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Adhān has been in force since the days of
Allah's friend prophet Ibrahim. When Prophet Ibrahim had completed the
construction of Holy Kaba he said to Allah:-
‘I have
completed the construction’
Allah
instructed him:-
‘Announce Hajj amongst the people’ Hażrat
Ibrahim replied:-
‘O Cherisher! Where will my voice reach?’ Allah
commanded:-
‘You announce it. To make it heard is my
responsibility’ Hażrat Ibrahim asked:-
‘In which words shall I invite them?” Allah
replied:-
‘Say -
People! It has been made obligatory on you to make pilgrimage to the ancient
house. All on the Heavens and the Earth have heard this. Are you not watching
how they come from far away cities saying ‘Labaik’ (acceptance of being present
at ones service)’
According to another narration Hażrat Ibrahim
climbed onto Koh-e-Qabas (Mount Qabas) and putting his fingers in his ears
announced:-
‘People!
Allah has made Hajj obligatory on you, hence accept the command of your Lord’
After
hearing this, the souls replied ‘Labaik’ from the backbone of the men and the
abdomen of the women. Hence, until the Day if Resurrection only those souls
will perform Hajj who said ‘Labaik’ in answer to Hażrat Ibrahim's announcement,
and none else.
It is our common observation that when we
wish to converse with someone we try
to attract their attention towards us. There are many ways to draw attention. You can create a sound to draw attention, you can call upon someone, you
can send a message through another person or you can mentally (telepathically) send the message.
Every
religion has its way to draw attention or call its followers. In certain places
the sound of bells is used to gather people for worship, in other places conch
shells are used to gather people at a point and invite the Hindu priest to lead
the worship.
Whenever
a certain practice comes into force in mankind, it stays set. Only the way it
is practised is changed. In Islam the way devised to gather people at a point
and to call people to worship Allah is called the ‘Adhān’. Adhān is also
worship in its own place. In Islam the one who proclaims in the name of Allah
has been blessed with respect. The Muezzin (one who calls the Adhān) wearing
clean clothes stands up on a height and with the feelings of respect and admiration
and with a loud and clear voice proclaims
اَللّٰہُ
اَکْبَرُ اَللّٰہُ اَکْبَرُ
he then
testifies Allah's majesty and sovereignty and with that he also testifies that
Muhammad is Allah's Prophet. After that he announces on his left and right that
Prayer is blessings, Prayer is welfare and prosperity in this world and in the
hereafter. This announcement begins with the proclamation of Allah's greatness
and ends with the proclamation of Allah's magnificence and grace. What we are
trying to imply is that it becomes clear from the Adhān that the start of every
deed and the limit of every deed is Allah.
The one
who says the Adhān should have a blissful tone. His heart and mind should be
enlightened and clean. The reason for this is that with the voice the emotions
are also conveyed. If the Muezzin's emotions are not pure and his mind is
contaminated with sin then his mind will be devoid of peace and tranquillity.
When there is no tranquillity in the mind then the effect of his voice will not
make an impact or attract people. It is also obligatory on people to give the
Muezzin respect and honour due to his dignified status.
KHWAJA SHAMSUDDIN AZEEMI
Mehrāj means to enter the world of the unseen. When a believer attains Mehrāj through prayer, Angels appear in front of him. He travels through the Heavens, and through the blessings of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) he comes to know his Lord.
