Once upon a time, in the early days of Islam, there was a perplexing predicament that the Muslims faced. They found themselves lost in thoughts about how to call each other for prayers.
They would gather in the grand mosque for prayers, but they were in a quagmire of confusion as to how to inform the other Muslims that it was time for prayer.
One day, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) gathered his companions and asked them for suggestions on how to call for prayers. The blazing sun was shining bright over their heads and the birds were chirping in the background, but the companions were troubled and engrossed in finding a solution to their problem.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “My dear companions, we need to find a way to inform the people that it is time for prayers. Do any of you have any suggestions?”
A companion replied, “Why don’t we use a dazzling trumpet to call for prayers?”
But the trumpet resembled the style of the Jews.
“What about using a glittering bell?”, another companion said.
“We could use a resonating gong that echoes in every corner of the city!”, he added.
But this resembled the Christians’ churches
But the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was not convinced by any of these suggestions. He felt that there had to be a better way, a way that would be clear and unmistakable.
The Prophet said, “No, none of these methods will work. We need a way that is distinctive and easy to understand.”
The companions continued to brainstorm, but they could not come up with a solution. They scratched their heads and furrowed their brows, wondering how they could solve this problem.
Meanwhile, Umar Bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) was having a dream. In his dream, he saw a majestic man who taught him the words of the adhan, the melodious call to prayer.
The next morning, Umar jumped out of his bed and rushed to tell the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) about his dream, with his heart pounding like a drum.
Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) exclaimed, “O Prophet of Allah, last night I had a dream in which I heard the words of the adhan, the call to prayer!
Umar then recited the words of the adhan to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), with a voice as clear as crystal.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “These are the words of the adhan that Allah has taught you in your dream, Umar! These words will be used to call the Muslims to prayer!”
The Muslims were ecstatic to hear this news. They were astounded that Allah had provided them with a way to call each other for prayers. The adhan was not only simple but also soul-stirring, and it quickly became a part of the daily routine of Muslims all over the world.
As time passed, Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) became renowned for his dream and his role in the development of the adhan. He was appointed as the second caliph, or leader, of the Muslims after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. People from far and wide would come to hear the story of his dream, and his name was etched in the hearts of Muslims forever.
Umar said, “I am the man who Allah chose to reveal the words of the adhan to in a dream. It is an honor that I will never forget.”
And so, the story of Umar and the adhan teaches us that Allah always provides a solution to our problems, even if we cannot see it at first. All we need is faith, and Allah will guide us to the right path.
Written By:
Asim Bharoocha
References:
https://islamqa.info/en/answers/7945/was-the-adhaan-revealed-by-wahy-or-was-it-suggested-by-a-sahaabi
https://www.iium.edu.my/deed/hadith/bukhari/011_sbt.html
(the second hadith)
