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Text and translation
English translation
627. Nâfi' narrated that 'Abdullâh bin 'Umar used to say: "When the Muslims arrived in Al-Madînah they used to gather and try to figure out the time for prayer, and no one gave the call to prayer. One day they spoke about that; some of them said: 'Let us use a bell'[1] like the Christians do;' others said, 'No, a horn like the Jews have.' 'Umar, may Allâh be pleased with him, said: 'Why don't you send a man to announce the time of prayer?' The Messenger of Allâh ﷺ said: 'O Bilâl, get up and give the call to prayer.'" (Sahîh)
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Commentary
1. Nâqûs used to be a piece of wood, long and large, suspended to two cords, with another, which used to be short, with which the former was struck or beaten (It produced sound, the thing which the Christians struck to notify the time for prayer). Later, they began to strike on iron or bronze. Hence, at present, it is applied to a bell, particularly the bell of a church. Qam is a horn-shaped instrument. If blown into it from one end, sound is produced from the other end. The present-day siren can be likened to it, because it also produces a long and loud sound like that of a horn, like the present-day bell
which represents Nâqûs. Muslims, therefore, should avoid bells or sirens on the occasion of their worshiping.
2. Commanding Bilâl to make an announcement took place before the Adhân was stipulated by Islamic law. He used to call out in the streets: As-Salâtu Jâmia (The obligatory prayer is being congregated or the prayer is gathering: This brief announcement was resorted to before the legislation of the call to prayer - the Adhân).
