Subject: First Azan for Jumu’ah Prayer Assalamo Alaikum, The first Azan for Jumu'ah prayer, which is called ahead of the Azan called before the Khutba in front of the Khateeb was introduced by Uthman (3rd khalifa rashid), Radi-Allahu Anhu. It was introduced to make the people aware of the time of Jumu'ah prayer so they could make the necessary preparation and could reach the masjid in time. The first Azan was not called from the masjid at that time rather it was called at a busy place like a market so more people could hear it. In muslim countries these days, the first Azan for Jumu'ah prayer is called from the masjid on speakers instead of a market or any other busy place. As a lot of people can hear the Azan from the speaker, the objective for which it was started is achieved. But in our masjid in Winnipeg, Canada, the sound of Azan does not leave the masjid even when the Azan is called by using speakers. So on Jumu'ah, first Azan is only heard by a few people who have already come into the masjid for Jumu'ah salat. So the first Azan does not even serve the objective for which it was introduced. My question is, in this situation only, will it be right to go back to the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (Sall-Allahu Alaihi Wasallam) and the Sunnah of Abu Baker (1st khalifa rashid) and Umar (2nd khalifa rashid) Radi-Allahu Anhum of calling only one Azan (second Azan) for Jumu'ah prayer? Our imam has now started the practice of calling only one Azan (2nd azan) before Jumu'ah prayer but a few people are opposing it. They insist; the Sahabah at the time of Uthman (3rd khalifa rashid), had a consensus (Ijmaah) on two Azans and therefore, it must continue. While our imam says; there was never a consensus (Ijmaah) among Sahabah on calling two azans from the masjid for Jumu'ah prayer and the first azan does not serve its purpose when called from our masjid so we should go back to the sunnah of the prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

In this issue, our view is that uniting and not dividing comes in priority over the issue of calling one or two Athaans, as Allaah ordered us to unite and not divide, and the Prophet severely warned us against dividing and disuniting.

We have already issued Fatwa 86806 clarifying that the issue of calling one Athaan or two Athaans on Friday is an easy matter; one may only call one Athaan, and one may adopt the view of 'Uthmaan by calling two Aathaans.

Therefore, if the Imaam knows that by neglecting the first Athaan, he may cause a tribulation, disunion and evil, then he should call the first Athaan in order to unify the Muslims and avoid affliction, especially if the congregation does not have enough religious knowledge to understand the differences of opinions in the Fiqh matters.

Finally, we advise you to give this Fatwa to the Imaam so that he would read our view, and we ask Allaah to enable everyone to do what pleases Him.