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Fatwa CenterRuling of turning to the right and left during Athaan and when to do so
Question
Unfortunately, I live in the west. Sometimes, I go to the mosque at the time of prayer. However, I find no one there to call the Athaan so I do it myself. But I found that some people turn to the right and left when saying “Hayya ‘ala As-Salaah” and “Hayya ‘ala Al-Falaah”. I do not do so but is it obligatory upon me to do so?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
The turning to the right and left that the Mua’zzin does when saying “Hayya ‘ala As-Salah (i.e. come to prayer)” and “Hayya ‘ala Al-Falaah (i.e. come to success)” is not obligatory but is Sunnah (i.e. a recommended act). When saying it, one should only turn his head and the rest of his body should remain facing the Qiblah. This is because Abu Juhayfah 
narrated: “I saw Bilaal calling the Athaan and I followed (the movements of) his mouth and he put his fingers in his ears.” [Ahmad and At-Tirmithi]
In another narration reported by Abu Daawood, he said: “When he (i.e. Bilaal) said ‘Hayya ‘ala As-Salah’, he turned his neck right and left and he did not turn completely.” This is so that, and Allaah knows best, your voice reaches those who are on his right and left as well as those behind him. But if someone calls the Athaan using a microphone, then this will replace turning to the right and left because the microphone makes the voice spread in all directions. However, if he turns right and left slightly, and his voice is not decreased, acting on the Sunnah in doing so, then this will be good.
Allaah Knows best.
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