2/66. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 589 — Adhan, Iqamah, and Imam
Who Has More Right To Be Imam
Hadith on Adhan, Iqamah, and the Oldest Leading Prayer
Sunan Abi Dawud : 589
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 589
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا مَسْلَمَةُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، - الْمَعْنَى وَاحِدٌ - عَنْ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ الْحُوَيْرِثِ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ لَهُ أَوْ لِصَاحِبٍ لَهُ " إِذَا حَضَرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَأَذِّنَا ثُمَّ أَقِيمَا ثُمَّ لْيَؤُمَّكُمَا أَكْبَرُكُمَا " . وَفِي حَدِيثِ مَسْلَمَةَ قَالَ وَكُنَّا يَوْمَئِذٍ مُتَقَارِبَيْنِ فِي الْعِلْمِ . وَقَالَ فِي حَدِيثِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ قَالَ خَالِدٌ قُلْتُ لأَبِي قِلاَبَةَ فَأَيْنَ الْقُرْآنُ قَالَ إِنَّهُمَا كَانَا مُتَقَارِبَيْنِ .
Malik bin Al-Huwairith Narrated from:
The Prophet( may peace be upon him) told him or some of his companions: When the time of prayer comes, call the Adhan, then call the iqamah, then the one who is oldest of you should act as your imam. The version narrated by Maslamah goes : He said: On that day we were almost equal in knowledge. The version narrated by Isma’il says: Khalid said: I said to Abu Qilabah: where is the Qur’an(i.e. why did the Prophet(ﷺ) not say: The one who knows the Qur’an most should act as imam)? He replied: Both of them were equal in the knowledge of the Qur’an.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 589In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 199English translation : Book 2, Hadith 589
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 589
This Hadith gives a short order for prayer when the time arrives. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) told Malik b. al-Huwairith or some of his companions to call the adhan, then call the iqamah, then let the oldest among them lead. The report also explains why age was mentioned here: they were close to one another in knowledge. When Abu Qilabah was asked where the Qur'an factor was, he said that the two were close in Qur'an knowledge. So this Hadith about adhan, iqamah, and imam selection does not cancel the value of Qur'an knowledge. It shows that when people are similar in knowledge, age may be used to decide who leads.
What we learn from this hadith
- Prayer is called with adhan and iqamah when its time comes.
- The oldest may lead when people are close in knowledge.
- Qur'an knowledge remains part of the wider imam selection rule.
- The Hadith shows order and clarity in congregational prayer.
