Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sahih al-Bukhari, which contains 7,277 hadiths across 97 books. It is hadith number 589 in the Book of Call to Prayers (Adhaan).

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#588

#589

Sahih al-Bukhari

#590

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Sahih al-Bukhari #589

Q: What is Sahih al-Bukhari 589 about?

This hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Call to Prayers (Adhaan)), narrated by Narrated Anas:, states: "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 pr…"

Call to Prayers (Adhaan)

Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنَا عِمْرَانُ بْنُ مَيْسَرَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ الْحَذَّاءُ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ ذَكَرُوا النَّارَ وَالنَّاقُوسَ، فَذَكَرُوا الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى، فَأُمِرَ بِلاَلٌ أَنْ يَشْفَعَ الأَذَانَ وَأَنْ يُوتِرَ الإِقَامَةَ‏.‏

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).

Narrated by Narrated Anas:

Context

In this narration, Anas recounts an incident where the community suggested using a bell or fire as signals for prayer, similar to the practices of Jews and Christians. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) then instructed Bilal to call the Adhan, establishing a unique Islamic practice for prayer calls that emphasizes the importance of maintaining distinct religious identities.

Modern Application

Today, the Adhan serves as a powerful reminder for Muslims to pause and engage in prayer. It fosters a sense of community and belonging, as people gather to pray together, reinforcing their faith and connection to one another.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Respectful Communication because it highlights the establishment of the Adhan as a respectful and distinct call to prayer, differentiating Islamic practices from those of other faiths.

Prayer Respectful Communication