Compulsion of Azan before Congregational Prayers
Question:
AoA
I work in a place where there is a dedicated place for offering prayer. However its not a mosque but reserved for prayers. The mosque is very far from the work place and we need time and convenience to reach there for Jamat.
Some of our colleagues are of the view that we cannot held Jamat unless Azaan is said for each prayer. My question is can we hold Jamat paryer led by any one of us without Azan. As there is no dedicated moazin and Imam. I have seen in Gulf countries they held Jamat prayers in shopping malls without Azaan.
What is the guidance of Islam in this regard. With regards
Answer:
Assalamu Alaykum,
Azan is not a condition for congregational prayers, it is simply a tool. Azan is a call to let people know that the time of the prayer has approached and that the prayer will soon start in congregations. It is of course very important to uphold this beautiful, inspiring and unique Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh), however it is not an obligation to say Azan, specially when people already know that the congregational prayer is about to start, and it is not a condition for prayer.
At the time of the Prophet (pbuh), prayer and congregational prayer started long before establishing Azan in Medina. It was only later that Muslims decided to do something to let people know the congregational prayer is about to start. After some consultations they decided to have some one calling people to prayers. This was called Azan and was approved by the Prophet (pbuh) (1).
The most important function of Azan is to make sure people will not miss the congregational prayer. It will be a pity to miss the great reward of congregational prayer for the sake of not being able to say Azan. It is like waking up on time but deciding not to start the day because the alarm clock did not ring!
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Footnote:
1. Look at Bukhari, the Book of Azan
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March 2013
AoA
I work in a place where there is a dedicated place for offering prayer. However its not a mosque but reserved for prayers. The mosque is very far from the work place and we need time and convenience to reach there for Jamat.
Some of our colleagues are of the view that we cannot held Jamat unless Azaan is said for each prayer. My question is can we hold Jamat paryer led by any one of us without Azan. As there is no dedicated moazin and Imam. I have seen in Gulf countries they held Jamat prayers in shopping malls without Azaan.
What is the guidance of Islam in this regard. With regards
Answer:
Assalamu Alaykum,
Azan is not a condition for congregational prayers, it is simply a tool. Azan is a call to let people know that the time of the prayer has approached and that the prayer will soon start in congregations. It is of course very important to uphold this beautiful, inspiring and unique Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh), however it is not an obligation to say Azan, specially when people already know that the congregational prayer is about to start, and it is not a condition for prayer.
At the time of the Prophet (pbuh), prayer and congregational prayer started long before establishing Azan in Medina. It was only later that Muslims decided to do something to let people know the congregational prayer is about to start. After some consultations they decided to have some one calling people to prayers. This was called Azan and was approved by the Prophet (pbuh) (1).
The most important function of Azan is to make sure people will not miss the congregational prayer. It will be a pity to miss the great reward of congregational prayer for the sake of not being able to say Azan. It is like waking up on time but deciding not to start the day because the alarm clock did not ring!
-------------------------------------
Footnote:
1. Look at Bukhari, the Book of Azan
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March 2013
