Call to Prayers (Adhaan)

‘Imran bin Maisara narrated to us: ‘Abd al-Warith narrated to us: Khalid al-Hadhdha narrated to us, from Abu Qilaba, from Anas, who said: They mentioned fire and bells, then mentioned the Jews and Christians. Bilal was therefore instructed to pronounce the phrases of the call to prayer in pairs and the phrases of the commencement in single form.

Mahmud bin Ghailan narrated to us: ‘Abd al-Razzaq narrated to us: Ibn Juraij informed us: Nafi‘ informed me that Ibn ‘Umar used to say: When the Muslims arrived in Medina, they would gather and wait for prayer, but no call was made. One day they discussed this. Some said, ‘Use a bell like the Christians’ bell.’ Others said, ‘Rather, a horn like the Jews’ horn.’ ‘Umar said, ‘Why not send a man to call people to prayer?’ The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘Bilal, get up and call people to prayer.’

Sulaiman bin Harb narrated to us: Hammad bin Zaid narrated to us, from Simak bin ‘Atiyya, from Ayyub, from Abu Qilaba, from Anas, who said: Bilal was instructed to pronounce the phrases of the call to prayer in pairs and the phrases of the commencement in single form, except for the words ‘The prayer is established.’

Muhammad narrated to us: ‘Abd al-Wahhab informed us: Khalid al-Hadhdha informed us, from Abu Qilaba, from Anas bin Malik, who said: When the people increased in number, they discussed finding a way to know when prayer time had arrived. They suggested lighting a fire or striking a bell, so Bilal was instructed to pronounce the phrases of the call to prayer in pairs and the phrases of the commencement in single form.

‘Ali bin ‘Abdullah narrated to us: Isma‘il bin Ibrahim narrated to us: Khalid narrated to us, from Abu Qilaba, from Anas, who said: Bilal was instructed to pronounce the phrases of the call to prayer in pairs and the phrases of the commencement in single form. Isma‘il said: I mentioned it to Ayyub, and he said, ‘Except for the words “The prayer is established.”’

‘Abdullah bin Yusuf narrated to us: Malik informed us, from Abu al-Zinad, from al-A‘raj, from Abu Huraira, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘When the call to prayer is made, Satan turns away, passing wind so he cannot hear the call. When it ends, he returns. When the commencement of prayer is announced, he turns away again. When it ends, he returns and distracts a person, saying, “Remember this, remember that,” about things he had not thought of, until the person no longer knows how many rak‘ahs he has prayed.’

‘Abdullah bin Yusuf narrated to us: Malik informed us, from ‘Abd al-Rahman bin ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abd al-Rahman bin Abi Sa‘sa‘a al-Ansari al-Mazini, from his father, who told him that Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri said to him: ‘I see that you love sheep and the countryside. When you are with your flock or out in the countryside and call to prayer, raise your voice. No jinn, human, or anything else within the caller’s range of voice hears it without bearing witness for him on the Day of Resurrection.’ Abu Sa‘id said: I heard this from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).

Qutaiba bin Sa‘id narrated to us: Isma‘il bin Ja‘far narrated to us, from Humayd, from Anas bin Malik, that whenever the Prophet led us on a campaign against a people, he would not attack until morning and after observing them. If he heard a call to prayer, he would refrain; if he did not hear one, he would attack. Anas said: We went to Khaybar and reached them at night. In the morning, when he heard no call to prayer, he rode out, and I rode behind Abu Talha, with my foot touching the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) foot. They came out to meet us carrying baskets and spades. When they saw the Prophet, they said, ‘Muhammad, by Allah! Muhammad and the army!’ When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saw them, he said, ‘Allah is greatest! Allah is greatest! Khaybar is destroyed. When we enter the grounds of a people who have been warned, evil is the morning of those who were warned.’

‘Abdullah bin Yusuf narrated to us: Malik informed us, from Ibn Shihab, from ‘Ata bin Yazid al-Laithi, from Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘When you hear the call to prayer, repeat what the caller says.’

Mu‘adh bin Fadala narrated to us: Hisham narrated to us, from Yahya, from Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin al-Harith, who said: ‘Isa bin Talha told me that he heard Mu‘awiya one day say the same, up to the words, ‘and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.’ Ishaq bin Rahawaih narrated to us: Wahb bin Jarir narrated to us: Hisham narrated to us, from Yahya, similarly.

Yahya said: One of our brothers told me that when the caller said, ‘Come to prayer,’ he replied, ‘There is no power or strength except through Allah.’ He said: This is how we heard your Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say it.

‘Ali bin ‘Ayyash narrated to us: Shu‘aib bin Abi Hamza narrated to us, from Muhammad bin al-Munkadir, from Jabir bin ‘Abdullah, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Whoever says, upon hearing the call, “O Allah, Lord of this perfect call and the prayer about to be established, grant Muhammad al-Wasila and excellence, and raise him to the praised station You promised him,” my intercession will be due to him on the Day of Resurrection.’

‘Abdullah bin Yusuf narrated to us: Malik informed us, from Sumayy, the freedman of Abu Bakr, from Abu Salih, from Abu Huraira, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘If people knew the reward in the call to prayer and the first row, and had no way to secure it except by drawing lots, they would draw lots. If they knew the reward in going early to the noon prayer, they would race for it. And if they knew the reward in the night and dawn prayers, they would come to them even crawling.’

Musaddad narrated to us: Hammad narrated to us, from Ayyub, ‘Abd al-Hamid, the companion of al-Ziyadi, and ‘Asim al-Ahwal, from ‘Abdullah bin al-Harith, who said: Ibn ‘Abbas addressed us on a muddy, rainy day. When the caller reached ‘Come to prayer,’ he ordered him to announce, ‘Pray in your dwellings.’ The people looked at one another. Ibn ‘Abbas said, ‘Someone better than me did this, and it is a firm instruction.’

‘Abdullah bin Maslama narrated to us, from Malik, from Ibn Shihab, from Salim bin ‘Abdullah, from his father, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Bilal calls the prayer during the night, so eat and drink until Ibn Umm Maktum calls it.’ He was a blind man and would not call until people said to him, ‘Morning has come, morning has come.’

‘Abdullah bin Yusuf narrated to us: Malik informed us, from Nafi‘, from ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar, who said: Hafsa informed me that when the caller announced the dawn prayer and daybreak appeared, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would pray two brief rak‘ahs before the prayer was commenced.

Abu Nu‘aim narrated to us: Shaiban narrated to us, from Yahya, from Abu Salama, from ‘Aisha, who said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray two brief rak‘ahs between the call to prayer and the commencement of the dawn prayer.

‘Abdullah bin Yusuf narrated to us: Malik informed us, from ‘Abdullah bin Dinar, from ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Bilal calls during the night, so eat and drink until Ibn Umm Maktum calls.’

Ahmad bin Yunus narrated to us: Zuhair narrated to us: Sulaiman al-Taimi narrated to us, from Abu ‘Uthman al-Nahdi, from ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ud, from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who said: ‘Let none of you be prevented from eating the pre-dawn meal by Bilal’s call; he calls during the night to let those standing in prayer return and to wake those who are sleeping. It is not the call announcing true dawn.’ He demonstrated with his fingers, raising them and then lowering them to show the difference. Zuhair said: He held up his two index fingers, one above the other, then extended them to his right and left.