A Mufti says that it is not necessary to stop a lecture or Tilaawat to respond to the Athaan.

Answer

It is necessary to stop the lecture and the Tilaawat for replying to the Athaan. This is not an innovated custom as mentioned in the contrary view. On the contrary, continuing the lecture is an innovated custom.

Replying to the Athaan is the command o f R a s u l u l l a h (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam), and is not the product of personal opinion as is the practice of continuing the lecture. There is no imperative need to continue the lecture. The Athaan is very short-lived, and responding to it is a Masnoon Ibaadat of great significance and importance. There is no compensation for it if missed whilst nothing of the lecture or Tilaawat is missed and lost if momentarily interrupted to fulfil the Masnoon Ibaadat.

Furthermore, due to the gross neglect of this Ibaadat by the Madrasah personnel and the students, it is seen that even senior ulama of this age engage in worldly conversation whilst the Athaan is in progress. The Students show no respect for the Athaan in all the Darul Ulooms, not only during classes, but out of classes when they are indulging in nonsense. This is because of the lackadaisical attitude of their Asaatizah. Since the practice of responding to the Athaan has not been inculcated in them from their Madrasah days, they show no respect for the Athaan and by means of their practical conduct even senior Muftis imply that this Sunnah is of no importance, hence they disgorge the drivel of "just a custom".

It is deviation and dangerous to dig from the kutub stray opinions to cancel Masnoon Ibaadat. This attitude displays disdain for the Sunnah. Great Ulama have mentioned that abstention from this Masnoon Ibaadat can cause serious problems at the time of Maut.