Azaan is one of the outstanding signs of Islam. The words of the Azaan denote the oneness and greatness of Allah Ta’ala. The Muazzin calls out the Azaan five times a day inviting the Muslims to perform their salaah with jamaat in the house of Allah. The call of the Muazzin in actual fact is the call of Allah Ta’ala. When the Sahaabah (radiyallahu anhum) heard the Muazzin, they would respond immediately to his call and leave whatever they were doing. Instantly they would start walking to the Masjid for Salaah.
It is necessary for every Muslim to show the highest form of respect for the Azaan as well the person who calls out the Azaan. Respecting the Azaan is actually respecting Allah Ta’ala. Allah Ta’ala has promised a very high and lofty status for the person who calls out the Azaan. Hadhrat Bilal (radiyallahu anhu) was the Muazzin of Rasulullah H. He enjoyed a very high position amongst the companions of Rasulullah H. He would call out the Azaan in Masjidun Nabawi. Rasulullah H loved him a lot.
Respect for the Azaan
When the Azaan is called out, it will be best for us to stop whatever we are doing and reply to the call of the Muazzin. We should reply to the Azaan by repeating the words of the Muazzin.
Nabi-e-Kareem H has mentioned in a Hadith: “Whoever recites the following dua after the azaan it will be compulsory upon me to intercede for him on the Day of Qiyaamah.” (Bukhaari # 614)
اَللّٰهُمَّ رَبَّ هٰذِهِ الدَّعْوَةِ التَّامَّةِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْقَائِمَةِ اٰتِ مُحَمَّدَ ِۨالْوَسِيْلَةَ وَالْفَضِيْلَةَ وَابْعَثْهُ مَقَامًا مَحْمُوْدَ ِۨالَّذِي وَعَدْتَّهُ اِنَّكَ لَاتُخْلِفُ الْمِيْعَادْ
Incidents of those who respected the Azaan
There are many incidents of people who were honoured by Allah Ta’ala for showing respect to the Azaan. Hadhrat Moulana Thanwi (RA) mentions an incident of a woman who would respect the Azaan and instruct her household to remain quiet and listen respectfully to the Azaan. She was heard on her deathbed saying in clear Arabic, “These two men are ushering me into Jannah.” Her family commented that she enjoyed this privilege because of the respect she showed to the Azaan.
Zubaydah, was the wife of Haroon Ar-Rasheed. She did lots of charitable works and even dug a canal to provide water for the people of Makkah Mukarramah. When she passed away she was forgiven on account of her showing respect to the Azaan. On one particular day, she was partaking of meals and the Azaan was called out. She stopped eating, straightened the scarf on her head and listened to words of the Azaan replying carefully to each word of the Muazzin. Allah Ta’ala forgave her on account of the respect she showed to the Azaan.
May Allah Ta’ala bless us with the ability of showing respect to the Azaan.