Adapted from the original article by Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri (Hafizahullah), organized with added headings for clarity.
Below are the narrations related to this incident, with their chains and scholarly evaluations. It is left to the reader to determine whether these narrations are trustworthy.
“During the Harrah incident, the Adhan and Iqamah were not performed in Masjid al-Nabawi for three days. Imam Sa‘id ibn al-Musayyib was present in the mosque and would recognize the prayer times by a faint sound coming from the Prophet’s grave.”
Source: Musnad al-Darimi: 1/44
Commentary:
This narration is weak due to disconnection (Inqita‘). The Harrah incident occurred in 63 AH, before Sa‘id ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz was born. Furthermore, there is no evidence of his meeting with Imam Sa‘id ibn al-Musayyib, rendering the narration unreliable.
“Imam Sa‘id ibn al-Musayyib reported hearing the Adhan from the Prophet’s grave during the Harrah incident whenever it was time for prayer.”
Source: Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra: 5/132
Commentary:
This narration is fabricated. The narrator Muhammad ibn ‘Umar al-Waqidi is deemed weak and rejected by the majority of Hadith scholars. Another narrator, Talhah ibn Muhammad ibn Sa‘id, is unknown (Majhool). Imam Abu Hatim also considered Talhah unreliable. Thus, the narration is unacceptable.
“During the Harrah incident, the Adhan was not made in Masjid al-Nabawi for three days, but Imam Sa‘id ibn al-Musayyib said he heard the Adhan from the Prophet’s grave.”
Source: Al-Durrah al-Thameenah fi Akhbar al-Madinah: 159
Commentary:
This narration is false because the narrator Muhammad ibn Hasan ibn Zubalah al-Makhzoomi was declared a liar and fabricator by Hadith scholars. Imam Yahya ibn Ma‘een and Imam Abu Hatim both dismissed his credibility. Hafiz Ibn Hajar also deemed him weak.
Zafar Ahmad Uthmani wrote that the Prophet ﷺ performs prayer with Adhan and Iqamah in his grave.
Source: Fath al-Mulhim: 3/419
Commentary:
This claim is not based on any authentic narration, and as proven, the claims of Adhan from the Prophet’s grave are false.
It is reported from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (RA) that a companion pitched a tent over a grave and heard the recitation of Surah Al-Mulk from it. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Surah Al-Mulk protects from punishment.”
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 2890
Commentary:
This narration is very weak due to the narrator Yahya ibn ‘Amr ibn Malik al-Nakari, whose narrations are unreliable. Imam al-Daraqutni and others classified it as weak.
References:
❖ The Claim of Adhan from the Prophet’s Grave During the Tragedy of Harrah
Some assert that during the Tragedy of Harrah in 63 AH, the Adhan (call to prayer) was heard from the grave of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The credibility of such accounts, however, must be examined through proper authentication of the chains of narration (Isnad), as established by the scholars of Hadith.Below are the narrations related to this incident, with their chains and scholarly evaluations. It is left to the reader to determine whether these narrations are trustworthy.
➊ Narration of Sa‘id ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz al-Tanookhi (d. 90 AH)
Narration:“During the Harrah incident, the Adhan and Iqamah were not performed in Masjid al-Nabawi for three days. Imam Sa‘id ibn al-Musayyib was present in the mosque and would recognize the prayer times by a faint sound coming from the Prophet’s grave.”
Source: Musnad al-Darimi: 1/44
Commentary:
This narration is weak due to disconnection (Inqita‘). The Harrah incident occurred in 63 AH, before Sa‘id ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz was born. Furthermore, there is no evidence of his meeting with Imam Sa‘id ibn al-Musayyib, rendering the narration unreliable.
➋ Narration of Imam Ibn Sa‘d
Narration:“Imam Sa‘id ibn al-Musayyib reported hearing the Adhan from the Prophet’s grave during the Harrah incident whenever it was time for prayer.”
Source: Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra: 5/132
Commentary:
This narration is fabricated. The narrator Muhammad ibn ‘Umar al-Waqidi is deemed weak and rejected by the majority of Hadith scholars. Another narrator, Talhah ibn Muhammad ibn Sa‘id, is unknown (Majhool). Imam Abu Hatim also considered Talhah unreliable. Thus, the narration is unacceptable.
➌ Narration of Imam Abu Nu‘aym al-Asbahani
Narration:“During the Harrah incident, the Adhan was not made in Masjid al-Nabawi for three days, but Imam Sa‘id ibn al-Musayyib said he heard the Adhan from the Prophet’s grave.”
Source: Al-Durrah al-Thameenah fi Akhbar al-Madinah: 159
Commentary:
This narration is false because the narrator Muhammad ibn Hasan ibn Zubalah al-Makhzoomi was declared a liar and fabricator by Hadith scholars. Imam Yahya ibn Ma‘een and Imam Abu Hatim both dismissed his credibility. Hafiz Ibn Hajar also deemed him weak.
➍ View of the Deobandi Philosopher Zafar Ahmad Uthmani
Claim:Zafar Ahmad Uthmani wrote that the Prophet ﷺ performs prayer with Adhan and Iqamah in his grave.
Source: Fath al-Mulhim: 3/419
Commentary:
This claim is not based on any authentic narration, and as proven, the claims of Adhan from the Prophet’s grave are false.
➎ Narration from Sunan al-Tirmidhi
Narration:It is reported from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (RA) that a companion pitched a tent over a grave and heard the recitation of Surah Al-Mulk from it. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Surah Al-Mulk protects from punishment.”
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 2890
Commentary:
This narration is very weak due to the narrator Yahya ibn ‘Amr ibn Malik al-Nakari, whose narrations are unreliable. Imam al-Daraqutni and others classified it as weak.
❖ Conclusion
The story of Adhan being heard from the Prophet’s grave during the Tragedy of Harrah is unproven, and all cited narrations are either weak or fabricated. In Islam, beliefs and historical claims must be founded upon authentic and sound evidence, not on weak or fabricated traditions.References:
- Musnad al-Darimi: 1/44
- Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra: 5/132
- Al-Durrah al-Thameenah: 159
- Fath al-Mulhim: 3/419
- Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 2890
- Al-Jarh wa al-Ta‘deel: 4/486, 7/228
- Kitab al-Du‘afa’ wa al-Matrukin: 397, 535
- Taqreeb al-Tahdheeb: 5913, 8515
- Al-Majrooheen: 3/114, 2/275
- Tarikh Ibn Ma‘een: 2/511
- Al-Kamil: 5/319
- Fath al-Bari: 11/298
