History of Adhan

In Makkah, the number of muslims was small. They could make Jama’ah without any call. When Muhammad (peace be upon him) arrived in Madina, the number of Muslims started to increase. Muhammad (peace be upon him) built masjid An Nabawi to offer salah regularly. By the second year of Hijrah, the number of Muslims had increased. The people announced in a loud voice. “As-salat ul-jamiah (the salah for jam’ah is ready).” Those who heard this call came to join the salah. Muslims felt the need to find a way to inform people to come to the salah. Muhammad (peace be upon him) asked his sahabah for their advice.

Some sahabah suggested that the muslims, like the jews, should blow a horn to announce the time for the salah. Others said, the muslims might ring bells as the christians do in their churches. A few proposed that the muslims, like the fire-worshippers, kindle a fire call people to pray. Muhammad (peace be upon him) wasn’t satisfied with any of these ideas. He waited to hear a better idea or to receive guidance from Allah.

One day, a sahabi, Abdullah ibn zaid came to Rasulullah and said, ” O Messenger of Allah! I had a beautiful dream last night.”

“What was the dream you saw” Muhammad (peace be upon him) asked zaid.

Zaid answered, “I’ve seen that a man wearing green garment taught me the words of the Adhan and advised me to call people to prayer with these words.” He then recited the words of the Adhan.

The words were beautiful and full of meaning. Muhammad (peace be upon him) recognized that the dream of Zaid was true. He asked Zaid to teach the words of Adhan to Bilal.

Bilal stood up called the Adhan. The voice of Bilal resounded throughout the Madinah. People came running to Masjid un-Nabi. Umar ibn Khatib was one of the persons who came and said “O Messanger of Allah an angel taught me the same words in my dream last night.” And Muhammad (peace be upon him)) accepted this Adhan as the official call to the Salah.

Book of Call to Prayers (Adhan)
Bukhari :: Book 1 :: Volume 11 :: Hadith 577

Narrated Anas:The people mentioned the fire and the bell (they suggested those as signals to indicate the starting of prayers), and by that they mentioned the Jews and the Christians. Then Bilal was ordered to pronounce Adhan for the prayer by saying its wordings twice, and for the Iqama (the call for the actual standing for the prayers in rows) by saying its wordings once. (Iqama is pronounced when the people are ready for the prayer).