I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: "The mu'adhdhins will have the longest necks of all people on the Day of Resurrection." Reported by Muslim (36). From Ibn Umar, he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "There are three who will be upon mounds of musk,"—I think he said—"on the Day of Resurrection, envied by the first and the last: a man who called the five prayers every day and night, a man who leads a people in prayer while they are pleased with him, and a servant who fulfilled the right of Allah and the right of his masters." Reported by al-Tirmidhi (37), who said: It is a hasan gharib (good but singular) hadith.
Section: There is a difference of opinion regarding whether the Adhan is superior to the Imamate (leading the prayer) or not. It is narrated that the Imamate is superior, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) took charge of it himself, as did his successors, and they did not take charge of the Adhan, and they would not choose anything but what is best. Furthermore, for the Imamate, one is chosen who is more complete in condition and more excellent, and the consideration of its virtue is a proof of the virtue of its station. The second opinion is that the Adhan is superior. This is the school of al-Shafi'i, based on the reports we have narrated regarding its merit, and what Abu Hurayrah narrated, saying: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The Imam is a guarantor, and the mu'adhdhin is a trustee. O Allah, guide the Imams and forgive the mu'adhdhins."
= Chapter on what has been narrated regarding the merit of the first row, from the Chapters on Prayer Times. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 2/24. And al-Nasa'i, in: Chapter on the dispensation to call the Isha prayer 'Atama, from the Book of Prayer Times, and: Chapter on Drawing Lots for the Adhan, from the Book of Adhan. Al-Mujtaba 1/216, 2/19, 20. And Imam Malik, in: Chapter on what has been narrated regarding the call to prayer, from the Book of the Call, and Chapter on what has been narrated regarding the 'Atama and the Morning prayer, from the Book of the Congregation. Al-Muwatta' 1/68, 131. And Imam Ahmad, in: al-Musnad 2/236, 278, 303, 374, 533. The second [hadith] is in: Chapter on Raising the Voice with the Call, from the Book of Adhan, and: Chapter on the Mention of the Jinn, their reward, and their punishment, from the Book of the Beginning of Creation, and: Chapter on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "The one who is skilled in the Quran is with the noble, righteous scribes, and beautify the Quran with your voices," from the Book of Tawhid. Sahih al-Bukhari 1/158, 4/154, 9/194. It was also reported by al-Nasa'i, in: Chapter on Raising the Voice with the Adhan, from the Book of Adhan. Al-Mujtaba 2/11. And Ibn Majah, in: Chapter on the Merit of the Adhan and the Reward of the Mu'adhdhins, from the Book of Adhan. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/239, 240. And Imam Malik, in: Chapter on what has been narrated regarding the call to prayer, from the Book of the Call. Al-Muwatta' 1/69. And Imam Ahmad, in: al-Musnad 3/6, 35, 43. (36) In: Chapter on the Merit of the Adhan and the flight of Satan upon hearing it, from the Book of Prayer. Sahih Muslim 1/290. It was also reported by Ibn Majah, in: Chapter on the Merit of the Adhan and the Reward of the Mu'adhdhins, from the Book of Adhan. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/240. And Imam Ahmad, in: al-Musnad 4/95, 98. (37) In: Chapter on what has been narrated regarding the merit of the righteous slave, from the Chapters on Piety, and: Chapter on "Abu Kurayb narrated to us," from the Chapters on the Description of Paradise. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 8/154, 10/38. It was also reported by Imam Ahmad, in: al-Musnad 2/26.
