Q 2: The Number of Adhans (call to Prayer) in Jumu`ah (Friday) Prayer: According to the Maliki Madh-hab (school of jurisprudence), the Adhan is performed three times after the entrance of the Imam (the one who leads congregational Prayer). According to the Hanbali Madh-hab, this is a Bid`ah (heresy in religion), and the Jumu`ah Prayer of anyone who does so is null and void. They based their opinion on the fact that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) gave direction to make the Adhan just once. Thereupon the Hanbalis in our society parted away and pray in separate Masjids (mosques) to keep themselves away from such Bid`ah. The first and second cases have become the main reasons that caused the separation of the Masjids of the two Madh-habs, to the extent that when a Maliki died, Hanbalis did not utter Istighfar (seeking forgiveness from Allah) for him because, in their opinion, he died as a Kafir (disbeliever).

A: The basic rule for Jumu`ah Prayer is to proclaim the Adhan only once, after the entrance of the Imam, as was the case during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Making the Adhan more than once is not permissible and that is proved by the Hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): Anyone who brings in an act which is not in accordance with this matter of ours (Islam), his act will be rejected. Thus, whoever does so is a sinner but his Jumu`ah Prayer is not rendered Batil (null and void). All parties must reach an understanding in matters of religious knowledge by resorting to wisdom and good admonition without violence, rigidity or enmity. May Allah set right the affairs of all people! As for making the first preliminary Adhan in the Jumu`ah Prayer, it was a Sunnah (a commendable act) of the rightly-guided caliphs. It was first introduced during reign of `Uthman ibn `Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) and all the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet Muhammad) unanimously agreed with that act, among them was `Aly (may Allah be pleased with him). Moreover, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: You must follow my Sunnah and the way of the rightly-guided caliphs. Hold on to it and stick fast to it. Avoid novelties, for every novelty is a Bid`ah, and every Bid`ah is an error. (Part No. 7; Page No. 67) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.