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Thursday, 26 September 2024 05:07

The Inception of the Azaan – Part One Featured

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From the very beginning of the prophethood of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), two daily salaah were fardh – the fajr salaah and the asr salaah. Thereafter, on the Night of Mi’raaj, the remaining salaahs of the five daily salaah were made fardh.

All the salaahs, with the exception of maghrib, consisted of just two rakaats. After the hijrah, the two rakaats remained as they were for those traveling, while a further two rakaats were added in the zuhr, asr and esha salaahs for those not travelling.

Until this time, the prevailing practice was that whenever the time for salaah would set in, then people would come to the musjid and perform salaah (in different jamaats) at their own times. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) felt that there should be some method of calling people for the congregational salaah through which all the people of the locality would be able to easily assemble in the musjid at the same time.

Someone suggested striking a naaqoos (two wooden sticks struck together creating a sound like a bell), while another person suggested blowing a booq (horn) so that on hearing these sounds, the people could congregate in the musjid for salaah. However, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) rejected using the naaqoos as this resembled the way of the Christians, and he similarly rejected the use of the booq as this resembled the way of the Jews (who were using these instruments to call people to their places of prayer at that time).

In essence, on account of these two methods resembling the ways of the Jews and Christians, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) disapproved of them.

Another person suggested lighting a fire at an elevated spot to call people for salaah. On seeing the fire, the people would know that it is the time for salaah, and thereafter, they will assemble for salaah. To this, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “This method is the method of the Fire Worshippers (who are calling people to their prayer through this method),” and due to it resembling the way of the Fire Worshippers, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) disapproved of this method as well.

Nevertheless, the assembly thereafter dispersed without Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) arriving at any decision.

(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/ 441-442)

Read 31 times Last modified on Thursday, 26 September 2024 05:10