582. If I’m Praying By Myself, Should I Still Say The Adhaan And iqaamah?

By Asma bint Shameem 

Giving the adhaan and iqaamah is good and recommended even if we’re praying alone by ourselves. 

 PROOF:

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

‘Your Lord likes it when a shepherd at the top of a mountain pass calls the Adhaan for prayer and then prays. 

Then Allaah says:

“Look at this slave of mine, saying the Adhaan and the Iqaamah for prayer and fearing Me. I ask you to bear witness that I have forgiven My slave and will admit him to Paradise.”’” (al-Nisaa’i- saheeh by al-Albaani)

And he Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam also said:

“Whoever hears the Adhaan, whether a human being, a jinn or any other creature, will be a witness for him (the Mu’adhdhin) on the Day of Resurrection.” (al-Bukhaari)

Shaikh al-Albaani said:

“Among the issues of Fiqh understood from this hadeeth is that it’s Sunnah to call the Adhaan for the person praying alone....

Therefore, it not suitable to ignore calling the Adhaan and Iqaamah when praying alone.” (Silsilah Saheehah 41)

Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:

“Giving the adhaan and iqaamah is Sunnah for one who is praying on his own, and they are not obligatory, because he does not have anyone with him to call with the adhaan. 

But because the adhaan is remembrance and veneration of Allaah, and is a call to himself to prayer and prosperity, (it is Sunnah) and the iqaamah, likewise, is also Sunnah.”

(Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen, 12/161)

What about for women?

It’s allowed for a woman to say the adhaan and iqaamah if she praying alone or with other women. And if she doesn’t say it, that’s also ok. 

Someone asked shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen:

“When the women gather to perform the prayer, do they make the iqaamah for the prayer?”

He said:

“If they make the iqaamah, there is no harm in that. If they do not do so, there is no harm in that either. 

This is because the adhaan and iqaamah are only obligatory upon the men. 

(Fataawa al-Mar’ah)

And the scholars said:

“If a woman does recite the adhaan, she must keep her voice low and make it just loud enough for her companions to hear. 

If a woman says the iqaamah for herself or for a group of women, that is better and is closer to what is mustahabb, but if she does not do that, the prayer is still valid.” (Wilaayat Al-Mar’ah Fi’l-Fiqh Al-Islaami)

So go ahead and say the adhaan and even the iqaamah the next time you stand for prayer. 

Earn lots of rewards. 

And let the creation be a witness for you on the Day of Judgment.