SECTION ON PRAYER · 27 – THE LAWFULNESS OF THE CALL TO PRAYER (Adhan)
Abu Umayr, the son of Anas, reported that one of his paternal uncles from among the Ansar said:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, pondered how to gather the congregation for prayer. The companions suggested that a flag be raised so that those who see it may inform others. But this did not please the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.
They said, "Let trumpets be blown." (Ziyad says these are the trumpets the Jews blow.) He disliked that and said, “That is a sign of the Jews.”
The suggestion of ringing bells was made.
He said, “That is a sign of Christianity.”
Abdullah ibn Zayd left from there carrying sorrow in his heart. In a dream, the call to prayer (adhan) was shown to him (instructed). He came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, in the morning and reported what he had seen. He recounted:
“O Messenger of Allah, between sleep and wakefulness last night, someone came to me and showed me the call to prayer (adhan).” (He was instructed.)
Abu Umayr said that before him, Umar ibn al-Khattab had seen the same thing but kept it hidden for twenty days. Then he reported it to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, who asked him, “What prevented you from telling me?” Umar ibn al-Khattab replied, "Abdullah ibn Zayd passed me by, and I felt ashamed."
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “O Bilal, rise! Let Abdullah ibn Zayd say whatever they (the words) are, loudly!” And Bilal pronounced the adhan.
Abu Bishr says:
Abu Umayr told me that the Ansar claim that if Abdullah ibn Zayd had not been ill on that day, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would have appointed him as a mu’adhdhin (caller to prayer).
EXPLANATION
Gun’u: It means “horn.” A shubur is a horn made from animal horns. The Jews blow trumpets in their synagogues.