Written by: Sahibzada Shahid Siddiq
Anjuman Ghulzar-e-Madina International
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Introduction
Jumu‘ah (Friday) prayer is the greatest weekly congregation in Islam. The adhān plays a major role in announcing its arrival, preparing the community, and gathering the people on time.
In recent times, questions are often raised:
Where did the first adhān come from?
Is it permissible to give it inside the mosque?
Is it an innovation?
Does using loudspeakers or mosque radio contradict the Sunnah?
This article answers these questions based on the Qur’an, the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, and the authentic practice of the Companions (Ṣaḥābah).
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1 — Qur’anic Command Regarding Jumu‘ah
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ﴾
(Surah al-Jumu‘ah: 9)
Translation:
O you who believe! When the call to prayer is proclaimed on the day of Jumu‘ah, hasten towards the remembrance of Allah.
Important Point
The Qur’an mentions the command of adhān,
but it does not specify whether there should be one adhān or two.
This detail comes from the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and the decisions of the Rightly Guided Caliphs (Khulafā’ al-Rāshidīn).
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2 — Number of Adhāns in the Time of the Prophet ﷺ
In Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Sā’ib ibn Yazīd (RA) narrates:
“كانَتِ الصَّلاةُ يَوْمَ الجُمُعَةِ تُقامُ إذا جَلَسَ الإمامُ علَى المِنْبَرِ.”
(Bukhārī 912)
Translation:
On the day of Jumu‘ah, the (only) adhān was given when the imam sat on the pulpit.
Conclusion
• In the time of the Prophet ﷺ there was only one adhān.
• It was given after the imam sat on the pulpit, right before the khutbah.
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3 — When Was the First Adhān Added?
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī provides the clear evidence:
“فَلَمَّا كَانَ عُثْمَانُ وَكَثُرَ النَّاسُ زَادَ أَذَانًا عَلَى الزَّوْرَاءِ.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Jumu‘ah)
Translation:
When the population of Madinah increased during the time of ‘Uthmān (RA), he added an additional (first) adhān which was given at al-Zawrā’.
Why Was This Adhān Added?
• People were busy in markets
• Time of Jumu‘ah would approach suddenly
• One adhān was no longer enough to alert the whole city
• Therefore, a preliminary adhān was introduced to remind people in advance
This is what we today call the first adhān of Jumu‘ah.
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4 — Is This an Innovation (Bid‘ah)?
Absolutely not.
It is the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliph ‘Uthmān (RA).
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“عليكم بسنتي وسنة الخلفاء الراشدين المهديين.”
(Abu Dāwūd)
Translation:
Hold firmly to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs after me.
The entire Ummah accepted this practice.
• It continued in the time of ‘Alī (RA)
• The Tābi‘īn and the great Imāms upheld it
• Today, the entire Muslim world practices it
If it were an innovation, the Companions would never have remained silent.
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5 — Where Was the First Adhān Given? (Original Practice of the Companions)
Bukhārī states that the first adhān was given at al-Zawrā’.
What is al-Zawrā’?
• A high, central place in Madinah
• Located outside Masjid al-Nabawi
• Chosen because it allowed the voice to reach far distances
Conclusion
The first adhān was not given inside the mosque.
It was intentionally given outside because there were no loudspeakers at the time.
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6 — Is it Permissible Today to Give the First Adhān Inside the Mosque?
Yes — perfectly permissible and fully in accordance with the Sunnah.
Because:
Loudspeakers deliver the sound far beyond the mosque
Mosque radio reaches every home in the community
The original purpose — public announcement — is achieved more effectively
There is no longer any need to stand at an outdoor elevated point
Islamic legal principle:
“al-‘ibrah lil-maqāsid wal-ma‘ānī lā lil-alfāẓ wal-mabānī.”
“Rulings are based on purposes and meanings, not on outward forms.”
The purpose remains the same:
to alert the community in time for Jumu‘ah.
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7 — When Is the First Adhān Given Today?
• At the beginning time of Jumu‘ah
• Before the imam arrives
• To remind people to close their shops
• To wash, prepare, and head toward the mosque
This is exactly the objective behind the practice started by ‘Uthmān (RA).
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8 — Summary of All Findings
1 — The Qur’an commands the call for Jumu‘ah but does not specify the number of adhāns.
2 — In the time of the Prophet ﷺ only one adhān was given.
3 — ‘Uthmān (RA) added the first adhān due to population growth.
4 — This adhān was given outside the mosque at al-Zawrā’.
5 — Today, loudspeakers and mosque radio fulfill the same purpose.
6 — Giving the first adhān inside the mosque is completely valid and fully aligned with Sunnah.
7 — The aim of the first adhān is to prepare people and bring them to the mosque on time.
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Conclusion
In the modern era, the first adhān of Jumu‘ah reaches further and more efficiently through loudspeakers and mosque radio than ever before.
Therefore, delivering the adhān inside the mosque achieves the full Sunnah and fulfills the intention of the Rightly Guided Caliphs.
This is the correct and complete method of Jumu‘ah as practiced by the Ummah for over fourteen centuries.
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Written by:
Sahibzada Shahid Siddiq
Anjuman Ghulzar-e-Madina International