The Mosque and Of the Call for Prayer: Selections from the Hadith, Part 2 of 2

Let us continue with excerpts from chapter 6 of the book, “A Manual of Hadith” by Maulana Muhammad Ali, where the purpose of the calls to prayer is explained.

“Abū Mabdhūrah said, I said, O Messenger of Allāh! Teach me the way of delivering the adhān, [the first call to prayer]. He said, So He touched His forehead (and) said: ‘Thou should say: “Allāh is the Greatest, Allāh is the Greatest, Allāh is the Greatest, Allāh is the Greatest.” Thou should raise thy voice with it; then thou should say, I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh, I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh.” Thou should lower thy voice with it; then thou should raise thy voice with the bearing of witness, “I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh, I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh. Come to prayer, Come to prayer; Come to success, Come to success.”

Then if it is the morning prayer, thou should say, “Prayer is better than sleep. Prayer is better than sleep.” (Then thou should say), “Allāh is the Greatest, Allāh is the Greatest.”’”

“Abu Hurairah said, The Messenger of Allāh, peace and blessings of Allāh be on Him, commanded us (saying): ‘When you are in the mosque and a call for prayers is sounded, let not one of you go out until he has said his prayers.’”

“Jābir reported that The Messenger of Allāh, peace and blessings of Allāh be on Him, said: ‘Whoever says when he hears the adhān, [the first call to prayer], “O Allāh! the Lord of this perfect call and everliving prayer, grant to Muhammad nearness and excellence and raise Him to the position of glory which Thou has promised Him,” My intercession will be due to Him on the day of Resurrection.’

‘Abd Allāh reported on the authority of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allāh be on Him, (who) said: ‘Let not the adhān, [the first call to prayer] of Bilāl prevent one of you from taking his breakfast, for he delivers the adhān, [the first call to prayer] while it is night, so that he may send back the one of you who is saying his prayer or awaken the one who is sleeping.’”