Question

Please discuss the authenticity of the famous incident of Sayyiduna Bilal (radiyallahu’anhu) returning to Madinah and calling the adhan long after the demise of Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) after seeing Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) in a dream.

Someone told me this story is not reliable and that we should not attribute it to Sayyiduna Bilal (radiyallahu’anhu).

 

Answer

This incident has been recorded by Imam Ibn ‘Asakir (rahimahullah) in his Tarikh, vol.7 pg.97 9 (Dar Ihyaut Turathil ‘Arabi)

The Scholars have differed extensively on it’s authenticity.

The Muhaddithun who have discredited this incident

‘Allamah Dhahabi (rahimahullah) in Siyar A’lamin Nubala, vol.1 pg.258

Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) in Lisanul Mizan, number: 294

‘Allamah Suyuti (rahimahullah) in Dhaylul La-ali, number: 481

Mulla ‘Ali Qari (rahimahullah) in Al-Masnu’, pg.257-258 and others.

The above Muhaddithun have declared this incident ‘unquotable’.

 

Those who have accredited it

Imam Taqi-ud Din Subki (rahimahullah) in Shifaus Siqam, pg.139-140

‘Allamah Dhahabi (rahimahullah) in Tarikhul Islam,

Ibnul Athir Jazari (rahimahullah) has quoted it in his biography of the Sahabah; Usdul Ghabah, vol.1 pg.417

Al-Muhaddith, Zafar Ahmad Tahanawi (rahimahullah) in I’laus Sunan, vol.10 pg.499 and others.

Therefore even among contemporaries, this difference still exists.

Since there are senior Scholars on both sides, I view this as a legitimate difference of opinion; which means that whichever view one prefers, one should maintain respect for the opposing view.

 

Another similar story

The Historians have mentioned a separate incident that occurred in Sham (Syria). When Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu’anhu) visited Sham, the people asked him to request Sayyiduna Bilal (radiyallahu’anhu) to call the adhan. He did so and the people began crying in memory of the golden era of Rasulullah (sallallahu ’alayhi wasallam).

Refer to: Tarikh Dimashq, vol.10 pgs.361-362 & Al-Bidayah wan Nihayah, vol.7 pg.75-76.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

 

Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

 

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar