live in the chamber” [meaning Muhammad ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -)] as if the chamber grants honour to the prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -). (1)

[6/ 23] The fifth: Calling the ’Ath?n inside the mosque:

Reciting the ’Ath?n inside the mosque using loud speakers is not Shar‘ [i.e. legal] for many reasons, some of which are the following:

* It causes inconvenience for those who are reciting Qur’?n or remembrances, and those who are performing their Sal?t in it.

* It also prevents the Mu’aththin from being seen by all people outside the mosque, which is one of the etiquettes of this great Islamic rite.

I strongly believe that while reciting the ’Ath?n through loud speakers, the Mu’aththin should stand in a place from which he could be easily seen by other people. This could be easily achieved by setting a special place at the top of the mosque equipped with loud speakers. Incase the electricity goes off, the Mu’aththin could recite the ’Ath?n easily from the top of the mosque and be heared by all people.

It is worth mentioning here that a Mu’aththin should turn his head to the right and left when reciting the Hai‘alahs [i.e. Hayya ‘Alas Sal?t, Hayya ‘Alal Fal?h] which many Mu’aththin?n ignore since the microphones are set in front of them directly. Therefore, there should be two microphones set on both sides of the Mu’aththin to enable him practice this Sunnah properly.

If it is raised that the aim of turning one’s head towards the right and left sides is to let all people hear the ’Ath?n and there is no need to do this act in the presence of the loudspeakers, the refutation will be that this hypothesis is proofless. Besides, acts of Sunnah may have other aims about which people may not know, so it is better for a Muslim to act upon Sunnah. (2)