SECTION ON PRAYER · 34 – TURNING ONE’S FACE WHILE RECITING THE ADHAN
520 – From ʿAwn ibn Abū Juḥayfa (may Allah be pleased with him): I came to the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) in Mecca. He was in a round red tent made of leather. Bilāl came out and recited the adhan (call to prayer); I was watching his mouth, and he would turn his mouth now this way, now that way. Abū Juḥayfa said: Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also came out. He was wearing a red and colored cloak made in Yemen, resembling one made of qitar (a type of fabric). Mūsā says: One day Bilāl went out to al-Abṭaḥ and recited the adhan. When he reached the phrases “Come to prayer, come to success,” he turned his neck to the right and to the left. However, he did not turn his chest. Then he came to the tent and took out the staff of the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him). The narrator Mūsā transmitted the hadith. [340]
EXPLANATION
Edim: Means leather. Bürt: A colored cloak woven with red and black, woven in Yemen. It is also woven in the town of Qitar in Bahrain. Aneze: Refers to a short staff. This hadith indicates that it is in accordance with the sunnah for the mu’adhdhin (the one who calls to prayer) to turn his head to the right and to the left after the testimonies (shahādatayn) while reciting the adhan.