Importance of Adhan

1. Importance of Adhan IN OUR DAILY LIVES!

2. Adhan is… • The first step towards the most important pillar of Islam after Shahaadah • If you respect/respond/interact with Adhan properly, it will have direct effect on the performance of the first act of worship: Salah!

3. Going Early to Masjid رِجَالٌ لَّا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَارَةٌ وَلَا بَيْعٌ عَن ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاء الزَّكَاةِ يَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ الْقُلُوبُ وَالْأَبْصَارُ * Men whom neither merchandise nor selling diverts from the remembrance of Allah and the keeping up of prayer and the giving of poor-rate; they fear a day in which the hearts and eyes shall turn about;

4. 1. Getting an attribute of those whom Allah will give His shade عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال " سبعة يظلهم الله في ظله يوم لا ظل إلا ظله ... ; فذكر منهم: ... ورجل قلبه معلق بالمساجد" [ رواه البخاري ومسلم ]

5. 2. The one who goes early for Salah is in Salah! عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال " لا يزال أحدكم في صلاة ما دامت الصلاة تحبسه لا يمنعه أن ينقلب إلى أهله إلا الصلاة "

6. 3. Getting the first Saff 1033. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Were people to know the blessing of pronouncing Adhan and the standing in the first row, they would even draw lots to secure these privileges. And were they to realize the reward of performing Salat early, they would race for it; and were they to know the merits of Salat after nightfall (`Isha') and the dawn (Fajr) Salat, they would come to them even if they had to crawl.'‘ [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

7. 4. Getting the right side of Saff تحصيل ميمنة الصف ، قال صلى الله عليه وسلم " إن الله وملائكته يصلون على ميامين الصفوف [رواه أبو داود وابن ماجة ] وتحصيل ميمنة الصف من الإمام لا تكون إلا لمن حضر مبكرًا

8. 5. Supplication between Adhan and Iqamah قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال " لا يرد الدعاء بين الأذان والإقامة "

9. 6. Getting the Takbeer of Ihraam عن أنس بن مالك رضي الله عنه قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم " من صلى أربعين يوما في جماعة يدرك التكبيرة الأولى كتبت له براءتان : براءة من النار وبراءة من النفاق " [ رواه الترمذي ]

10. 7. Prayer with Khushoo’ الصلاة بخشوع ، وتعد المبادرة بالحضور للمسجد والانقطاع عن مشاغل الدنيا ومتاعبها في تلك اللحظات من أسباب الخشوع في الصلاة وإقبال المصلي على ربه ؛ فإن المصلي كلما طال لبثه في المسجد واشتغل بالصلاة والقراءة والذكر والدعاء قبل إقامة الفريضة حضر قلبه وسكنت جواره ووجد نشاطا وراحة وروحا ، فهو يقول : أصلى فاستريح ، كما قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم " يا بلال ، أرحنا بالصلاة " [ رواه أحمد وأبو داود]

11. Numerous Benefits of good Adhan for Non-Muslims • It is a source of Dawah. • First impression about Islam & Muslims. “First impression is the best impression.” • Open & automatic Dawah to all!!! • You can START Dawah by explaining it to Non-Muslims • Story: Why do you remember King Akbar!!!

12. THE EXCELLENCE OF ADHAN

13. Only if they knew… 1033. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Were people to know the blessing of pronouncing Adhan and the standing in the first row, they would even draw lots to secure these privileges. And were they to realize the reward of performing Salat early, they would race for it; and were they to know the merits of Salat after nightfall (`Isha') and the dawn (Fajr) Salat, they would come to them even if they had to crawl.''[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

14. Special honor: Long necks 1034. Mu`awiyah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying: "The Mu'adhdhinun (callers to prayer) will have the longest necks on the Day of Resurrection.''[Muslim]. Interpretation: Those who call Adhan will have an honorable and great status on the Day of Requital.

15. Witness for you! 1035. `Abdullah bin `Abdur-Rahman reported: Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) said to me: “… you should raise your voice because whoever hears the Adhan, whether a human or jinn or any other creature, will testify for you on the Day of Resurrection.'' Abu Sa`id added: "I heard this from the Messenger of Allah (PBUH).''[Al-Bukhari].

