What is the correct way to respond to Hayyā alā al-Salāh and Hayyā alā al-Falāh?
The answer
When the Mua’ddhin (caller to prayer) says Hayyā alā al-Salāh and Hayyā alā al-Falāh, others should respond by uttering[1]:
In short: respond with Lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh.
Explanation
لا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إلَّا بِاَللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ
‘Lā Howla wa lā Quwwata illā billāhi al-Alī al-Athīm’
There is no power and might except with the help of Allah The Exalted and Mighty
Hayyā alā al-Salāh means ‘come for Salāh’. Hayyā alā al-Falāh means ‘come to success’. Repeating the same words of the mu’addhin would be a form of mockery and such repetition would not really serve any purpose. Therefore, we have been instructed to read ‘Lā Howla wa lā Quwwata illā billāhi al-Alī al-Athīm’.
This phrase means one does not have the innate strength to resist from sin nor does one have the instinctive power to execute good except with the help of Allah. This utterance serves to remind the Muslim of his and her total dependence on Allah Ta’ālā.
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Faraz Adam
References
1فَيَقُولُ مِثْلَ مَا قَالَهُ إلَّا فِي قَوْلِهِ: ” حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ حَيَّ عَلَى الْفَلَاحِ ” فَإِنَّهُ يَقُولُ مَكَانَهُ لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إلَّا بِاَللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ؛ لِأَنَّ إعَادَةَ ذَلِكَ تُشْبِهُ الْمُحَاكَاةَ وَالِاسْتِهْزَاءَ، (بدائع الصنائع ج 1 ص 155 دار الكتب)
والإجابة أَن يَقُول مثل مَا قَالَه الْمُؤَذّن إِلَّا فِي قَوْله حَيّ على الصَّلَاة حَيّ على الْفَلاح فَإِنَّهُ يَقُول مَكَان ذَلِك لَا حول وَلَا قُوَّة إِلَّا بِاللَّه الْعلي الْعَظِيم لِأَن إِعَادَة ذَلِك تشبه المحاكاة والاستهزاء (تحفة الفقهاء ج 1 ص 116 دار الكتب)
(قَوْلُهُ: إلَّا أَنَّهُ يَزِيدُ فِيهَا بَعْدَ الْفَلَاحِ قَدْ قَامَتْ الصَّلَاةُ مَرَّتَيْنِ) وَقَالَ مَالِكٌ مَرَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَيُسْتَحَبُّ مُتَابَعَةُ الْمُؤَذِّنِ فِيمَا يَقُولُ إلَّا فِي الْحَيْعَلَتَيْنِ فَإِنَّهُ يَقُولُ لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إلَّا بِاَللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ أَيْ لَا حَوْلَ عَنْ مَعْصِيَةِ اللَّهِ وَلَا قُوَّةَ عَلَى طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ إلَّا بِاَللَّهِ، وَقِيلَ مَعْنَاهُ لَا حَوْلَ عَنْ مَعْصِيَةِ اللَّهِ إلَّا بِعِصْمَةِ اللَّهِ وَلَا قُوَّةَ عَلَى طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ إلَّا بِعَوْنِ اللَّهِ (الجوهرة النيرة ج 1 ص 44 مير محمد)
Based on the Hanafi school and on the question as it was asked. Another mufti may reach a different conclusion. Read the disclaimer.