403. Responding To The Adhaan

By Asma bint Shameem 

*I know that responding to the adhaan is a great act of worship and earns me rewards. *

If I respond to the adhaan on my *computer* or *clock*, will I get the same reward?

*ANSWER*

It’s true that responding to the mu’adhdhin is an act of ibaadah and an easy way to earn Jannah. 

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said about the one who replies to the words of the adhaan "from the heart, he will enter Paradise." (Muslim)

That’s true and possible for those of us living in a country where the adhaan is called out publicly five times a day. 

But unfortunately we’re deprived of this blessing living in the West. 

That’s because there are hardly any adhaans around us unless we’re actually at the masjid when the adhaan is called. 

The adhaans we hear on our phones or computers or clocks etc are all *electronic* adhaans and we can *not* hope to get the same rewards as we would, when we respond to a *‘LIVE’* adhaan. 

The electronic adhaan is not really an actual mu’adhdhin calling out. 

It’s just a *reminder* that the time of Salaah has entered. 

The ulama say that responding to an electronic adhaan is similar to praying Jama’ah behind an Imaam on TV. 

Is that prayer valid?

No of course not. 

In order for Salaah to be valid, one has to be PHYSICALLY present as PART of the Jama’ah for that prayer to count. 

And so just as prayer behind an Imaam on TV doesn’t count, similarly, responding to an electronic adhaan also does not count. 

Shaikh ibn Uthaymeen said regarding the adhaan that’s recorded:

“(This) is not an adhaan being given at the time; in this case it should not be responded to, because it is not a real adhaan, i.e., the man is not giving it at the time it is commanded to give it; rather it is an audio recording of a previous adhaan.”

(Majmoo‘ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 12/196)

*Smart Alternative*:

Call the adhaan at home out loud *yourself* regularly for the five daily prayers. 

This way you can benefit from it and earn rewards with Allaah at the same time. 

And Allaah knows best.