English translation
506. It was narrated from ‘Amr bin Murrah[1] that Ibn Abī Lailā said: “Aṣ-Ṣalāt went through three stages. And our companions narrated to us that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: ‘It would please me that the prayer of the Muslims’ or he said: ‘the prayer of the believers’ — ‘be unified (that they all pray together), so much so that I desire to send people out in the localities to inform the people of the times of the prayer. And I desire to command people to stand on the city-walls to inform the Muslims of the times of the prayer.’” He (Ibn Abī Lailā) said: “So they started to use bells, or were about to start to use them, until a person from the Anṣār came and said: ‘O Messenger of Allāh! When I returned after having seen your concern, I saw in a dream a person wearing two green garments. He stood on the Masjid and said the Adhān, then he sat down a while, then stood up and said something similar, except that he said (in it): “Qad qāmatīṣ-ṣalāt” (The prayer has been established). And were it not for the fact that people would talk about (me)’” — Ibn Al- Muthanna (one of the narrators) said: “that you would say something,” — “I would have said that I was awake, and not asleep!” So the Messenger of Allāh said:” — Ibn Al-Muthanna (one of the narrators) said: “Allāh has shown you something good (in your sleep)” — ‘Amr[1] did not say: “Allāh has [shown you something good (in your sleep)]” — “So command Bilāl to say the Adhān. ‘Umar (bin Al-Khaṭṭāb) then said: ‘Indeed, I too have seen just as he has seen, but seeing that he preceded me (in informing the Prophet ﷺ), I was embarrassed (to inform him as well).” He (Ibn Abī Lailā) said: “Our companions also narrated to us that (in the early days of Islam) a person would ask how much of the prayer he had missed, so he would be informed (by those praying). And when they stood up to pray with the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ, some would be standing, others in Rukū‘, others sitting down, and yet others praying with the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ...” — Ibn Al-Muthanna said: “‘Amr said: ‘And Ḥuṣain bin Abī Lailā narrated it to me from Ibn Abī Lailā’ — until: “...Mu‘ādh came....” — Shu‘bah[2] said: “And I heard it from Ḥuṣain’ — “So he said: ‘I cannot see him (the Prophet ﷺ) in a state’ — up to his saying: “...for you, so you too do as he did.”[1] Abū Dāwūd said: Then, returning to the narration of ‘Amr bin Marzūq, he said: “So Mu‘ādh came, so they motioned to him (how many Rak‘ahs he had missed)...” — Shu‘bah said: “And I heard this from Ḥuṣain” — He said: “Mu‘ādh said: ‘I cannot see him (the Prophet ﷺ) in a state except that I too (must be) in that state.’ So he (the Prophet ﷺ) said: ‘Indeed, Mu‘ādh has established a precedent for you, so you too do as he did.’” And he (Ibn Abī Lailā) said: “Our companions informed us that when the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ came to Al-Madinah, he commanded them to fast three days. Then (the ruling to fast) Ramaḍān was revealed, and they were a people who were not accustomed to fasting, so fasting was very difficult for them. Whoever would not fast, he would instead feed a poor person. This Verse was then revealed: So whoever amongst you witnesses the month, then let him fast it.[2] (After this) only the sick and traveler were excused, and the rest of them were commanded to fast.” He (Ibn Abī Lailā) said: “Our companions informed us that a (fasting) person could not eat if he fell asleep (in the evening) before having his meal, until the morning. Once, ‘Umar (bin Al-Khaṭṭāb) returned (after fasting), and desired his wife, but she said: 'I had fallen asleep!' However, he thought that she was trying to find an excuse, so he approached her. Another person of the Anṣār returned home, and wished to eat, but they (his family) told him: 'Let us cook something for you.' So he fell asleep (and was not able to eat). The next morning, this Verse was revealed: It is made lawful for you to have sexual relations with your wives on the night of the fast."[1] (Da'f)