It is worth mentioning, at the beginning of this section that it is of great importance that there should be a Mu'adhdhin in every mosque to whom the Imaam [leader of Salaat] could entrust his responsibilities. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to entrust Ibn 'Umm Maktoom [and others] with his responsibilities as a leader of Salaah while being away from Madeenah. Those entrusted proved to be the best.
The Mu'adhdhin should be of those who read and write well, know times of Salaah, punctual in their 'Adhaan and able to help Muslims in their congregational Salaah. Unfortunately, many callers to prayer in our mosques these days do not perceive the importance of the responsibility they bear upon their shoulders; this great rite amongst the Islamic rites...!! Some of them do not even know how to recite the 'Adhaan properly! The following points discuss mistakes many Mu'adhdhinoon do regarding the manner in which 'Adhaan is recited; but first, it is of great importance to attract our readers' attention to an important misconception people have regarding the legality of 'Adhaan itself.
Many people believe that reciting the 'Adhaan in the mosques in residence is a recommended act of worship and this is a sheer falsehood no doubt. 'Adhaan is indeed one of the greatest Islamic rites upon hearing which in an area, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would refrain from invading its people as is established in the Saheehayn (Bukhari and Muslim) and other Sunnah books. Many ahadeeth state a clear order that it be pronounced, though one is enough for it to be considered as Waajib. Accordingly, pronouncing 'Adhaan is Fard Kifaayah [collective duty]. Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah held this view.
The followers of Imaam Maalik and Ahma; ‘Ataa’, Mujaahid and AI-'Awzaa'ee shared his view. Concerning this point AI- 'Adawee held that it [the 'Adhaan] is a collective duty in the Muslim country; if abandoned, its dwellers ought to be fought.' Ibn Abdil Barr supported the same view stating a reason that 'the 'Adhaan is considered as a distinctive feature for the Muslim country that distinguishes it from a Kaafir[non-believingJ one.'
Ibn Qudaamah also stated the same opinion and added that it [the 'Adhaan] is not an obligation on the passersby for the purpose of calling 'Adhaan is to pronounce that Salaah is due, and for people to attend it in the mosques. One 'Adhaan suffices one country as long as all people could hear it.
The Hanafee followers, however, believe that the 'Athaan is a Sunnah Mu'akkadah [affirmed Sunnah] and one of the rites of Islaam; if abandoned one incurs a sin on himself. This view is also a well known view in the Shaafi'ee Madhhab. They held that abandoning an affirmed Sunnah has the same consequence as abandoning an obligatory deed, a sin is incurred. The difference between the views of the Shaafi'ee and Hanafee followers on one side and those who held that pronouncing 'Athaan is Waajib on the other is only a linguistic -idiomatic difference the thing that takes place a lot amongst the 'Ulamah- as Ibn Taymiyyah stated in his Fataawaa. He added:
'As for those who claim that it [ie. the 'Adhaan] is a Sunnah, if abandoned no sin is incurred [on a Muslim], this is indeed a sheer false hood.' Ash-Shawkaanee said that 'one must not hesitate to consider this act of worship as a Waajib for its evidences are crystal clear.'