English translation
498. Abū 'Umayr bin Anas narrated from one of his uncles from the Anṣār that he said: "The Prophet ﷺ was concerned about finding an appropriate method for congregating the people for the prayer. Someone suggested, 'Raise a horn when the time for prayer comes. When they see it, they will inform one another (and come to the Masjid).'" But he did not like this (idea). So (someone) mentioned (using) a horn" — aning a Shabūr — and Ziyād (one narrators) said: "The Ṣabūr (horn of the Jews)," — "but he did not like that either, and he said: 'This is of the custom of the Jews.' Then (someone) mentioned (using) a bell,[1] but he said: 'This is of the custom of the Christians.' 'Abdullāh bin Zaid bin 'Abd Rabbih returned (to his home) troubled, due to the concern of the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ. He was shown the Adhān in his dream, so he set forth to the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ and informed him: 'O Messenger of Allāh! I was in a state between sleep and wakefulness, when a person came to me and showed me (how to perform) the Adhān.' And 'Umar bin Al-Khaṭṭāb had seen it before that, but he did not inform (anyone) about it for twenty days, then he informed the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ. He asked him: 'What prevented you from informing us?' He replied: "Abdullāh bin Zaid preceded me, so I was shy (to inform you)." The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ then said: 'O Bilāl! Stand up and see what 'Abdullāh bin Zaid commands you to do, then do it.' So Bilāl called the Adhān." Abū Bishir (one of the narrators) said: "Abū 'Umair informed me that the Anṣār think that, were it not for the fact that 'Abdullāh bin Zaid was sick at the time (of the dream), the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ would have made him the Mu'adh-dhīn." (Ṣaḥīḥ)