Commencement of Adhān1

Until now there was no arrangement for a call to Ṣalāt, or Adhān etc. The Companions would generally congregate in the mosque at the approximate time themselves. These state of affairs, however, were not satisfactory. Upon the construction of Masjid-e-Nabawī, the question as to how Muslims would be congregated at the appropriate time was felt even more. One Companion proposed the use of a bell, like the Christians. Someone proposed the use of a trumpet, like the Jews; and others made other suggestions. However, Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar(ra) proposed that an individual be appointed to announce that it is time for Ṣalāt at the appointed time. The Holy Prophet(sa) approved this proposal, and appointed Ḥaḍrat Bilāl(ra) to perform this duty.2 As such, after this, when the time for Ṣalāt would arrive, Ḥaḍrat Bilāl(ra) would announce in a loud voice, 3 and people would congregate for the Ṣalāt. As a matter of fact, the very same call would be made if it was necessary to congregate the Muslims in the mosque for a purpose other than the Ṣalāt as well. Sometime afterwards, the words of the current Adhān were taught to a Companion named ‘Abdullāh bin Zaid Anṣārī(ra), in a dream. He presented himself before the Holy Prophet(sa) and mentioned this dream saying, “I saw an individual in my dream call out such and such words as if calling the Adhān.” The Holy Prophet(sa) said, “This dream is from Allāh,” and instructed ‘Abdullāh(ra) to teach these words to Bilāl(ra). A strange coincidence was that when Bilāl(ra) called out the Adhān in these words for the very first time, upon hearing them, Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar(ra) made haste to the Holy Prophet(sa) and said, “O Messenger of Allāh! Today, the words in which Bilāl(ra) called out the Adhān were exactly those which I also saw in my dream.”4 In one narration it has also been related that when the Holy Prophet(sa) heard these words of the Adhān, he said, “Revelation has already been sent down as such.”5 Therefore, in this manner, the current method of Adhān commenced. The method which commenced in this manner is so blessed and attractive that no other method can compare to it. In other words, the Unity of God, and the Prophethood of Muḥammad(sa), the Messenger of Allāh, is proclaimed five times daily from every mosque, in every village, of every city in the Islāmic world. A summary of Islāmic teachings is conveyed to the people in extremely beautiful and comprehensive words.