We answer: We do not say that there is no superiority in leading the prayer. Rather, leading the prayer is a religious office of merit. However, we say that the adhān is superior to leading the prayer because it publicly proclaims the remembrance of Allah and alerts people generally. Thus, the muezzin is an imam for everyone who hears him, since they follow him in determining the beginning of the prayer time, and in beginning and breaking the fast. Moreover, the adhān is generally more demanding than leading the prayer.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his Rightly Guided Caliphs did not give the adhān because they were occupied with what was more important rather than what was important: the imam is connected with all the people, so if he devoted himself to watching for the time, he would be distracted from the Muslims’ essential affairs—especially in earlier times, when there were neither clocks nor readily available means of determining the time.

Both Are Communal Obligations

His statement, “Both are communal obligations,” explains their legal ruling.

Linguistically, an obligation is something cut off. In Islamic law, it is that which is commanded in a binding manner. Is it more emphatic than what is obligatory, or are the two synonymous? (1)

The correct view is that they are synonymous. However, the terminology of the Sacred Law should be observed: whatever is designated as an obligation should be referred to as an obligation; otherwise, it should be expressed in the terms used by the Lawgiver, for this is more appropriate in following Him.

The evidence that they are obligatory is the Prophet’s command to perform them in several hadiths (2), his consistent observance of them both while resident and travelling, the fact that knowledge of the prayer time generally cannot be attained except through them, and the particular need for them, since they are among the manifest symbols of Islam.