Method of Giving Adhan in a Child’s Ear

Question

What is the method of giving Adhan (اذان)  in a child’s ear?

Answer

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

الجواب بعون الملک الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

The method of giving Azan in a child’s ear is to hold the child in your hands facing Qibla, then say the Azan in the right ear and the Iqamat in the left ear, just as it is said for prayer, i.e., turn your face to the right when saying “Hayya ‘ala-s-Salah” (حی علی الصلاۃ – Come to the prayer) and to the left when saying “Hayya ‘ala-l-Falah” (حی علی الفلاح – Come to success).
Even if you do not lift the child in your hands, there is no harm. Giving Azan and Iqamat once is sufficient. And although giving Azan without Wudu (ablution) is permissible, it is better to give it with Wudu.
It is permissible for a woman to give Azan in a child’s ear because the Azan here is specifically for remembrance, not for calling people, just like the Azan given for seeking rain or Dafa-e-waba (i.e. for repelling epidemics, eg Covid-19). And Dhikr (ذکر – remembrance) is permissible for women just as it is for men. However, it is not permissible for a woman to give Azan in such a loud voice that non-Mahram men can hear.
The Prophet ﷺ said:

من ولد لہ فأذن فی أذنہ الیمنی وأقام فی أذنہ الیسری لم تضرہ أم الصبیان

Translation:
“Whoever’s child is born, so he calls the Adhan in his right ear and Iqamah in his left ear, then the child will not be harmed by umm ul sabiyān.”

(Musnad Abi Ya’la Al-Mawsili, vol. 12, p. 150, published by Dar al-Mamun for Heritage, Damascus)

Allamah Rafi’i, citing Allamah Sindi, explains the method as follows:

فیرفع المولود عند الولادۃ علی یدیہ مستقبل القبلۃ و یؤذن فی اذنہ الیمنی و یقیم فی الیسری و یلتفت فیھما بالصلاۃ لجھۃ الیمین و بالفلاح لجھۃ الیسار

“So the newborn is raised upon birth facing the Qiblah, Adhan is called in the right ear and Iqamah in the left ear, turning rightwards like one does in Salah during Hayya ‘alal-Salah and leftwards with Hayya ‘alal-Falah.”

(Hashiyat al-Radd al-Muhtar, vol. 2, p. 66, published in Quetta)

Fatawa Ridawiyyah states: “When a child is born, Adhan should be immediately called in the right ear and Takbir in the left ear, so that the devil and umm ul sabiyān are warded off from the child.”

(Fatawa Ridawiyyah, vol. 24, p. 452, Ridha Foundation, Lahore)

Though calling the Adhan without wudhu is permitted, it is better that it is done with wudhu. It is narrated from Abu Hurairah رضی ﷲ تعالیٰ عنہ that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

لا یؤذن إلا متوضئی

Translation:
“None should call the Adhan except one who has performed wudhu.”

(Tirmidhi, Chapter on Salah, vol. 1, p. 389, published by Mustafa al-Babi in Egypt)

When Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رحمة الله عليه, a leading Sunni scholar, was asked about calling the Adhan without wudhu, he replied: “It is permitted in the sense that it will be a valid Adhan, but it is disliked as a hadith prohibits it. Thus, Allamah Sharanbalali adopted the view of it being makruh (disliked).”

(Fatawa Ridhwiyyah, vol. 5, p. 370-5, Ridha Foundation, Lahore)

It is permitted for a woman to call the Adhan in the child’s ears, as this Adhan is an act of remembrance (dhikr). Especially since the intent here is not to make an announcement or gather people, but pure dhikr, just as an Adhan called to ward off affliction or seeking rain, as Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رحمة الله عليه writes: “The Adhan called to ward off affliction or seeking rain is not done with the intention of announcement or gathering people, but with the intention of dhikr. And dhikr in the mosque is permitted.”

(Fatawa Ridhwiyyah, vol. 5, p. 373, Ridha Foundation, Lahore)

And just as dhikr is permitted for men, it is equally permitted for women. However, it is not permitted for a woman to call the Adhan so loudly that non-mahram men hear it, as Allamah Shami رحمة الله عليه writes regarding women calling the Adhan:

ولأن مبنی حالھن علی الستر ورفع صوتھن حرام

Translation:
“Because their condition necessitates concealment, and raising their voices is prohibited.”

(Radd al-Muhtar, Chapter on Salah, section on Adhan, vol. 2, p. 61, published in Quetta)

Answer by: Mufti Sajid Attari

Translated by: Shaheer Attari