—following him inwardly is not speech either.

Likewise, if you hear several callers to prayer, are you required to respond to each one? We say: if they are overlapping so that the second begins before the first has finished, busy yourself with the first and pay no mind to the second. If, however, the second begins only after the first has completed, then answer him as well, for that is a virtuous act and falls under the Prophet’s general directive, “Say what he says.”

The scholars—may Allah have mercy on them—added one qualification: this applies as long as the listener has not yet performed the prayer. If he has already heard an adhan, prayed, and then hears another adhan, they held that he need not respond, because that call is not addressed to him; he has already fulfilled what was obligatory and therefore need not follow the mu’adhin. Yet this view is open to objection, for it conflicts with the Prophet’s unrestricted statement, “When you hear the mu’adhin, say what the mu’adhin says,” in which he made no exceptions. As for their claim that the adhan is not directed at him, we reply: it may not apply to him at this moment, but in the future he will certainly be summoned to prayer. The matter is straightforward: answer the mu’adhin even if you have already prayed; it is a good deed that can only benefit you. Allah is the One who grants success.

1038 – Abu Saʿid al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “When you hear the call, say what the mu’adhin says.” Agreed upon.