Is it necessary to respond to every azan?

Darulifta Ahlesunnat

(Dawateislami)

Question

     What do the scholars of Islam and the Muftis of the Shari’ah say regarding the following matter: In the building in which I live, the sound of multiple azans can be heard a few minutes apart. Is it necessary for us to reply to each one?

بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

     If the sounds of various azans can be heard after intervals, then it is only Mustahabb (preferable) to reply to the first one verbally. However, it is better to reply to each one.

     It is stated in Radd-ul-Muhtar: ‘و لو تکررای بان اذن واحد بعد واحد۔۔۔اجاب الاول’ ‘If azans are called out, one after the other, the listener should reply to the first one,’ (Radd-ul-Muhtar ma’ Durr-e-Mukhtar, vol. 2, p. 82).

     Mufti Muhammad Amjad Ali A’zami رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه writes: ‘If he hears several azans, he should reply to the first one, but it is better to reply to all of them,’ (Bahar-e-Shari’at, vol. 1, p. 473).

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم

Answered by : Mufti Abu Muhammad Ali Asghar Attari Madani