Replacing Adhan for Fajr Prayer with Takbir and Tahlil during Ramadan

Q 1: During Ramadan, some Mu'adhins (callers to Prayer) do not pronounce the Adhan (call to Prayer) for the Fajr (Dawn) Prayer but use bells instead and some other Mu'adhins do not do anything. Also, they pronounce no Adhan during the period of Suhur (pre-dawn meal before the Fast); they only say Tahlil (saying: "La ilaha illa Allah [There is no god except Allah]"), or recite the Qur'an, or play a cassette tape of recitation of the Qur'an. What did the Salaf (righteous predecessors) use to do?

A: The Adhan is pronounced to inform the people of the time of Salah (Prayer) or the approach of its time, such as the first Adhan for the Fajr Prayer. Nothing can replace it; because it is one of the Tawqifiy (bound by a religious text and not amenable to personal opinion) matters. It is not permissible to add or delete from the wording of the Adhan or to replace it with another means. Anyone who replaces the Adhan with a bell is imitating the Christians and acting unlike Muslims; and this is an abominable act. Thus, it is Haram (prohibited) (Part No. 5; Page No. 52) to use a bell instead of the Adhan to announce the time of Salah nor to neglect it entirely; because pronouncing it is a collective obligation and the people will be committing a sin if none of them pronounces it. Also, it is not permissible to neglect pronouncing the Adhan entirely since it is one of the apparent Islamic rituals, and neglecting it is considered disdain of the Islamic religious matters. Similarly, if a person says Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah) or Du`a' (supplication) or even recites the Qur'an instead of the Adhan, they will be introducing a Bid`ah (innovation in religion) which displeases Allah (Exalted be He), and their deeds will be rejected according to the Hadith in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Anyone who innovates things in our affairs for which there is no valid (reason) (commits sin) and these are to be rejected. The basic rule is that reciting the Qur'an, seeking Allah's Forgiveness, and saying Dhikr are done after the Adhan and after offering Tahiyyat-ul-Masjid (two-unit Prayer to salute the mosque). Each person should do this alone and in a low voice so as not to distract other people offering Salah. This was the practice of the Salaf.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.