The correct answer is Hazrat Usman (RA). Hazrat Usman ibn Affan (RA), the third Caliph of Islam, is historically credited with introducing the second call to prayer (Azan) for the Friday (Jummah) congregational prayers. This administrative and religious adaptation was... Read More
The correct answer is Hazrat Usman (RA). Hazrat Usman ibn Affan (RA), the third Caliph of Islam, is historically credited with introducing the second call to prayer (Azan) for the Friday (Jummah) congregational prayers. This administrative and religious adaptation was implemented during his caliphate to accommodate the rapid expansion of the Islamic state and the growing population of Medina.
During the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the subsequent caliphates of Hazrat Abu Bakar (RA) and Hazrat Umar (RA), the Friday prayer featured a single Azan. This call was traditionally proclaimed by the Muazzin when the Imam sat upon the pulpit (Minbar) just before the commencement of the Friday sermon (Khutbah).
However, by the era of Hazrat Usman’s caliphate in the mid-7th century, the city of Medina had grown significantly. Settlers, tradesmen, and newly arrived citizens had built homes further away from the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Prophet's Mosque). Consequently, when the single Azan was called at the time of the Khutbah, citizens engaged in marketplace transactions or distant residential areas often struggled to arrive at the mosque in a timely manner.
Recognizing the logistical challenge faced by the expanding community, Hazrat Usman (RA) consulted the senior companions (Sahabah) residing in Medina. With their consensus, he instituted a second Azan to be called prior to the actual gathering, specifically designed as a preliminary warning.
This supplementary Azan was ordered to be proclaimed from a prominent elevated location outside or near the central marketplace—historically known as Az-Zawra—to ensure that the sound reached those occupied with commerce across the city. Once this initial call was heard, people had adequate time to close their shops, perform ritual ablutions (Wudu), and make their way to the mosque before the Imam ascended the pulpit for the final Azan and sermon.
Discussion
Leave a Comment