Q47 :Is it permissible to leave out the words that
mean “prayers are better than sleeping” in the call to Fajr prayer? Are
there any Hadiths in connection with this? Who inserted these phrases
in the call to prayer?
A47 : A famous report suggests that when Bilal was
taught the wording of the athan on the instructions of the Prophet
(peace be upon him), he inserted the phrase, “Assalah khairun min
annawm” when he said the athan for the Fajr prayer. The Prophet
approved his action. If this report is true, then the inserted words
were sanctioned by the Prophet and have benete a Sunnah to be included
in the call to Fajr prayer. An authentic Hadith is reported by Abu
Muhthurah, a netpanion of the Prophet who was a late neter to Islam. He
mentions that the Prophet taught him the words of the athan and told
him to go and make the call to prayer in Makkah. That was after the
Battle of Hunain which followed the conquest of Makkah. He mentions
that the Prophet instructed him to say this phrase in the first call to
Fajr prayer. This Hadith is related by An-Nassaie and Abu Dawood.
There is no doubt, then, that the Prophet had sanctioned the inclusion
of this phrase in the athan of Fajr prayer and, as such, this phrase is
part of the athan. Indeed, Abu Mahthurah used to call the athan in the
presence of the Prophet. He used to say this phrase twice in the first
call to Fajr prayer. Leaving this phrase out deliberately in the Fajr
prayer means that one declines to follow the Sunnah. That is not the
attitude of a good Muslim. [Please read also: Prayers advanced on a
rainy day.]
Our Dialogue ( Source : Arab News – Jeddah )