Boreal

1,001 Sayings and Deeds of the Prophet

The Call to Prayer

A number of options were considered to announce to the believers that it was again time to pray before settling on the Adhan i.e. the call to prayer.

Narrated Ibn Umar:

When the Muslims arrived at Medina, they used to assemble for the prayer, and used to guess the time for it. During those days, the practice of Adhan for the prayers had not been introduced yet. Once they discussed this problem regarding the call for prayer. Some people suggested the use of a bell like the Christians, others proposed a trumpet like the horn used by the Jews, but Umar was the first to suggest that a man should call (the people) for the prayer; so Allah's Apostle ordered Bilal to get up and pronounce the Adhan for prayers.

Bukhari 11.578

Fire was also suggested:

Narrated Anas bin Malik:

When the number of Muslims increased they discussed the question as to how to know the time for the prayer by some familiar means. Some suggested that a fire be lit (at the time of the prayer) and others put forward the proposal to ring the bell. Bilal was ordered to pronounce the wording of Adhan twice and of the Iqama once only.

Bukhari 11.580

You can do your own Adhan, if necessary, but it may annoy the neighbours if they are not believers, though not those who will bear witness on Judgement Day that you completed your duty to Allah and Muhammad, even when you thought no one was watching.

Narrated Abdul Rahman:

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri told my father, "I see you liking sheep and the wilderness. So whenever you are with your sheep or in the wilderness and you want to pronounce Adhan for the prayer raise your voice in doing so, for whoever hears the Adhan, whether a human being, a jinn or any other creature, will be a witness for you on the Day of Resurrection."

Abu Said added, "I heard it (this narration) from Allah's Apostle."

Bukhari 11.583

After listening to your own shouting of the Adhan, or the Muezzin from his minaret, you can increase your odds that it will not only be a jinn or some other creature that will interced on your behalf on Judgement Day, but the Prophet Muhammad himself.

Narrated Jabir bin Abdullah:

Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever after listening to the Adhan says, 'Allahumma Rabba hadhihi-d-da' watit-tammati was-salatil qa'imati, ati Muhammadan al-wasilata wal-fadilata, wab' athhu maqaman mahmudan-il-ladhi wa' adtahu (O Allah! Lord of this perfect call (of not ascribing partners to You) and of the regular prayer which is going to be established! Kindly give Muhammad the right of intercession and superiority and send him (on the Day of Judgment) to the best and the highest place in Paradise which You promised him)', then intercession for me will be permitted for him on the Day of Resurrection").

Bukhari 11.588