2/30. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 197 — Bilal's Adhan Practice
What Has Been Related About Putting The Fingers In The Ears For The Adhan
Bilal's Adhan With Fingers in Ears
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 197
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 197
حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ الثَّوْرِيُّ، عَنْ عَوْنِ بْنِ أَبِي جُحَيْفَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ رَأَيْتُ بِلاَلاً يُؤَذِّنُ وَيَدُورُ وَيُتْبِعُ فَاهُ هَا هُنَا وَهَا هُنَا وَإِصْبَعَاهُ فِي أُذُنَيْهِ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي قُبَّةٍ لَهُ حَمْرَاءَ أُرَاهُ قَالَ مِنْ أَدَمٍ فَخَرَجَ بِلاَلٌ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ بِالْعَنَزَةِ فَرَكَزَهَا بِالْبَطْحَاءِ فَصَلَّى إِلَيْهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَمُرُّ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ الْكَلْبُ وَالْحِمَارُ وَعَلَيْهِ حُلَّةٌ حَمْرَاءُ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى بَرِيقِ سَاقَيْهِ . قَالَ سُفْيَانُ نُرَاهُ حِبَرَةً . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ أَبِي جُحَيْفَةَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَعَلَيْهِ الْعَمَلُ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ يَسْتَحِبُّونَ أَنْ يُدْخِلَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ إِصْبَعَيْهِ فِي أُذُنَيْهِ فِي الأَذَانِ . وَقَالَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ وَفِي الإِقَامَةِ أَيْضًا يُدْخِلُ إِصْبَعَيْهِ فِي أُذُنَيْهِ . وَهُوَ قَوْلُ الأَوْزَاعِيِّ . وَأَبُو جُحَيْفَةَ اسْمُهُ وَهْبُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ السُّوَائِيُّ .
Abu Juhaifa Narrated from:
I Saw Bilal Calling The Adhan, And Turning, And His (Face) Was Following Here And There, And His (Index) Fingers Were In His Ears, And Allah'S Messenger Was In A Small Red Tent" - "I Think," He (One Of The Narrators) Said, "It Was Made From A Hide" - So Bilal Went Out In Front Of Him With An Anazah Which He Planted (In The Ground) At Batha. Allah'S Messenger Prayed Facing It, And A Dog And A Donkey Passed In Front Of Him; He Was Wearing A Red Hullah, And It Is As If I Am Now Looking At The Radiance Of His Shins." Sufyan Said: "We Think That It Was A Hibrah."
[1] A short spear.[2] A place outside Makkah.[3] The commentaries differ over the exact description, and whether it refers to one garment, or an Izār and a Ridā' . Most of them agree that it was made from a type of Yemeni cloth that had some designs on it. While Hullah normally describes an upper and lower garment made of the same material.[1] That is, one garment that is not all red, but has some red and black patterns on it.Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 197In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 49English translation : Vol. 1, Book 2, Hadith 197
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 197
This Hadith gives a vivid report of Bilal calling the Adhan. Abu Juhaifah said he saw Bilal giving the Adhan, turning, moving his face here and there, while his fingers were in his ears. The narration also mentions Allah's Messenger in a small red tent, Bilal placing an Anazah in front of him, and the Prophet praying facing it while a dog and a donkey passed in front. For searches like Bilal fingers in ears Adhan and Mu'adhdhin turning during Adhan, this report is very direct. The added note says scholars liked the Mu'adhdhin putting his fingers in his ears during the Adhan. The explanation should stay close to these observed actions.
What we learn from this hadith
- Bilal placed his fingers in his ears while calling the Adhan.
- He turned his face while calling, as described by the narrator.
- The Prophet prayed facing the planted Anazah mentioned in the report.
- The narration records observed practice, not a long legal debate.
