ACTIONS UPON HEARING ATHAAN – CALL FOR A PRAYER
There are five Sunnah actions (i.e. Prophetic actions) recommended by the Prophet Peace be upon him – Upon hearing the call for the prayer, as mentioned in Zad Al Ma’ad Book, by Ibn Al Qayyem:
1 ➲ The hearer should repeat after the Mo’athen (The one who calls for prayer) all words except when the Mo’athen says:
“حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلاَةِ وَحَيَّ عَلَى الْفَلَاحِ”
Hayya ‘alas-Salaah (come to prayer) and Hayya ‘alal-Falaah (come to prosperity).
Here you should say:
“لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهِ”
Laa hawla wa laa quwwata ‘illaa billaah (There is no might, or power, except with Allah)
Al-Bukhari, The Book of Prayer, Hadith 613;
Muslim, The Book of Prayer, Hadith 385. The wording is according to Muslim
The benefit of this Sunnah: You will be rewarded with Paradise as stipulated in Sahih Muslim.
2 ➲ The hearer should say:
“وَأَنَا أَشَْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، رَضِيتُ بِاللهِ رَبَّاً وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ رِسُولاً وَبِالإِْسلاَمِ دِيناً”.
Wa ‘anaa ‘ash-hadu ‘an laa ‘ilaaha ‘illallaahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu wa ‘anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasooluhu, radheetu billaahi Rabban, wa bi-Muhammadin Rasoolan wa bil’islaami deenan.
(And I also bear witness that there is no deity has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, Who has no partner, and that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger. I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, with Muhammad as my Messenger and with Islam as my religion.)
To be recited in Arabic after the Mu’aththin’s Tashahhud or the words of affirmation of Faith
Muslim, The Book of Prayer, Hadith 386
The benefit of this Sunnah: Allah will forgive your sins, as stipulated in the same prophetic tradition.
3 ➲ After the Mo’athen finishes the Athan (The call for prayer), you should ask Allah’s blessings upon the Prophet (Peace be upon him), and the best supplication which can be said in this regard is the “As-Salawat Al Ibrahimiah” – as mentioned below.
The Prophet – Peace be upon him – said:
“When you hear the Mo’athen calling for the prayer, repeat his words then ask Allah’s blessings upon me, because the one who asks Allah’s blessings upon me once will be rewarded ten blessings by Allah.”
Muslim, The Book of Prayer, Hadith 384
The benefit of this Sunnah: Allah will send ten blessings to the believer i.e. Allah will praise such person at heaven.
The text of As-Salawat Al-Ibrahimiah is:
(Allaahumma salli alaa Muhammadin wa alaa aali Muhammadin, kamaa sallayta alaa Ibraaheema wa alaa aali Ibraaheema innaka Hameedun Majeed. Allahumma Baarik alaa Muhammadin wa alaa aali Mohammadin kamaa baarakta alaa Ibraaheema wa alaa aali Ibraaheema innaka Hameedun Majeed – i.e. O Allah, bestow your favor on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad as You have bestowed Your favor on Ibrahim and on the family of Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Mohammad as You have blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious)
Al-Bukhari, The Book of Stories of the Prophet, Hadith 3370
4 ➲ After asking Allah’s blessings upon the Prophet – Peace be upon him – you should say:
“اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ هَذِهِ الدَّعْوَةِ التَّامَّةِ، وَالصَّلَاةِ الْقَائِمَةِ، آتِ مُحَمَّداً الْوَسِيلَةَ وَالْفَضِيلَةَ، وَابْعَثْهُ مَقَاماً مَحْمُوداً الَّذِي وَعَدْتَهُ، [إَنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ].
(Allaahumma Rabba haathihid-da ‘watit-taammati wassalaatil-qaa’imati, ‘aati Muhammadanil-waseelata walfadheelata, wab ‘ath-hu maqaamam-mahmoodanil-lathee wa’adtahu, [‘innaka laa tukhliful-mee’aad])
After replying to the call of Mu’aththin. you should recite in Arabic Allah’s blessings on the Prophet.
(O Allah, Lord of this Perfect Call and Owner of this Prayer to be performed, bestow on Muhammad Al-Waseelah and Al-Fadeelah that You promised him)
Al-Bukhari, The Book of Al-Adhaan, Hadith 614
The benefit of this supplication: The one who says this supplication will deserve the intercession of the Prophet – Peace be upon him.
5 ➲ Finally, you can ask Allah The Almighty anything for yourself and ask the grace of Allah because your supplication will be answered this time.
The Prophet – Peace be upon him – said:
“Repeat the words of the Mo’athen and when you finish, ask Allah what you want and you will get it)
Aboo Daawood, The Book of Prayer, Hadith 524. Al-Haafidh Ibn Hajar graded the Hadeeth as Hasan and Ibn Hibbaan gave it a grading of authentic
➲ The total number of such Sunnah actions if applied upon hearing the Athan (The call for prayer) is ➲ (25) actions of Sunnah.
