Hadith Regarding the Origin of Adhan
Narrated by Abdullah bin Zaid (رضي الله عنه):When the Prophet (ﷺ) commanded that a bell (naqus) be made to call people to prayer, I saw in a dream a man carrying a bell in his hand. I asked him, "O servant of Allah, will you sell this bell?" He replied, "What will you do with it?" I said, "We will use it to call people to prayer." He said, "Shall I not tell you something better than this?" I said, "Yes, certainly."
He then taught me the words of Adhan:
"Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah, Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah
Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah, Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah
Hayya ‘ala as-Salah, Hayya ‘ala as-Salah
Hayya ‘ala al-Falah, Hayya ‘ala al-Falah
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
La ilaha illa Allah."
Then he moved a little away from me and said, "When you establish the prayer (Iqamah), say:
"Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah
Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah
Hayya ‘ala as-Salah
Hayya ‘ala al-Falah
Qad qamati as-Salah, Qad qamati as-Salah
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
La ilaha illa Allah."
When I woke up, I went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and informed him of my dream. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Indeed, this is a true vision, In Sha Allah. Stand with Bilal and teach him what you have seen, for he has a louder voice than you." So, I stood with Bilal and taught him the words, and he called the Adhan.
Umar bin Khattab (رضي الله عنه) heard this while he was in his house and came rushing, dragging his garment, and said, "O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), by the One Who sent you with the truth, I saw the same dream."
The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "All praise is due to Allah!"
(Reported by Abu Dawood from Ibn Ishaq, authenticated by Ibn Khuzaymah.)
Authentication and Verification of the Hadith
This Hadith is classified as Hasan (sound).- Musnad Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal: 4/43
- Abu Dawood: 499
- Tirmidhi: 189 (Tirmidhi classified it as Hasan Sahih)
- Ibn Majah: 706
- Ibn Khuzaymah: 371
- Ibn Hibban: 287
- Bayhaqi: 1/390-391
- This Hadith is mentioned in Abu Dawood under the chapter "How the Adhan was established."
Key Lessons Derived from the Hadith
➊ Meaning and Origin of Adhan
- The word "Adhan" means "calling or announcing" and refers to the call to prayer.
- The Adhan was established through the dreams of Abdullah bin Zaid and Umar bin Khattab (رضي الله عنهما), along with the consultation of other companions.
- It was introduced in the first year after the Hijrah in Madinah.
➋ Prescribed Words of Adhan
- The words mentioned in this Hadith are the authentic and prescribed words of Adhan.
- Adding extra words before or during Adhan, apart from the supplication after Adhan and Salawat Ibrahimiyah, is not proven from the time of the Prophet (ﷺ) or the Companions.
➌ The Message of Adhan
- The Adhan emphasizes Tawheed (Oneness of Allah) and the Prophethood of Muhammad (ﷺ).
- It calls people towards Salah (prayer), which is the key to success in both worlds.
- The person calling the Adhan should have a loud and melodious voice.
- It is permissible for a teacher or mentor to train someone by repeating each phrase of the Adhan for them to learn.
➍ The Spirit of Generosity in Trade
- This Hadith teaches that honesty and goodwill should be part of trade and transactions.
- If someone is looking to buy an item, he should be guided toward something more beneficial if available.
➎ The Significance of True Dreams
- Good dreams are a great blessing from Allah and are considered one-fortieth of Prophethood.
- A person should only share their dreams with a wise, knowledgeable, and sincere person.
- Sharing dreams with ignorant people or envious individuals can lead to misinterpretation or harm.
- True dreams often come true as interpreted.
➏ Wearing Garments Below the Ankles
- If a person’s garment drags on the ground due to haste or excitement, it is excusable.
- However, deliberately wearing clothes below the ankles out of arrogance is prohibited.
➐ Supporting the Truth in Islam
- Bearing witness in support of truth and against falsehood is permissible.
- Just as Abdullah bin Zaid (رضي الله عنه) narrated his dream to the Prophet (ﷺ), Umar bin Khattab (رضي الله عنه) also testified that he had the same dream.
- A single trustworthy testimony can be sufficient in Islam, as seen in the establishment of Adhan.
➑ Importance of Consultation (Shura) in Islam
- The Prophet (ﷺ) sought consultation from his companions on how to call people to prayer.
- Various suggestions were made, such as blowing a trumpet, lighting a fire, or ringing a bell.
- However, through collective wisdom and divine guidance, Adhan was chosen as the distinguished and honorable call to prayer.
