Question
What is authenticity of following narration?
عن عقبة بن عامر الجهني قال: كنت مع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في سفر، فلما طلع الفجر أذن وأقام، ثم أقامني عن يمينه، فقرأ بالمعوذتين، فلما انصرف قال: كيف رأيت؟ قلت: قد رأيت يا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم. قال: فاقرأ بهما كلما نمت وكلما قمت
Answer
Imam Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah (rahimahullah) has recorded this Hadith. Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah (hafizahullah) has declared the chain sound (hasan).
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 3708-30837. Also see: Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 1457)
Translation
Sayyiduna ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Amir Al Juhani (radiyallahu ‘anhu) says: “I was on a journey with Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). When dawn broke, Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) called out the adhan and iqamah, then made me stand on his right and recited [in Salah] the Mu’awwidhatayn [i.e., Surah Falaq and Surah Nas]. [After Salah] he asked, What do you think/Did you hear what I read? Sayyiduna ‘Uqbah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) replied in the affirmative. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘Recite these Surahs whenever you go to sleep and awaken.'”
Notes:
1) Due to travel, Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) shortened the qira-ah. In fact, Imam Abu Bakr Ibn Abi Shaybah has recorded this narration under the chapter, ‘Those who would shorten the recital during travel.’
Therefore, this should not be misunderstood as the normal recital for the Fajr salah.
2) There is a difference of opinion among the Scholars regarding the topic ‘Did Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) give adhan for Salah himself or not’?
‘Allamah Nawawi (rahimahullah) and other Scholars were of the opinion that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did indeed call out the adhan once during travel based on a Hadith recorded in Sunan Tirmidhi.
However, Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) states that another version of this Hadith has the words, ‘Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) ordered Sayyiduna Bilal to call out the Adhan, therefore the version which states ‘Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) called out the adhan actually means ‘Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) ordered that the Adhan be called out.’
(Fathul Bari, Hadith: 603, vol. 2, pg. 79)
‘Allamah ‘Abdul Hayy Al Lakhnawi (rahimahullah) has authored a booklet on this topic. He too seems to be of the view that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did not call out the Adhan for Salah. He states, ‘As for Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) calling out the Adhan for Salah, we have desisted [from coming to any conclusion….]
(Khayrul Khabar Fi Adhani Khayril Bashar, pg. 6)
The narration in question should be viewed in light of the above, and therefore the bold part in the translation could possibly carry the meaning of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) actually ordering the adhan and iqamah to be called out.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar