Pause,
and get to know the Companions, the scholars, and the prominent figures.
Here is a new challenge: who am I?
I am an Ansari Companion.
I was present at the second Pledge of al-'Aqabah,
and took part in all the battles alongside the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
I carried the banner of Banu al-Harith ibn al-Khazraj during the Conquest of Mecca.
I used to write in Arabic even before the advent of Islam,
at a time when writing was rare among the Arabs.
Allah Almighty honored me with the vision of the adhan in a dream.
That happened when the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was deeply concerned about how to call people to prayer,
wondering how best to gather them for it.
It was suggested to him: "Let us raise a banner when the time for prayer arrives,
so that when people see it, they will inform one another."
But he, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, did not like that idea.
Then they suggested using a horn,
but he did not like that either,
saying: "That is the custom of the Jews."
So they suggested using a clapper (naqus),
and he said: "That is the custom of the Christians."
I left with a heavy heart, sharing the deep concern of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
Then, in my sleep, I was shown the vision of the adhan.
The next morning, I went to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and informed him,
saying: "O Messenger of Allah!
A visitor appeared to me last night.
A man passed by me wearing two green garments,
carrying a clapper in his hand.
I said to him: 'O servant of Allah,
will you sell this clapper?'
He asked: 'What will you do with it?'
I replied: 'We will use it to call people to prayer.'
He said: 'Shall I not guide you to something far better than that?'
I asked: 'And what is that?'
He said: 'You should say:
Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest!
Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest!
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah!
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah!
I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah!
I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah!
Come to prayer!
Come to prayer!
Come to success!
Come to success!
Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest!
There is no god but Allah!'"
The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was pleased with that,
and he said: "It is indeed a true vision! Go stand with Bilal and convey to him what you saw, so that he may call the adhan with it, for he has a more resonant voice than you."
So I began dictating the words to Bilal, and Bilal called the adhan. When 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, heard it while in his home,
he rushed out dragging his cloak, saying: "O Messenger of Allah, by the One Who sent you with the truth, I saw the exact same thing he saw!"
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "All praise is due to Allah."
One day, I gave an orchard of mine away in charity, having no other wealth besides it, and my children and I used to live off it.
I handed it over to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, but my parents came to the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and said:
"O Messenger of Allah, it was the very mainstay of our livelihood, and we have nothing else besides it!"
So the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, summoned me and said: "Allah has accepted your charity and has returned it as an inheritance to your parents," and so we inherited it.
I was also with the Prophet, peace be upon him, at the slaughterhouse, accompanied by a man from the Ansar, while the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was distributing the meat of his sacrificial animals.
Neither I nor my companion received any of it, but the Prophet noticed us; so when he shaved his head, he distributed some of his hair among the men,
and he gave a portion of it to me and my companion—which we still keep, dyed with henna and katam. So, who am I?