The Adhan is a confirmed Sunnah with the strength of an obligation, but it is not obligatory according to the most correct opinion; because it was not taught to the Bedouin. However, if the people of a town collectively agree to abandon it, they must be fought, because it is one of the symbols of the religion and abandoning it shows clear disdain for it; due to its continuous practice and the saying of the Prophet, peace be upon him: 'When the time for prayer comes, let one of you call the Adhan and let the eldest among you lead the prayer,' as reported in Sahih al-Bukhari 1: 226, Sahih Muslim 1: 465, Sunan al-Nasa'i al-Kubra 1: 500, and Sahih Ibn Hibban 4: 541. See: Radd al-Muhtar 1: 284.