159 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The caller to prayer has more authority over the adhān, while the imam has more authority over the iqāmah.” It was narrated by Ibn ʿAdī, who ruled it weak. (1)
Al-Bayhaqī transmitted a similar report from ʿAlī (may Allah be pleased with him) in his own wording. (2)
Hadith grading
This hadith is weak. Al-Ḥāfiẓ said in al-Talkhīs: it is only transmitted by Sharīk. Al-Bayhaqī remarked, “It is not preserved.” Abū al-Shaykh also related it through Abū al-Jawzāʾ from Ibn ʿUmar, but the chain contains Muʿārik b. ʿAbbād, who is weak. Al-Bayhaqī further reported it from ʿAlī as a mawqūf statement.
I say: Muʿārik is spelled with a ḍammah on the mīm, followed by ʿayn, then alif, then rāʾ, ending with kāf.
Vocabulary
– “Amlak bi-l-adhān”: he has the stronger claim to call it, and its timing is entrusted to him, for he is its guardian.
– “Amlak bi-l-iqāmah”: the imam has the stronger claim to it; therefore, the mu’adhdhin should not begin the iqāmah except at his signal.
Points derived from the hadith
- Responsibility for verifying that the prayer time has begun rests with the mu’adhdhin; he is its guardian, and the community relies on his determination.
- The iqāmah, however, is the prerogative of the imam; the mu’adhdhin should not pronounce it until the imam directs him to do so.