What Type of Person should the Mu'adhin be?

Q: Salaah-316: What type of person should the Mu'adhin be? can a person who is not particular about following the Shari'ah and who is unable to pronounce the words of the Adhaan properly be a Mu'adhin?

Answer: A Mu'adhin needs to be one who is righteous and religious and particular about following the Shari'ah. It is wrong to appoint as Mu'adhin someone who is a Faasiq and careless about religious practices. The Mu'adhin of Allaah's house needs be religiously minded, knowledgeable about the laws of Deen, especially those pertaining to salaah and the Adhaan. He needs to know the Sunnah and the times for salaah together with its terminologies such as Subh Saadiq, Subh Kaadhib, Zawaal Mithal, Shafaq Abyadh, etc. He should also have a loud voice, a good voice and be able to pronounce the words of the Adhaan properly. A Hadith states that one who is righteous should call out the Adhaan.

Fataawaa Aalamgeeri (Vol.1 Pg. 53) states that a Mdadhin should be a man who is sane, pious, abstinent and knowledgeable of the Sunnah. The Mu'adhins of our times lack significantly in all of this and pronounce the words of the Adhaan so incorrectly that the Adhaan often needs to be repeated. For example, they say (ASHADDU) instead of (ASH?HADU) they say (HAYYA LAL SALAAH) instead of (HAYYA ALAS SALAAH) and they say (HAYYA LAL FALAA) instead of (HAYYA ALAL FALAAH). Furthermore, they say (ALLAH) instead of (ALLAAH) they say (A..KBAR) and (AKBAAR) instead of (AKBAR) and they say (HAYYU) instead of (HAYYUwith big haa) Despite all these errors, Imaams and Musallis fail to correct them whereas this is the duty of the Imaam.

Adhaan is not merely an announcement but an act of Ibaadah and an extremely important hallmarks of Islaam that needs to be carried out in all its glory and reverence. It needs to have an effect on people's hearts and capture their attention. May Allaah grant the trustees of the Masaajid the realisation and understanding of its importance. And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.2