Download PDF: [S] Adhan sounded in Roman Court (Islamic Story)

Abu Mohammed bin Qutaybah narrates through Abu Ebrahim that when Hadrat Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’wiyah – may Allah be pleased with him – grew older, he began to suffer from insomnia. At night when he tried to sleep, he was disturbed by the sound of bells coming from the churches and also from the sound of clapping coming from this area.

 

One morning, when people had gathered in his court, he said, “O Arab nation! Is there any brave person among you who would be prepared to carry out my command? Prior to him leaving, I will pay him a large amount of money and when he returns, I will pay him the balance. (In fact, he mentioned that he would pay the person three portions of the reward and when the person returns, he would pay him another two portions).”

 

When they heard this request, a young man from the Ghassan tribe stood up and mentioned that he will be prepared to carry out this mission.

Hadrat Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah – may Allah be pleased with him – then said, “I want you to take my letter and give it to the ruler of Rome. When you reach his court, you should also read the Adhan as loud as possible.”

 

The young man asked whether there was any other command and the Muslim leader replied that this was the only thing he had to do. The young man stated that indeed he had commanded a very simple task and yet, the reward was very high indeed.

 

The young man then travelled to Rome. At the time, the court was in full session and the ruler of Rome was surrounded by his advisers and ministers and other subjects as well. At the same time, the soldiers also stood around the ruler. These soldiers were there to protect the Emperor. The palace was brightly decorated with expensive jewels and carpets. At the same time, they were discussing very important issues pertaining to the state. In this environment, the young Muslim arrived. He broke through the ranks of people who were in the court and without any hesitation, he began to read the Adhan.

 

When the subjects of the Emperor heard the Adhan, they could only stand in a state of shock. The soldiers who were around the Emperor also drew their swords so that they could immediately get rid of this young man whom they thought was extremely rude to the Emperor. However, the Emperor stopped them.

 

By this time, the court was in total silence. No one can dare say a word. Everyone was looking at the Emperor. The Emperor then addresses his subjects and says, “Are you people aware of the right which you owe to ‘Isa – peace be upon him.” The Emperor said these words because he wanted to calm the feeling of his subjects. In other words, he wanted to impress on them that to kill a person who had merely brought a message was against the teachings of ‘Isa – peace be upon him.

 

After everyone had calmed down, the Emperor sat on his throne and addressed his subjects. He said to them, “O people of the army, Mu’awiyah has become older and when a person becomes older, he tends to suffer from insomnia. He is also troubled by the sounds of the bells which reaches his court. This is the reason that he has sent this young man to my court to sound the Adhan. He was of the opinion that I would kill this young man for sounding the Adhan. And when this happens, he would find an excuse to slaughter the Christians in his country. Therefore, we will choose to do nothing to this young messenger of his.” The Emperor then gave the young man many gifts and presents and allowed him to leave safely.

 

When the young man appeared in the court of Hadrat Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah – may Allah be pleased with him, he asked him “Have you returned safely from this trip?” The young man replied that he had returned safely because of the behaviour of the Emperor of Rome.