QUESTION
What
is the ruling on the athaan when the mu'ath-thin
prolongs certain sounds in it, like "Allaahu Aakbar"
or "Allaahu Akbaar"?
ANSWER
by Shaykh Muhammad 'Umar Baazmool, instructor at Umm Al-Quraa
University in Makkah
If
the mu'ath-thin adds additional letters to the athaan
thus altering the true 'Arabic meaning, then the athaan
has actually not been called in its legislated manner. The
Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
"Whoever
performs an action that is not in accordance with our affair,
then it is rejected." [1]
However,
if there is an added sound to one of the words of the athaan,
an addition that does not change its meaning, then this added
sound is considered an alteration, and the mu'ath-thin
by way of it the mu'ath-thin has not properly fulfilled
his duty. Such an athaan is acceptable, but the mu'ath-thin
loses reward for his lack of proper concern of the athaan's
proper legislated manner.
The
imaam and the community in this case must look for
another mu'ath-thin who can call the athaan
with its proper, legislated pronunciation, one who will not
insert such additions into the athaan. Of course I
am referring to the second scenario here.
However,
if the athaan was called according to the first scenario
mentioned, then it is not acceptable and must be repeated.
This is the case when the meaning has been changed from its
original meaning as found in the hadeeth. [2] If this
is the case, then the athaan has not been called in
the way that is intended and prescribed, so the athaan
must be repeated, and Allaah knows best.
In
these two cases specifically ("Allaahu Aakbar"
and "Allaahu Akbaar"), the meaning of the
athaan has not been changed, thus the athaan
does not have to be repeated, and Allaah knows best.
FOOTNOTES
[1]
Saheeh Muslim #4468 (6/242 of Sharh An-Nawawee)
[2]
refer to Saheeh Muslim #848 (2/308-309 of Sharh
An-Nawawee)
SOURCE
This
was translated exclusively for www.bakkah.net from a cassette
recording with the knowledge and permission of the shaykh,
file no. AAMB012, dated 1423/6/25.
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