16. Shaitaan runs away! Jabir (R) reported that he heard the Prophet pbuh saying; Indeed when Shaitaan hears the call for prayer, he goes away till Rawhaa (Muslim) The Prophet pbuh took the name of Rawhaa (approx 60 Kms from Madinah) to show the effect of Adhan. Believers get drawn towards Masjid hearing Azaan while only Shaitaan (or his likes) run away from it!

17. Call it Even During Travels! • Maalik bin Huwairith (R) said, “I came to the Prophet pbuh with my cousin. The Prophet pbuh said: ‘When you travel, call Adhan and Iqamah for Salah…’” (Bukhari)

18. The Message of Adhan Fundamentals of Islam are conveyed in Adhan! International Anthem of Muslims!

19. Azkar do not have required effects because of: • For the one who just hears it: Committing sins (blocks the heart; makes it hard) • For the one who does zikr: Continuing in sins / wrong practices • Eating Haraam • Lack of understanding of the meaning of those Azkar • Lack of knowledge about the virtues of Azkar

20. Azkar do not have required effects because of: • Lack of pondering / thinking over (Tafakkur + Zikr should go together). This makes a huge difference between an abid and an ‘alim. • Lack of firm faith and trust that Allah will respond (Allah is with the ‘thinking’ of the slave)

21. Azan and Azkar should: • Remind the negligent • Guide the lost one • Stop a sinner • Increase the pious in good deeds

22. الله أكبر الله أكبر As far as ذات ، صفات (Entity & Attributes) of Allah are concerned, nothing describes better than these words. No one in this universe is greater than Allah in any sense... Not even close to him.

23. Takbeer: اللهُ أكبر • The most often repeated phrase in our lives (esp. in Azan, Iqamah, and Salah) • Like the striking of clock every hour, reminding him of the duties towards Allah. • Repeated almost 200 times by every Muslim • Repeated another 200 times if you recite it 33 times after every Salah and before sleep!

24. Big Question: Its effect? • What is the effect of this phrase in our life??? • What is its effect right in the Salah itself? • OR is it meant to have no effect at all? (The way we are living right now, illa mashaAllah!)

25. أكبر مِنْ؟Greater than? • Akbar (greater…) • It should have been followed by “than something / someone”. Ex: Ahmad is greater than Umar أحمد أكبرُ مِن عمر But it is dropped here. Why? • To remind us that Allah can not be compared with any of His creation. He is the Greatest.

26. الله أكبر الله أكبر • Among the first commands given to the Prophet • وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ– “And glorify your Lord”; Do Takbeer • Proclaim it • Believe it • And do it

27. Do we really mean اللهُ أكبر ? • After listening to Fajr Azan: If we still sleep, then is sleep greater or Allah? • During the day: Is our work, meeting, chatting, eating, shopping, going or coming to some place, greater (and therefore deserves our attention) or Allah? Even worse, watching TV or just having fun with Haraam greater than Allah?

28. Do we really mean اللهُ أكبر ? • Imagine a scenario. My boss (at the job) tells me to prepare a report. I do not do it or do it badly and when I see him, I say, “Boss! You are great!” • Another scenario: He asks me to come to job at 7.30 AM. I go there by 9 AM and say, “Boss! You are great!” • “Wa lillahil mathalul-a’laa”. If I say AllahuAkbar but do not care about his commands…

29. Do we really mean اللهُ أكبر ? • The biggest obstacle that a person has in following the right path is his ego. He always thinks he is right. He is reminded again and again that he has to crush his ego in front of Allah. He is nothing…Allah is the Greatest. Therefore, just build up the life around Allah’s commandments.

30. In Adhan & Salah • We are asked to repeat the words of Mu’azzin. This is to interact and respond to the call and act accordingly. • During Salah, we say it 6 times every Raka’h. People get into worldly thoughts, programs, worries and they are reminded again that Allah is greater than everything else. So they don’t deserve attention. Pay attention to Him alone and come back to Salah.

31. لا تجعل الله أهون الناظرين إليك • Don’t make Allah to be least • O Sinner! You are afraid if people look at you or you don’t want to disrespect them. What about Allah who is looking at you always? • Have you made Allah as the onlooker to be last and the least to be respected or afraid from or worried about!?

32. اللهُ أكبر؟؟؟ • O Sinner! Allah is Greater than you (and can catch you) when you make plans. • O Arrogant! When you reject Truth or look down upon people, do you know that Allahu Akbar! • O Oppressor! Allahu Akbar! He destroyed Fir’oun and so many others. • O the one who thinks he is Smart or Intelligent or Boss of someone! Remember AllahuAkbar! • And lastly, O poor, humble, and helpless person! Remember AllahuAkbar! Nobody is greater than Him.

