عَن جَابر قَالَ: قَالَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ: أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ قُتِلْتُ فَأَيْنَ أَنَا؟ قَالَ: «فِي الْجنَّة» فَألْقى ثَمَرَات فِي يَده ثمَّ قَاتل حَتَّى قتل

Jabir RA narrates that a man said to the Prophet ﷺ at the battle of Uhud, “Tell me where I shall be if I am killed,” and that when he replied that he would be in paradise he threw away some dates he had in his hand and fought till he was killed. [Bukhari and Muslim]

The narration of Ḥakim provides us with the background of this ḥadith. Ḥakim narrates from Anas RA that a person who was dark in complexion came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I am dark in complexion, my breath has a bad odour and I have no wealth. If I fight these people until I am killed, where will I be?’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied: “In Paradise.” He then fought until he was killed. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to his body and said, ‘May Allah illuminate your face, freshen your breath and increase your wealth.’

This Ṣaḥabi’s mind-set accurately reflects the enthusiasm of the Ṣaḥabah RA to sacrifice their lives in jihad and in the path of Allah.

EASY GOOD DEEDS – Responding to the Adhan

To show respect for Adhan, one should keep as quiet as possible while the call is being given; and it has been emphasized by our Holy and blessed Prophet ﷺ that each word of Adhan should be responded to, i.e. the hearer should repeat each word that the giver of the call utters.

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏ “‏ إِذَا أَذَّنَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ فَقُولُوا مِثْلَ قَوْلِهِ

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah RA said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘When the Mu’adh-dhin calls the Adhan, say as he says.'” [Ibn Majah]

However, whenحي علي الصلوة and حي علي الفلاح are said, the responder should say لا حول و لا قوة الا بالله العلي العظيم. And in the fajr prayer when the giver of the call says الصلوة خير من النوم one should respond with صدقت و بررت.

Hadhrat Abdullah ibn Umar RA has related that our blessed Prophet said:

“When you hear the Adhan, repeat the words after the muaddhin then send durood unto me because on him who sends one durood unto me Allah sends ten mercies. Then pray for “Waseela” for me because that is a stage of the Paradise which is reserved for only one of Allah’s bondsmen and I hope it will be me who shall get it. Thus, he who prays for Waseela for me shall have right to my intercession for Divine pardon.” [Sahih Muslim]

We should also make it a habit of reciting the Duaa after the Adhan.

اَللّٰهُمَّ رَبَّ هٰذِهِ الدَّعْوَةِ التَّامَّةِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْقَائِمَةِ ، آتِ مُحَمَّدًا الْوَسِيْلَةَ وَالْفَضِيْلَةَ ، وَابْعَثْهُ مَقَامًا مَّحْمُوْدًا الَّذِيْ وَعَدْتَّهُ

O Allah, Lord of this perfect call and established prayer, grant Muḥammad the status (the highest station in Paradise) and pre-eminence (superiority over the rest of the creation), and resurrect him to the praiseworthy station that You have promised him.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever says [the above] after the adhan shall receive my intercession on the Day of Judgement” [Bukhari].

Responding to adhan and then reciting the above prayers does not take much time; one has only to remember and get into the habit to earn much merit and reward. Unless there is a genuine reason, one must observe these instructions.

In this connection it should be noted that if one hears Adhan`s from several Masjids one after the other, he should recite the recommended prayers after the first Adhan only; this completes the observance of Sunnah.