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Fatwa CenterWhoever is prevented from repeating the azan receives the complete reward for it
Question
I have a problem that whenever I hear the Azaan, I feel a sudden urge to relieve myself and I cannot hold it until after the Azaan, although I may have been just coming out of the toilet the very minute of calling the Azaan. I feel sad that I do not listen to the Azaan while in the bathroom and feel as if I am committing a misdeed. Could you please help me out, may Allaah Almighty guide you. Thank you.
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.
It is an act of the Sunnah for whoever hears the Azaan (call to prayer) to repeat it and strive not to go to the bathroom until after the Azaan is over and recite the due supplication afterwards (to the best of his ability). The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:
"Whoever says, after listening to the Azaan, 'Allaahumma Rabba hathihi ad-da‘wat at-taamah was-salatu al-qa'imah, ati Muhammadan al-waseelata wa al-fadheelah, wa ib‘ath-hu maqaman mahmoodan al-lathi wa‘adtah.' (O Allaah, Lord of this perfect call and of the regular prayer which is going to be established. Kindly give Muhammad the right of intercession and superiority and send him (on the Day of Judgment) to the best and highest place in Paradise which You promised him), then my intercession will be permitted for him on the Day of Resurrection." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Moreover, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also said:
"Whoever says after listening to the Azaan, 'Ash-hadu alla Ilaha iIla Allaah wahdahu la shareeka lahu wa anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasooluh. Radheetu billahi rabban wa bi Muhammadin rasoolan wa bil-Islami deenan.' (I testify that none is worthy of worship except Allaah, alone, with no partner ascribed to Him, and Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. I am pleased with Allaah as a Lord, Muhammad as a messenger and Islam as a religion), his past sins will be forgiven." [Muslim and At-Tirmithi]
If one feels the need to go to the bathroom while the Azaan is being called or if it is called while he is relieving himself, he should not repeat the words of the Azaan with his tongue. However, he may repeat the Azaan in his heart but not with his tongue. If he cannot hold it until after the Azaan finishes and repeating its words after the Muezzin (one calling the Azaan), he will still earn the same rewards for listening to the Azaan and repeating its words afterwards since he was prevented from it due to a valid reason. Whoever is prevented from carrying out a righteous deed, which he used to do regularly, receives the complete reward as if he actually performed that deed.
Abu Moosa 
reported that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "No person becomes sick or travels but his deeds will be recorded for him in accordance with what he used to do when he was well or residing." [Ahmad]
Muhammad ibn Yazeed 
underlined that such a person will earn the complete rewards for good deeds that he used to perform while residing and in good health.
The Maaliki scholar, Ad-Dusooqi reported that it is not disliked for one to recite Thikr (remembrance of Allaah) in his heart without moving his tongue inside the bathroom according to the consensus of Muslim scholars.
He cited the following opinion, "The commentator underlined the fact that reciting Thikr in one's heart without moving his tongue when he is in the bathroom is not disliked according to the consensus of Muslim scholars."
Hence, you should not yield to sadness and concerns because of your situation (missing the chance to repeat the Azaan). Moreover, it should be noted that there is nothing wrong with listening to the Azaan while being in the bathroom and the questioner should not feel as if she committed a sin.
As for your problem that you have underlined, we advise you to resort to Ruqyah (a Sharee'ah-approved Quranic healing). There is no harm in asking trustworthy and pious people, who are experienced in reciting Ruqyah, to perform Ruqyah for you.
Allaah Knows best.
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