Download PDF: [S] Origin of the Adhan (Islamic story)

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Zaid – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that, “The order was given to call people to Salaah using the bell. However, before this was done, on the same night, I saw a strange dream. I saw a person in this dream who was walking with a bell and I asked this person whether he was prepared to sell this bell. He then asked me what would I do with this bell and I replied that I would call people for Salaah. He then asked me, ‘Should I not teach you something which is far better than this?’ I replied why not. He then mentioned the words of the Adhan to me.

 

“In the morning, whatever I had seen the previous night in a dream, I mentioned this to Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. He then replied, ‘If the Allah Almighty Wills, certainly this seems to be a truthful dream. You should go and stand with Bilal and reveal to him whatever (words) you had heard in your dream. In this way, he can sound the Adhan. I am saying this to you because the voice of Bilal is much louder.’

“I then stood with Hadrat Sayyiduna Bilal – may Allah be pleased with him – and revealed the words of the Adhan to him. When Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – heard these words while he was still in his house, he appeared dragging along his clothes and said to Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, ‘O Prophet of Allah! I swear by that Divine Being who has sent you with the truth. I have also seen such a dream as was seen by Abdullah bin Zaid.’ Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – then declared, ‘We should therefore give thanks to Allah for this.’” (Musnad Ahmed, ibn Habban, Abu Daud, etc).

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amar bin Al Aas – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – has stated that, “When you hear a person reading the Adhan, you should repeat the same words as he is saying. Thereafter, you should recite the Durood Shareef upon me. The reason is that whoever recites a single Durood Shareef upon me, Allah Almighty will bless him ten times. After that, you should seek for my Wasilah. Wasilah is a certain stage in Jannah which will be given to one servant of Allah Almighty from among His servants. And I have hope that, that servant will be me. Whoever seeks Wasilah for me, my intercession for him has become Halaal.” (Sahih Muslims Shareef, Jamia Tirmidi Shareef)