Brief Comments on Riyaadh al-Saaliheen #70

The First Adhaan of Jumu`ah is from the legislated Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliph:

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

[Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen (5/26-28) of Shaikh al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله]

Shaikh al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

During the era of `Uthmaan bin `Affaan رضي الله عنه - when the number of people increased - he رضي الله عنه made the first Adhaan of Jumu`ah (Friday); which is before the second (and the actual) Adhaan that is made in the presence of the Imaam. So on Fridays there are two Adhaan. In Ramadhaan, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم commanded Bilaal رضي الله عنه to call the Adhaan in the last part of the night when the time for Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) has approached and he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Bilaal calls the Adhaan during the night to wake those who are sleeping and so that those who are praying Qiyam can return (i.e. finish their prayers). So eat and drink till the son of Umm Maktum announces Adhaan for he does not pronounce it till it is dawn.” [The origin of this Hadeeth is in the Saheehain]. So we have Fajr with the first Adhaan, and it is not there except for the purpose of informing that the time for Suhoor has approached.

Similarly, Jumu`ah has its first Adhaan, which is the Sunnah (tradition) of `Uthmaan رضي الله عنه and he is one of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, those whom we have been commanded to follow their Sunnah. Some of the pedants (narrow minded, concerned with minute details) – those who claim to be upon Salafiyyah, upon the Sunnah – say: “We do not accept the first Adhaan of Jumu`ah for it is a Bid`ah, which was not practiced during the time of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.” This saying of theirs is a slander against the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, and a slander against all the Rightly Guided Caliphs and slander against all the Companions رضي الله عنهم.

And these Masaakeen (poor people) (in their ignorance) reached to this limit and they do not know (what it is being implied from their speech). As for it being a slander against the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, then this is because the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Upon you is my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs who will come after me.” [Reported in the Sunan] And there is a consensus among the Muslims that `Uthmaan رضي الله عنه is one of the Rightly Guided Caliph.  As for it being an insult against all the Rightly Guided Caliphs, then this is because of their slander against `Uthmaan رضي الله عنه who is among them.  Insulting anyone of the Rightly Guided Caliph is like insulting all of them; similar to how disbelieving in one of the Messengers is like disbelieving in all of them.

As for it being a slander against all the Companions, then this is because the Companions did not oppose `Uthmaan رضي الله عنه regarding this. If it was a mistake, then they would have opposed him (and would have corrected him) as they did that with him in Minaa in Hajj when he prayed the prayers in complete form (instead of shortening them). But as for the first Adhaan of Jumu`ah, they did not oppose him. So are these opposing pedants better informed of the Sharee`ah of Allaah than the Companions رضي الله عنهم?

Nevertheless, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said the truth when he said: “The last part of this Ummah will curse the first part”*, Allaah’s refuge is sought, for they have indeed slandered them.

*[This Hadeeth is reported by Imaam al-Dhahabee in Siyar A`laam al-Nubalaa’ (4/31) and it is “Munkar” (a rejected narration). It was also reported by Ibn Katheer in Musnad al-Faarooq (2/691); Jaami` Bayaan al-`ilm wa Fadhlih (1026); al-Haithamee in Majma` (10/24) all of them are “Dha`eef” due to weak or unknown narrators in its chain.]

Therefore, the first Adhaan of Jumu`ah is a legislated one due to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم referring to it (i.e. to follow the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs) and it is the Sunnah of Ameer al-Mu’mineen `Uthmaan رضي الله عنه, and by the consensus of the Companions which is their silent approval towards it (and none of them is reported to have opposed in this regards). Hence, no one has any legal excuse (for not continuing the first Adhaan). Allaah cut (silence) the tongues of those who oppose the Rightly Guided Caliphs of this Ummah and the Companions.

A person might ask: “Why did not the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم legislate this, whereas the prayer for Jumu`ah was carried out during his time?”

The answer: The reason for this is that the people during the time of `Uthmaan رضي الله عنه had increased in number and the city expanded, so they felt the need for the Adhaan which would alert them and which would be before the main Adhaan – which is made just when the Imaam has arrived. Therefore it was from the wisdom that the first Adhaan be called out. And `Uthamaan رضي الله عنه made this on a foundation, and that is in accordance with what the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم commanded Bilaal to make the Adhaan in the last part of the night, not because the time of the prayer had come, but to wake up the people from their sleep and that those who are praying should finish their prayers, the purpose (for the first Adhaan for Fajr) is legislated and that is why there is no doubt about the first Adhaan for Jumu`ah being legislated. Therefore, the first Adhaan for Jumu`ah is from the legislated Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs and by the gesture of the leader of the Messengers, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, and by the consensus of the Companions who were present during this (era of `Uthmaan رضي الله عنه).

The (first) Adhaan in the last part of the night is legislated in the month of Ramadhaan according to the Sunnah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to wake-up the sleeping and to bring back those who are praying. But is it legislated in other than Ramadhaan?

We say: In accordance with the Qiyaas (reasoning) of what `Uthmaan رضي الله عنه did, we see no harm in doing this.