7/11. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 641 — True Dawn and Fajr Adhan
The Adhan At Times Other Than The Time For Prayer
Hadith About Fajr Adhan and the True Dawn
Sunan an-Nasai : 641
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 641
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا الْمُعْتَمِرُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي عُثْمَانَ، عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّ بِلاَلاً يُؤَذِّنُ بِلَيْلٍ لِيُوقِظَ نَائِمَكُمْ وَلِيَرْجِعَ قَائِمَكُمْ وَلَيْسَ أَنْ يَقُولَ هَكَذَا " . يَعْنِي فِي الصُّبْحِ .
Ibn Mas'ud Narrated from:
The Prophet (S.A.W) said: "Bilal calls the Adhan during the night to wake those who are sleeping and so that those who are praying Qiyam can return.[1] Not to say it is like this." The break of dawn is not like this. [2] [1] Meaning to finish. Ash-Shawkani said: "To return to sleeping or return to sitting from praying" Nail Al-Awtar. [2] Indicating with an up and down motion. The true dawn is from right to left.
[1] Meaning, to finish. Ash-Shawkânî said: “To return to sleeping or return to sitting from praying” Nail Al-Awqâr .[2] Indicating with an up and down motion. The true dawn is from right to left.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 641In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 16English translation : Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 642
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 641
This Hadith explains an important point about the Fajr Adhan and the true dawn. The Prophet (S.A.W) said that Bilal called the Adhan during the night. Its purpose was to wake people who were sleeping and to alert those praying Qiyam so they could finish or return. The text then makes clear that this night Adhan was not the same as the break of dawn. The dawn is described as not being like an up-and-down sign, but as the true dawn spreading from right to left. For anyone searching for a hadith about Fajr time, this narration shows the difference between a night call and the prayer time beginning.
What we learn from this hadith
- Bilal’s night Adhan had a clear purpose: waking sleepers and alerting those in Qiyam.
- The start of Fajr is linked to true dawn, not every light seen in the sky.
- The Hadith teaches care in telling the difference between night and the time of Subh.
- The Adhan can serve as a practical reminder for worship and preparation.
