Someone mentioned that a person who speaks while the Athaan is being called is a hair's breadth from losing his Imaan.

Answer

We too have heard the dire warning for a person who engages in unnecessary talk while the Athaan is in progress. However, we are not aware of the source of the narration. Nevertheless, the fact is that it is sinful to speak unnecessarily whilst the Athaan is in progress. Not only the laypeople commit this sin, even Ulama are prime culprits who indulge in this grave sin. The compulsory acts of ibaadat when the Athaan is in progress are:

* To observe silence * To listen attentively to the Muath-thin * To respond in the Masnoon way to each recitation of the Muath-thin * To recite Durood Shareef at the completion of the Athaan * To recite the Masnoon Dua at the end of the Athaan.