The life of the Prophet Muhammad - Ibn Kathir - volume 2 of 4

IMAM ABU AL-FID& ISMA'~L IBN KATH~R 223
He then stated, "Abii Wbayd said, 'Abn Bakr al-Hakami informed me that
'Abd Allah b. Zayd, the Helper, spoke the following verse on this:
'Praise he to God, the Sublime, the Revered, great
praise for the call to prayer,
For there having come to me the herald from God; honour
him as a herald to me!
For three nights he dedicated thus, and each time he
came to me he brought me greater honour!"'
I observe that this poetry is strange for it implies that 'Abd Allah b. Zayd saw the
vision for three nights before he informed the Messenger of God (SAAS).
The Imam Ahmad related this from a hadith of Muhammad b. Ishaq. And he
stated, "Al-Zuhri related from Sacid b. al-Mnsayyab, from 'Abd All& b. Zayd,
approximately the same account as given by Ibn Ishaq from Muhammad b.
Ihrahim al-Taymi, but that account did not include the verses."
Ibn Maja stated, "Muhammad b. Khalid b. 'Abd Allah al-Wasiti related to us,
quoting his father, from 'Abd al-Rahma b. Ishaq, from al-Zuhri, from Salii,
from his father, to the effect that the Messenger of God (SAAS) asked the
advice of the community on what to use to commence the prayer. They mentioned
the horn, but he disliked this because of its use by the Jews. They then
referred to the bell, but he disliked this because of its use by the Christians. That
night a vision of the call to prayer came to a helper named 'Abd Allah b. Zayd
and to Wmar b. al-Khattab. The Helper made his way at night to the Messenger
of God (SAAS) who gave orders to Bild, who made the call to prayer using it."
Al-Zubri stated, "Bilzl made an addition in the morning call to prayer, namely
twice saying the words 'prayer is better than sleep'. The Messenger of God
(SAAS) agreed to this. Wmar told him, '0 Messenger of God, I saw the same
vision as he did but he preceded me."'
Material relating to this section will be given in the chapter on the call to
prayer in the large work al-Ahknm (The Statutes). If God Almighty wills it, and
in Him is our must.
In a hadith given by al-Suhayli with the following line of authority through
al-Bazzar, Muhammad b. Wthman b. Makhlid related, quoting his father, from
Ziyad b. al-Mundhir, from Muhammad b. 'Ali b. al-Husayn, from his father,
from his grandfather, from 'Ali b. Abii Tdib, who made reference to the hadirh
respecting the rsrts', the ascent to heaven, as follows, "And an angel emerged
from behind the screen and he made the call to prayer using this call. Each time
he said a word, God Almighty verified it. Then the angel took the hand of
Muhammad (SAAS) and brought him forward. He then led the family of
heaven, who included Adam and Noah, in the prayer." Al-Suhayli then said,
"You may view this hadith as authentic for the support it gives and resemblance
it has to the hadiih relating to the ascent to heaven."
But this hadith is not, as al-Suhayli maintained, authentic. In fact it is
unacceptable. Ziyad b. al-Mundhir Abii al-Jmd is he to whom is attributed the