When is it said: "Prayer is better than sleep"?

Question:
Does the mu'adhdhin say, "Prayer is better than sleep," in the first adhan or the second, and what is the evidence for that?

Answer:
It is permissible in both, but it is more preferable in the second. The second one, which is at the dawn of Fajr, is more preferable. This is because it is established from the hadith of 'A'ishah and the hadith of Abu Mazhura that the mu'adhdhin used to say it for the Fajr prayer. When the mu'adhdhin finished, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would stand up and pray two rak'ahs, then go out to the prayer, as 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said. Therefore, the sunnah (recommended practice) is for it to be in Fajr at the last adhan, which is called at the dawn of Fajr. This is because "prayer is better than sleep" refers to the obligatory prayer. As for the voluntary prayer, it may be better than sleep, or sleep may be better than it if one needs it. But the obligatory prayer is better than sleep in all circumstances.