I shall now narrate some anecdotes from the life in Madinah according to the years in which they occurred.

First Year

This was the year when the Athaan commenced. When the Muslims migrated to Madinah Munawwarah, they encountered difficulty regarding the Salaat times. The Sahaabah would estimate the time for Jamaat Salaat and gather in the Musjid. Since this was a daily problem, the Sahaabah sought a solution from Rasulullah (صلى الله عايه وسالم) who himself had already realised the difficulty. Ultimately, all the Sahaabah gathered to discuss this problem. A variety of solutions was offered. One opinion was to raise a flag high up at the time of Salaat. Seeing the flag, all would gather for Salaat. Some suggested the blowing of a trumpet, the ringing of bells, etc. However, since all these methods were prevalent customs of other religions, Rasulullah (صلى الله عايه وسالم) did not approve of them. He said that bells were the way of the Nasaara while the bugle was the method of the Yahood. Muslims should not adopt the ways of the kuffaar. The problem thus remain unsolved.

During the same night an unseen angel apprised Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Zaid (radhiyallahu anhu) of the words of the Athaan. Having seen this dream, he hastened to Rasulullah (صلى الله عايه وسالم) and said:

“O Rasulullah! I was partially asleep and partially awake when someone instructed me with these words (i.e. the words of the Athaan).”

Hearing these words, Rasulullah (صلى الله عايه وسالم) sent for Hadhrat Bilal (radhiyallahu anhu). He instructed Hadhrat Bilal to mount an elevated place and announce these words. When Hadhrat Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) heard this proclamation, he hurried dragging along his shawl out of sheer exhilaration and said:

‘O Rasulullah! I too heard someone reciting these words 20 days ago. But due to modesty I did not inform you.’

Although it was Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Zaid who had heard these words in a dream, Rasulullah (صلى الله عايه وسالم) conferred the honour of proclaiming the Athaan on Hadhrat Bilal. In my humble opinion this was to reward him for the tremendous hardships he had to endure in the initial stage of Islam at the hands of the kuffaar of Makkah. Although the reason for this preference is said to be the loud voice of Hadhrat Bilal, it is not negatory of my opinion.

In this first year the fast of Yaum-e-Aashْra (10th Muharram) was made fardh. However, when the fasts of Ramadhaan were decreed obligatory, the fast of Aashْa remained as Mustahab.

This was also the year when Hadhrat Salman Farsi and Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Salam (radhiyallahu anhuma) entered the fold of Islam. The anecdotes of sacrifice and devotion of these noble men are famous. In this very year did Rasulullah (صلى الله عايه وسالم) call his wife, Hadhrat Saudah (radhiyallahu anha) and his daughters from Makkah to Madinah. The brotherhood between the Ansaar and Muhaajireen was established in this first year. In Sha’baan of this year Hadhrat Aishah (radhiyallahu anha) came to live with Rasulullah (صلى الله عايه وسالم). Her marriage to Nabi-e-Kareem (صلى الله عايه وسالم) was already contracted some time ago.