When the one who calls the second call to prayer says, "The prayer has begun," some Muslims say, "May Allah establish it and make it last," and some of them say, "O Allah, establish it and make it last."

The questioner : When the one who calls the second call to prayer says, "The prayer has begun," some Muslims say, "May Allah establish it and make it last," and some of them say, "O Allah, establish it and make it last." We want to know something about this.

The Shaykh : Those who say, "May Allah establish it and make it last," rely on a hadith narrated by Abu Dawud in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said this when the one who calls the second call to prayer announced, "The prayer has begun."

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : However, this hadith is weak because one of its narrators is unknown, and it also contains Shahr ibn Hawshab, and the discussion regarding him is well known. Therefore, there is a point of concern with this saying because it is based on this weak hadith.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : As is well known among the scholars, a weak hadith is not used as evidence to establish a ruling in Islamic sacred law.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : As for those who say, "O Allah, establish it and make it last," I do not know of anything they rely on.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : Unless they say that this is like the saying, "May Allah establish it and make it last." But we have learned that there is a point of concern regarding the recommendation of saying even "May Allah establish it and make it last," since it is based on a weak hadith.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : Yes.