than sleep.” (1) They therefore claimed that tathwīb is only to be said in the adhān given late in the night, because they call it “the first”; and they said that tathwīb in the adhān given after dawn is an innovation.

We reply: The Messenger ﷺ said, “When you give the first adhān for the Fajr prayer,” specifying, “for the Fajr prayer.” It is well known that the adhān given late in the night is not for the Fajr prayer; rather, it is as the Prophet ﷺ said: “to awaken the sleeping person and send back the one who is praying at night.” (2) As for the Fajr prayer, no adhān is given for it except after dawn has broken. If an adhān is given for it before dawn breaks, it is not an adhān for that prayer. This is proven by his ﷺ saying: “When the time for prayer comes, let one of you give the adhān for you …” (3) It is well known that the time for prayer only comes after its prescribed time has begun.

The question therefore remains concerning his words, “When you give the first adhān.” We say: there is no difficulty in this, for adhān linguistically means notification, and the iqāmah is likewise a notification. Thus, the adhān for the Fajr prayer, after its time has begun, is a first adhān.

This is stated explicitly in what Muslim narrated from Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, concerning the Prophet’s ﷺ night prayer. She said: “He would sleep