the people of any town that abandons them, and it is forbidden to take wages for either of them; however, a stipend from the public treasury is permitted when no volunteer can be found.

It is recommended that the mu’adhdhin be (1) strong-voiced, trustworthy, and knowledgeable about the prayer times (2). If two people vie for the office (3), preference is first given to the one superior in these qualities, then to the more religious and intelligent, then to the candidate favored by most neighbors, and finally to whichever name is drawn by lot.

The adhan is made up of fifteen sentences. He should chant it deliberately, from an elevated spot, in a state of ritual purity, facing the qibla, with his forefingers in his ears (4). He turns to the right for “hayya ʿala as-salah” (“come to prayer”) and to the left for “hayya ʿala al-falah” (“come to success”), without moving his feet, and in the dawn adhan he then says twice, “as-salatu khayrun min an-nawm” (“prayer is better than sleep”).

The iqama consists of eleven sentences, which he recites rapidly (5). The same mu’adhdhin should give the iqama from where he stands if that is easy. It is only valid when performed by a righteous male, in the correct order and without lengthy interruption— even if he sings it melodically or mispronounces some words; both practices are disliked (6). It is still valid when performed by a discerning child.

A prolonged break (7) or forbidden speech invalidates both the adhan and the iqama. Neither of them counts if made before the time of the prayer—except for the dawn adhan, which may be called after midnight.

Whoever combines prayers, or makes up missed prayers, should call one adhan for the first prayer and then give an iqama for each subsequent prayer.