what will carry the voice most effectively. However, the vocal amplification they call “echo” is not legislated; rather, it may be prohibited if it entails repeating the final letter, because this constitutes an addition.

His statement, “trustworthy”: the apparent view of the madhhab is that being trustworthy is a sunnah ⦗1⦘. The correct view, however, is that it is obligatory, because trustworthiness is one of the two essential qualities sought in everything; the other is strength, as Allah says:

“Indeed, the best one you can hire is the strong and trustworthy.” [Quran 28:26]

And the powerful jinn who wished to bring the throne of Bilqis to Solomon said:

“Indeed, I am strong and trustworthy for this task.” [Quran 27:39]

Failure to carry out a task properly results from a deficiency in one of these two qualities: strength and trustworthiness. If there is a weak but trustworthy person, and another who is strong but untrustworthy, which of the two should be given precedence?

The answer is that the correct choice depends on what the task requires. In some duties, giving consideration to trustworthiness takes priority, while in others, giving consideration to strength takes priority. For example, strength may deserve greater consideration in political authority, whereas trustworthiness may deserve greater consideration in the judiciary.

His statement, “trustworthy,” means trustworthy regarding the prayer times and regarding people’s private matters—especially in the past, when people would give the adhān from atop the minaret.

His statement, “knowledgeable of the time”: this is not a condition if what is meant is that he knows it independently, for Ibn Umm Maktum was a blind man who would not give the adhān