The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 16
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 16 Prophet sa and said, “O Messenger of Allāh! Today, the words in which Bilāl ra called out the Adhān were exactly those which I also saw in my dream. ” 1 In one narration it has also been related that when the Holy Prophet sa heard these words of the Adhān , he said, “Revelation has already been sent down as such. ” 2 Therefore, in this manner, the current method of Adhān commenced. The method which commenced in this manner is so blessed and attractive that no other method can compare to it. In other words, the Unity of God, and the Prophethood of Muḥammad sa , the Messenger of Allāh, is proclaimed five times daily from every mosque, in every village, of every city in the Islāmic world. A summary of Islāmic teachings is conveyed to the people in extremely beautiful and comprehensive words. Increase in the Rak‘āt of Ṣalāt It has already been mentioned that the Ṣalāt , which is considered to be the most significant worship in Islām, had already been ordained in Makkah. However, aside from the Maghrib Prayer which consisted of three Rak‘āt , all of the other compulsory prayers consisted of two Rak‘āt. Sometime after the migration however, in accordance with Divine command, while the same two Rak‘āt remained for Ṣalāt offered on journey, the number of Rak‘āt for Ṣalāt offered in a state of fixed residence was increased to four Rak‘āt each, except for Fajr and Maghrib Prayer. In this manner, a distinction was drawn between Ṣalāt offered on a journey, and in a state of fixed residence. A distinct feature of the teaching brought by the Holy Prophet sa is that a middle course has been taken in all of its injunctions. All of those practical difficulties have been taken into account, which continue to pose themselves in the life of an individual. As such, there are many injunctions even in matters of Ṣalāt , which change based on differing circumstances. For example, the distinction between Ṣalāt offered on a journey and in a state of fixed residence has just been mentioned. In addition to this, it is necessary to maintain the apparent form of Ṣalāt in normal circumstances. However, an individual who cannot offer the Ṣalāt in 1 A detailed account can be found in: * Sunanu Abī Dāwūd, Kitābuṣ-Ṣalāh, Bābu Bad’il-Adhān, Ḥadīth No. 498 * Sunanut-Tirmidhī, Kitābuṣ-Ṣalāh, Bābu Mā Jā’a Fī Bad’il-Adhān, Ḥadīth No. 189 * Sunanu Ibni Mājah, Kitābul-Adhān, Bābu Bad’il-Adhān, Ḥadīth No. 706 A brief account can be found in: Al-Muwaṭṭā, By Imām Mālik bin Anas, Kitābuṣ-Ṣalāh, Bābu Mā Jā’a Fīn-Nidā’i Liṣ-Ṣalāh, Ḥadīth No. 149 2 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 2, p. 201, Bābu Bad’il-Adhān, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)