Question Summary:
Adhan before Fajr

Question Detail:

Can you kindly explain the origins of the Adhan before Fajr Adhan in Makkah and Madina, which is often refered to as the Adhan for Tahajud Salat.
 
Is it correct to refer to it as Adhan for Tahajud.

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The Tahajjud Azan used to be given at the time of Nabi Sallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam. Some Ulama believe that the Tahajjud Azan is given only in Ramadan[1]. Others believe, the Tahajjud Azan is to be given throughout the year.
Consider the following two Ahadith:
صحيح البخاري (1/ 127)
لاَ يَمْنَعَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ - أَوْ أَحَدًا مِنْكُمْ - أَذَانُ بِلاَلٍ مِنْ سَحُورِهِ، فَإِنَّهُ يُؤَذِّنُ - أَوْ يُنَادِي بِلَيْلٍ - لِيَرْجِعَ قَائِمَكُمْ، وَلِيُنَبِّهَ نَائِمَكُمْ، وَلَيْسَ أَنْ يَقُولَ الفَجْرُ - أَوِ الصُّبْحُ
“The Azan pronounced by Bilal should not stop you from taking Suhur, for he pronounces the Azan at night, so that the one offering the late night prayer (Tahajjud) from among you might hurry up and the sleeping from among you might wake up. It does not mean that dawn or morning has started.” 
 
صحيح البخاري (3/ 172)
إِنَّ بِلاَلًا يُؤَذِّنُ بِلَيْلٍ، فَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّى يُؤَذِّنَ - أَوْ قَالَ حَتَّى تَسْمَعُوا أَذَانَ - ابْنِ أُمِّ مَكْتُومٍ» وَكَانَ ابْنُ أُمِّ مَكْتُومٍ رَجُلًا أَعْمَى، لاَ يُؤَذِّنُ حَتَّى يَقُولَ لَهُ النَّاسُ: أَصْبَحْتَ
“Bilal pronounces Azan at night, so keep on eating and drinking (Suhur) till Ibn Um Maktum pronounces Azan.” Saalim (the narrator) added “He (Um Maktum) was a blind man who would not pronounce the Azan unless he was told that the day had dawned.”
 
It is correct to say this Azan was for Tahajjud[2].
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Immad Bin Arshad
Student Darul Iftaa
California, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net