33. اللهُ أكبر in Dawah • All obstacles, and those who create them are nothing. • وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ – Say it and do it in your life! • Proclaim that “Allah is the Greatest”.

34. اللهُ أكبر in Dawah • If in a country, a ruler’s orders are not obeyed or cared for, is he great? • If Allah’s Commands are not implemented, is He Great or someone else? • Make all those efforts which make Allah Greatest in a society in terms of implementation of His commands. • i.e., Work for ISLAMIC DAWAH.

35. أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَّ إِلـٰـهَ إِلاَّ الله This is the statement of Tawheed (the Oneness of Allah). In fact the concept of Tawheed is completed here (along with Allahu Akbar)

36. لا إله إلاّ الله • He is the Creator, the Sustainer, the Controller, • the Lord of us all and of the entire universe • the Sovereign ruler of all the creations. • He alone should be worshipped and • He alone should be obeyed. • no one in any of these capacities is His associate.

37. : I should not…لا إله إلاّ الله • think any one other than Allah as the protector, provider, helper, etc. • fear any one, nor put his trust in anyone, nor pin his hopes on anyone, • worship / OBEY any one except Allah, • ask for help of any one • recognize anyone except Allah as the absolute law-giver and law-maker;

38. : I should …لا إله إلاّ الله • Follow Allah’s orders and not my own desires • Regard Allah himself as the owner of my being, my wealth, and everything • Consider myself accountable to Allah for every thing; • Make Allah the sole criterion of my likes and the dislikes; • Make the seeking of the pleasure of, and closeness to Allah the sole objective of my life • Accept only Allah’s guidance in all spheres of life, in social and civic spheres, in economics and politics, etc.

39. : in Dawahلا إله إلاّ الله • Does humanity know this? • How much work have I done in the past week? • What is my plan for the next week? • How much am I spending for this work?

40. أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَّسُولُ اللهِ If Allah alone is our deity, then how to worship and obey him? Through the Prophet Muhammad pbuh. This leads to concept of Prophethood in Islam.

41. محمد رسول الله: I should… • I should accept without hesitation every teaching that is proved to emanate from Muhammad (Allah’s blessings and peace be on him!); • No other reasoning should be the basis of my obedience; • I should take the Book of God and Sunna of His Messenger alone as the real sanction and authority and the ultimate source to fall back upon in every matter of my life;

42. محمد رسول الله: I should… • I should not adopt any idea, belief or method which is not in accordance with the Book and the Sunnah (the sayings, precepts and practices of the Prophet pbuh) • All my likes and dislikes (person and family, or tribe and race, or nation and country, or community and Jamaat) should not be above the love of Allah and His Messenger pbuh • Hold no human being, except رسول الله, as the criterion of right and wrong

43. محمد رسول الله: in Dawah • How many people know it? • How much work have we done to convey this message to humanity? LAST WEEK? • What is our plan for THIS WEEK? • How much am I going to spend for this?

44. حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلَوٰةِ To start worshipping Allah and establishing our link with Him, you are called for performing the FIRST and the BEST approach… Salah.

45. حَيَّ عَلَى الْفَلاَحِ This path alone guarantees REAL SUCCESS. If you follow other paths, you will end up in complete failure In other words, it invites everyone to think about Aakhirah. It gives concept of Aakhirah.

46. اَلله ُ أَكْبَرُ اَلله ُ أَكْبَرُ. لاَ إِلـٰـه إِلاَّ الله Adhan is concluded by the most important of all concepts of Islam again. A complete concept of Tawheed… that no one is greater than Him and there is no god except Allah. That we should work hard and seek His pleasure alone.

47. الصَّلوةُ خَيْرٌ مِّنَ النَّوْمِ، الصَّلوةُ خَيْرٌ مِّنَ النَّوْمِ Added in Adhan of Fajr.

48. قَدْ قَامَتِ الصَّلوة، قََدْ قَامَتِ الصَّلوة As part of Iqamah الصَّلوة is feminine gender, therefore قامَت (she stood) is used instead of قَامَ Remember فَعَلَ (he did); فَعَلَتْ (she did)

49. Adhaan Flowchart!

50. Answering Adhan Excellent Opportunities!!! 4 things after Adhan!