Hukum Azan Anak Kecil yang Belum Balig dalam Perspektif Mazhab Maliki dan Syafii

The Ruling on the Adhan of Prepubescent Children in the Maliki and Shafi'i Schools

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the legal status of the adhan performed by a prepubescent child according to the Maliki and Shafi'i schools, and to identify the similarities, differences, and legal reasoning behind their views. The issue arises because the adhan has a dual function: it is a ritual expression and an announcement of the beginning of prayer time. In practice, discerning children (mumayyiz) are often trained to call the adhan, yet jurists differ on whether puberty is required for a valid muadhdhin. This research uses library research with a qualitative, normative, and comparative approach. Primary references are drawn from classical Maliki and Shafi'i jurisprudential works, supported by usul al-fiqh literature and relevant studies. The findings show that the Maliki school emphasizes caution because the adhan functions as an authoritative notification of prayer time; therefore, a child should not be relied upon independently when the adhan becomes a public reference. By contrast, the Shafi'i school holds that puberty is not a condition of validity. The adhan of a mumayyiz child is valid if the child understands the adhan and pronounces it correctly. The study concludes that children's adhan training remains permissible, while public adhan should be supervised to preserve accuracy and communal trust.