Hadith: The Muezzins will have the longest necks of all the people

عن معاوية رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: «المُؤَذِّنونَ أطولُ النّاسِ أعنَاقاً يَومَ القِيَامَةِ».
[صحيح] - [رواه مسلم]

Mu‘āwiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The Muezzins will have the longest necks of all the people on the Day of Judgment."
[Authentic hadith] - [Narrated by Muslim]

Explanation

Mu‘āwiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The Muezzins will have the longest necks of all the people…" The early and the later scholars held different opinions regarding the meaning of 'longest necks'. Some said that it means actual length. When sweat overwhelms the people on the Day of Judgment, reaching up to their faces, their necks will be extended in order to spare them that sweat and distress. Others said that it means that they will be the most yearning to the mercy of Allah. The person who yearns to something extends his neck towards it, hence it means that they extend their neck to the abundant reward that they yearn to receive. It was also said that it means that they are masters and superior to other people, since Arabs describe noblemen as having 'long necks'. Another interpretation is that they will have the most followers, and there are other interpretations as well. "On the Day of Judgment": When Allah resurrects the people, the Muezzins will enjoy a privilege that is peculiar to them alone: they will have the longest necks. Thus, they will be recognized for their merit and honor because they used to make the call to the prayer, announcing that Allah Akbar (Allah is the Greatest); that He is One; and that Muhammad is His Messenger; and they used to call the people to prayer and success. They made this announcement from raised places, thus their reward is of the same nature of their deed: their heads and their faces will be raised through the extension of their necks on the Day of Judgment. Hence a person should be keen on being a Muezzin, even if he is not in a mosque.