Section: Al-Athram said: I heard Abu Abd Allah [Ahmad] being asked about the man who stands up as soon as he hears the Muezzin, hastening to perform Ruku' (bowing)? He replied: It is recommended that his Ruku' be after the Muezzin finishes, or is near finishing; because it is said that the devil flees when he hears the Adhan, so it is not appropriate to hasten to stand up. If he enters the mosque and hears the Muezzin, it is recommended for him to wait for him to finish and say what he says, thus combining both virtues. If he does not say what he says and instead begins the prayer, there is no harm in that. Ahmad explicitly stated this.

Section: It is not recommended to exceed two Muezzins; because what has been preserved from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is that there were two Muezzins: Bilal and Ibn Umm Maktum. Unless there is a need to exceed them, in which case it is permissible, for it has been narrated from Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) that he had four Muezzins. If the need calls for more than that, it is legislated. When there are more than one, and one (alone) is sufficient for the people to hear, it is recommended that one calls the Adhan after the other; because of the Muezzins of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), one would call after the other. If the announcement is not achieved by one, they call the Adhan according to what is needed; either each one calls from a minaret or a different side, or simultaneously in one place. Ahmad said: If several call the Adhan in one minaret, there is no harm, and if they fear that by one calling after the other, the beginning of the time will pass, they should all call it simultaneously.

Section: The Adhan should not be called before the appointed Muezzin, unless he is absent or it is feared that the time for the Adhan will pass, in which case someone else should call it, as was narrated from Ziyad ibn al-Harith al-Suda'i, that he called the Adhan for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when Bilal was absent, and we have already mentioned his hadith. A man also called the Adhan when Abu