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Fatwa CenterNo Prohibition for Eating and Drinking at the Time of the Athan: It Applies Only to the Muath-thin
Question
Is it permissible or allowed to eat during the time of Adhan (for general time, not in Ramadan). Many people in our society say that, you can not eat during the adhan is reciting. Many say, if you are hungry then you can eat. Which is correct?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
There is nothing in the Sharee’ah that indicates the prohibition of eating at the time of the Athan (call to prayer). What is important is that the listener repeats the words said by the Mu‘atthin [the one who calls the Athan] for the Hadeeth of Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri – 
– who said: ‘The Prophet said: “When you hear the Athan, you should repeat exactly what the Mu‘atthin says.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
What the jurists mentioned is that it is prohibited for the Mu‘atthin himself from eating and speaking at the time of the call to prayer until he has finished.
As-hal al-Madarik from the Maliki School books reads: “He (Mu‘atthin) should not be engaged in eating and talking. Hence, if any Mu‘atthin happens to do that during the Athan, then if this is for a very short period, then he is not required to do anything, and he should continue his Athan, but if it is much, then his Athan is void.” [End of quote]
Allah Knows best.
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