large, their dwellings became far apart, and they needed someone to alert them. ‘Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) therefore ordered that a first adhān be given to urge the people to attend the Friday prayer, and it has remained a Sunnah to this very day. The Prophet ﷺ said, “You must hold fast to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs,” and ‘Uthman is one of those Caliphs. He instituted this adhān, and it was approved by the Emigrants and the Helpers who were present during his caliphate, so it became an established Sunnah. Hence, the one who abandons this adhān, which the Rightly-Guided Caliph ‘Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) laid down, and replaces it with Qur’an recitation over the loudspeaker, has committed an innovation. Reciting the Qur’an at this time and in this manner is an innovation; it was not done by the Prophet ﷺ, nor by his Companions, nor by the most virtuous generations.

Muslims are therefore obliged to confine themselves to what is legislated and not to introduce anything from their own selves. Broadcasting Qur’an recitation through the loudspeaker is no substitute for the adhān, which is a hallmark of Islam and a rite Allah —the Exalted—has prescribed for the Muslims. Allah knows best.
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Hiring someone to recite Qur’an after a death
Question: When someone among us dies, we bring in a preacher to recite Qur’an for five days, and afterwards we slaughter an animal and distribute its meat to the people. This is a custom we inherited and have continued to practise. What is the ruling on this action, O virtuous Shaykh? May Allah bless you.