How to answer the Adhan?
It is mandatory for the Muslim Ummah to know about the importance of azan and how to answer the Adhan. The Muaz’an deliver Azaan five times in a day from the mosque to call the Muslims to offer prayer. In Muslims culture, adhan is the first thing that a new born baby hears right after the birth. Islam is based upon the five pillars.
The main and the most important pillar suggests that the Muslims should offer their prayers five times in a day. In life of Muslims, prayer is the most important part. Azan is a public call to all the Muslims before starting a prayer. Azan is based on the significant words for the Muslims not just a ring or a mere call for the Muslims to alert them.
Azan is considered as a request by Muaz’an loudly and in sweet, euphonious voice to call all Muslims to pray and have blessings from ALLAH almighty and have spiritual growth and to satisfy your soul. On hearing azan, giving a response to azan is irrevocable for all the Muslims around the Globe. They can respond to azan by offering prayer the Muaz’an is calling out for. They can also give their response as by replying to the words that the Muaz’an is speaking out. It is narrated by our Holy Prophet (PBUH):
“Whenever you hear the Azan, say what the Muazzin (caller) is saying.” (Sahih Bukhari & Muslim).
What should we say when we hear Adhan?
When the azan is being supplicated, Muslims should listen to it with the full attention and should focus on the words that are being said. They should repeat it every word and every line silently after the Muaz’an.
There are few regulations for azaan such as it is mandatory that azaan should be called out at the time of prayer if the azan is called out before the time of prayer, then it should not be considered as reasonable. The Azaan should be in the same manner that was used in old times like our Holy Prophet (PBUH) did it, they used to convey it in Arabic.
If adhan is being conveyed in any other language but people get it words and understands it then the purpose is gratified, but if the Muaz’an conveyed azaan in Arabic, but with the difficult Words then the people will not be able to respond it properly and ultimately the purpose to convey the Azaan will not be completed.
SUNNAHs to perform During Adhan:
Azaan is the most major part and Mandatory part of Islam that form the Basis of ISLAM. All Muslims are bound to give response to Adhan in a proper and appropriate way according to the teachings of ISLAM. Here are few Practices that Muslims must do when they Hear Adhan
Repeat Adhan:
When you hear Azaan, you must hear it carefully so you can repeat it after the MUAZ’AN, silently.
Supplicate Blessings upon Holy Prophet (PBUH)
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ
.إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ
.إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
To get the Blessings from ALLAH SWT the one easy and the satisfying act is to send Blessings to Holy Prophet (PBUH). When we send Durood to Holy Prophet after Adhan or anytime, ALLAH Bless us in many ways.
Make Dua after Azan
ALLAH is the merciful, whenever we make DUA HE listens it, but especially when we make Dua after azaan ALLAH SWT will definitely hear it and ALLAH SWT Will respond to it in a beautiful Manner.
Prepare Yourself for Adhan
As azaan is part of daily life of Muslims, they hear it in five times a day. Muslims are definitely aware about the timing of Adhan, they know exact time that when the Azaan is being called Out. Here are few practices that Muslims can do to prepare themselves for Adhan. Muslims should make up their mind to hear azaan with the full devotion. They should spare few minutes to hear azaan in peace so that they can get its real meaning and purpose to hear azaan.
These are the moments for their spiritual growth and in their faith. Muslims should clean themselves properly with the intention to refine their souls and their bodies. They should keep in mind the purpose of doing all this so that can understand in depth the importance of Azaan, they should not just consider it a mere thing to do. After performing ablution, they should stand in the position like in direction facing towards Qibla means KAABA. As while performing prayer all the Muslims face this place.
How to Respond During Adhan
After preparing to give response to azaan, Muslims should know that what those words they can say during azaan are. Say the words that the Muazan is saying, you can repeat all the words that the muazan said but except few words like when the Muazan say ‘’HAYYA’ ALASALAH’’ and ‘’HAYYA’ ALAL FALAH” they respondents should say that:
لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّٰهِ
“There is no power nor strength except by God.”
Iqamah
The last and final call to prayer before starting the Salah is Iqamah. After vocalizing Iqamah Muslims can perform their prayer. Iqamah should be vocalized in a little bit lower voice then Muslims respond during the adhan. As people are closer to you so that they can hear you. Muslims can vocalize Iqamah quickly as right after praying Iqamah, they SALAH will begin. The one major dissimilarity between adhan and Iqamah is that in Azaan, they Muslims use to say HAYA ALAL FALAH, but while praying Iqamah they Muslims say that QAD QAAMA TIS-SALAAH.
Characteristics of Adhan
AZAAN is considered as the invitation to Meeting with Allah Almighty say it Salah. To get the purpose fulfilled that is to get high sense of morality and spirituality Adhan is the best way. it is considered as a best and useful way to motivate others to perform salah. That when other Muslims hear azaan or when they see other Muslims responding to Adhan they can feel motivated to do the same. Azaan is the reminder for the Muslims around the globe that ALLAH’s blessings are always upon us and we can ask ALLAH for any help, else there is no one who could help us in tough times.
At this conclusion, it would not be wrong to say that azaan is not just a way to call Muslims that they can come, offer their prayer and after that they can go to their homes, but it is a way to call Muslims at a one place for worshiping ALLAH SWT, saying thanks to ALLAH for all his blessings. Azaan explains Islamic faith as a whole, a way to pay admiration to ALLAH SWT. Last but not the least adhan is the best way to represent salah as the best source to have successful life morally, spiritually and financially.