khuzayma, Ibn Hibban]

Ruling on the Adhan and Iqama in Groups and Individually

The Adhan and the Iqama are both established for all five prayers. They are recommended (sunna) for every prayer, whether traveling or at home, and whether in congregation or alone. They are never mandatory.

The Adhan and Iqamah are emphasised sunnahs to be fulfilled by the community. As for individuals, it is still a recommended act. [Shirazi, al-Muhadhdhab fi fiqh al-Imam al-Shafi‘i]

If a person is in a town where the Adhan is not proclaimed, or if they miss the congregation at the mosque, they may give the Adhan and Iqama as a means of dhikr with the prescribed words, not necessarily to inform others about the prayer times. [al-Fiqh al-Manhaji ‘ala Madhhab al-Imam al-Shafi‘i]

This is to obtain the virtue of the Adhan, as mentioned in the hadith of Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri and others: The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “When you are in your pastures or your open land and you call for the prayer, raise your voice with the call to prayer. No jinn, mankind, or anything else hears the extent of your voice except that they will bear witness for you on the Day of Resurrection.” [Bukhari]

Similarly, in the hadith of ‘Uqbah bin ‘Amir (Allah be pleased with him), he narrates, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) say, ‘Your Lord marvels at a shepherd in the mountain tops calling the Adhan for the prayer and offering the prayer. Allah will say, “Look at this slave of mine; he is calling the Adhan and saying the Iqama; he is afraid of Me. I have forgiven My slave and admitted him to Paradise.”’” [Nasa’i; Ahmad; Ibn Hibban]

There are also authentic reports of this practice from Anas ibn Malik. Abu Uthman reported: “Anas ibn Malik came to us in the mosque of Banu Thaʾlabah. He asked us, ‘Did you pray?’ We replied, ‘Yes,’ and it was the Fajr prayer. He then instructed a man to give the Adhan and Iqama, and Anas offered the prayer with his companions.” [Bayhaqi, Abu Ya‘la]

May Allah grant us success to follow the Sunnah of His Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) and act on his guidance.

[Shaykh] Dr. Muhammad Faiz Awad