he has an excuse, such as being overtaken by a sneeze or a cough, he resumes from where he left off, because the interruption occurred without his choice.

By one upright man …

His statement, “by one upright man,” is an adjective describing an omitted noun. The intended meaning is: “by one upright man.” Thus, it is not valid when given by a woman, nor by two or more people. Nor may another complete the adhan if the muezzin is prevented by an excuse; rather, he must begin it afresh.

We also derive from his statement, “upright,” that he must be a Muslim. If a disbeliever gives the adhan, it is invalid, because the adhan is an act of worship, for which Islam is a condition. Likewise, if one who openly commits sin gives the adhan—such as one who shaves his beard or openly smokes—his adhan is invalid according to the author’s view.

The second narration from Imam Ahmad is that the adhan of an openly sinful person is valid (1), because the adhan is a remembrance of Allah, and remembrance of Allah is accepted from such a person. However, no one should be entrusted with giving the adhan and iqamah except one who is upright.

Likewise, an adhan played from a recording is invalid, because it is merely a reproduction of a previous adhan. Moreover, the adhan is an act of worship, and it has already been mentioned that it is more virtuous than leading the prayer (2). Just as it is invalid for us to record an imam’s prayer and then tell the people, “Follow this recording in prayer,” so too it is invalid to rely on a recording for the adhan. Whoever confines himself to this has not fulfilled the communal obligation.

His statement, “upright,” also indicates that sound intellect is a condition, since uprightness entails sound intellect. The pen of legal accountability has been lifted from the insane person, so he can be described as neither upright nor sinful.