What is the ruling regarding the repetition of the adhan after the muezzin has concluded it? I understand that it is recommended to repeat the adhan upon hearing the muezzin; however, there are occasions when I do not repeat the adhan while it is being called. Is it permissible to recite the adhan after the muezzin has completed it?

The principle is to recite the adhan as it is being called, seeking the reward associated with this practice. However, should one fail to repeat the adhan after the muezzin, one may repeat what the muezzin said—except for "Hayy 'ala al-salah" (come to prayer) and "Hayy 'ala al-falah" (come to success), after each of which one is to say, "La hawla wa la quwwata illa Billah" (there is no power nor might except with Allah) provided the interval between the adhan and the repetition is brief. If the interval is extended, it is no longer recommended to repeat the adhan, and one is not blameworthy for missing it.

Islamic law encourages repeating the adhan by echoing the words after the muezzin

The adhan is one of the most important rites of Islam. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged the repetition of the adhan by echoing the words recited by the muezzin, elucidating that doing so sincerely for the sake of Allah serves as a pathway to Paradise. Umar Ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “When the muezzin says, ‘Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,’ and one of you says, ‘Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar’; then he says, ‘Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah,’ and you say, ‘Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah’; then he says, ‘Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasul Allah,’ and you say, ‘Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasul Allah’; then he says, ‘Hayya ‘ala al-salah,’ and you say, ‘La hawla wa la quwwata illa Billah’; then he says, ‘Hayya ‘ala al-falah,’ and you say, ‘La hawla wa la quwwata illa Billah’; then he says, ‘Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,’ and you say, ‘Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar’; then he says, ‘La ilaha illa Allah,’ and you say, ‘La ilaha illa Allah’ with all sincerity, you will enter Paradise” (Muslim).

Abdullah Ibn Amr Ibn al-‘As (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “When you hear the muezzin, say as he says. Then send blessings upon me, for whoever sends blessings upon me once, Allah will send blessings upon him tenfold. Then ask Allah to grant me the Wasilah, for it is a rank in Paradise that is reserved for only one of Allah's servants, and I hope to be that person. Whoever asks Allah to grant me the Wasilah, my intercession will be granted to them” (Muslim).

The position of the various schools of jurisprudence regarding the repetition of the adhan after the muezzin

1. The majority view

There is a scholarly debate regarding the repetition of the adhan after the muezzin. The predominant view among scholars, notably the Malikis, Shafi’is, and Hanbalis, is that it is recommended to repeat the adhan after the muezzin, echoing his words, with the exception of "Hayya 'ala al-salah" and "Hayya 'ala al-falah," following which one should say, "La hawla wa la quwwata illa Billah."

• Imam al-Hattab, the Maliki scholar, stated in Mawahib al-Jalil, “It is recommended to repeat after the muezzin... and what the author noted—that its ruling is recommendation—is the mashour (well-known) opinion.”

• The Shafi’i scholar, Shiekh Zakariyyah al-Ansari noted in in Asna al-Matalib that it is recommended to respond to the call of the muezzin and the muqeem (the one making the iqamah), even if one is in a state of major ritual impurity or [a woman] is in her menses, by repeating every word after them. However, after the two ḥayʿalahs (i.e., ḥayya ʿala al-ṣalāh and ḥayya ʿala al-falāḥ), one should say, “Lā ḥawla wa-lā quwwata illā biLlāh” (There is no power nor strength except with Allah)—four times in the adhān and twice in the iqāmah. And when the muezzin says the phrase of al-tathwīb (al-ṣalātu khayrun min al-nawm i.e., prayer is better than sleep), one should respond by saying, “Sadaqta wa baraʿta” (you have spoken the truth and done well), and repeat it twice.

2. The Hanafi view

The Hanafis maintain that it is obligatory to respond to the adhan, although they have different views on how this duty should be fulfilled—whether by verbal repetition or by attending congregational prayers. The predominant view among Hanafi scholars is that this duty should be fulfilled verbally, as observed by Ibn Nujaim whereas al-Halawani argued that it is fulfilled by going to congregational prayers.  

The principle regarding the repetition of the adhan is that it is legislated for those who can hear it, rather than those who cannot. In other words, those who do not hear the adhan due to valid reasons such as deafness, distance, or other similar circumstances, are not required to repeat it. The reason for this is that the act of repeating after the muezzin is contingent upon the ability to hear, a condition which is not met in the above-mentioned cases.

Repeating the adhan upon its conclusion

If a person hears the adhan but does not repeat it while it is being called for any reason, they may still recite it afterward, provided the time interval is brief. If not, it is no longer recommended to repeat it. What constitutes a “long” interval is contingent on established norms and practices. This is the understanding derived from the words of the Hanafis, the Malikis in one of their two opinions, and the Shafi’is.

The ruling

The principle is to respond to the muezzin by echoing the adhan as it is proclaimed, seeking reward for doing so. However, it is permissible for those who miss the opportunity to repeat the adhan after the muezzin to later recite what he said, with the exception of "Hayya 'ala al-salah" and "Hayya 'ala al-falah," in which case they should say, "La hawla wa la quwwata illa Billah"—provided the interval between the adhan and its repetition is brief. That being said, there is no requirement to repeat the adhan if the interval is long, and one is not blameworthy for missing it altogether.

And Allah Almighty knows best