The sunnah method of performing the adhān is as follows: in Arabic, by a man, in the prayer time, and free from grammatical mistakes. It is disliked for someone in a state of major ritual impurity to perform either the adhān or the iqāmah, or for someone in a state of minor ritual impurity to perform the iqāmah.

It is recommended that the person calling the adhān be a righteous person; be one who knows both the sunnah of how to perform the adhān as well as the prayer timings; be in a state of ritual purity; face the qiblah; place his index finger in each ear (or place his hands over the ears, or even one hand over one ear); and turn [only] his face toward the right when saying “Hayya ‘alas ṣalāḥ,” and the left when saying “Hayya ‘alal falah.”

When one hears the adhān, according to the sunnah, he should respond to the one performing it, and then make du’ā for the Prophet ﷺ to be granted the Station of Mediation. If performed accordingly, then one should respond to it by repeating each set of its phrases.

The exceptions to the phrases repeated are that:

• One also adds “laa hawla wa la quwwata illa billah” (“There is no power nor might except through Allāh”) after “Hayya ‘alas ṣalāḥ” & “Hayya ‘alal falah”
• One does not repeat after “Assalaatu khayrum minan nawm” (in the Fajr adhān) and instead says “Sadaqta wa bararta wa bil haqqi nataqta” (“You are right and did well; with the truth did you speak”) or “Masha Allāhu kaan [wa ma lam yasha’ lam yakun]” (“Whatever Allāh wills, exists [and whatever He does not will, does not exist]”)

Verbally responding to the adhān is considered mandatory (wājib) by some, recommended (mandūb) by others, who instead deem it mandatory to respond with one’s feet (meaning to pray in congregation). Some cases where one does not respond verbally are if one is praying, delivering a sermon (khutbah) or listening to one, teaching a lesson or studying in one, eating, having intercourse, or relieving oneself.