One Muadhin on Friday

[Lesson 112, Hadeeth 510, Book of Jumu'ah]

Chapter 15: Chapter of the one muadhin on Friday

Narrated by As-Said bin Yazid (رضى الله عنه) in another quotation: In the lifetime of the Prophet ( صلى الله عليه و سلم ) there was only one Mu’adhdhin and the Adhaan used to be pronounced only after the Imam had taken his seat (i.e. on the pulpit). [Hadeeth 510, al Tajrid al Sarih]

Here Imam Bukhari (رحمة الله عليه) explains the rulings of the number of muadhins on Friday. We learn from a narration of ibn Habeeb (رحمة الله عليه) that there were 3 muadhins who would give Adhaan simultaneously on Friday. One of the Ummayid princes (Hishaam) adopted this practice i.e. 3 simultaneous Adhaans in the same Masjid. Imam Malik mentions in some narrations of his muwatta that during the time of Umar (رضى الله عنه) there were 3 muadhins on Friday.

- none of these narrations are of that authenticity or stringent acceptable nature [of Imam Bukhari (رحمة الله عليه)]

- with the exception of a few, the practice of the ulema throughout the world has been that only one muadhin gives the Adhaan on Friday. However, it is permissible for one person to give the Adhaan and another to give the iqaamah. This chapter heading is in reference to 2 or more people giving the same Adhaan.

This hadeeth is another narration of Hadeeth 508 with some additional wordings.

The hadeeth does not mean there was only one muadhin at the time of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) or at the Masjid of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) i.e. it does not mean that the only muadhin was Bilal (رضى الله عنه). There were many other muadhins other than Bilal (رضى الله عنه) at the time of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). For example, Abdullah ibn Um Maqtoum (رضى الله عنه) who was the blind and very pious sahabi mentioned in Surah Abasa [Tafseer of this Surah by Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq is available -http://www.alkawtharacademy.org/store/view_product.php?product=AKATQ-0041] used to give Adhaan at the time of sahoor (not Jumuah). He would be appointed by the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) as the governor of Madinah in his absence and would lead the salah. Other sahabi including S’ad (رضى الله عنه) and Harith (رضى الله عنه) would also give the Adhaan in their masajid. However, the honour for performing the Jumu’ah Adhaan and iqaamah invariably went to Bilal (رضى الله عنه).