The person who increased the number of Adhans for the Jumua prayers to three was Uthman bin Affan and it was when the number of the (Muslim) people of Medina had increased. In the life-time of the Prophet there was only one Muadh-dhin and the Adhan used to be pronounced only after the Imam had taken his seat (i.e. on the pulpit).

Allah's Apostle used to offer thirteen Rakat in the night prayer and on hearing the Adhan for the morning prayer, he used to offer two light Rakat.

Once on a rainy muddy day, Ibn Abbas delivered a sermon in our presence and when the Mu'adhdhin pronounced the Adhan and said, ''Haiya ala-s-sala(t) (come for the prayer)'' Ibn Abbas ordered him to say Pray at your homes.' The people began to look at each other (surprisingly). Ibn Abbas said. ''It was done by one who was much better than I (i.e. the Prophet or his Mu'adhdhin), and it is a license.'

that Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri said to him, ''I see that you like sheep and the desert, so when you are looking after your sheep or when you are in the desert and want to pronounce the Adhan, raise your voice, for no Jinn, human being or any other things hear the Mu'adh-dhin's voice but will be a witness for him on the Day of Resurrection.'' Abu Sa'id added, ''I heard this from Allah's Apostle.''

I came to the Prophet with some men from my tribe and stayed with him for twenty nights. He was kind and merciful to us. When he realized our longing for our families, he said to us, ''Go back and stay with your families and teach them the religion, and offer the prayer and one of you should pronounce the Adhan for the prayer when its time is due and the oldest one amongst you should lead the prayer.''

While Umar (bin Al-Khattab) was delivering the Khutba on a Friday, a man entered (the mosque). Umar asked him, ''What has detained you from the prayer?'' The man said, ''It was only that when I heard the Adhan I performed ablution (for the prayer).'' On that Umar said, ''Did you not hear the Prophet saying: Anyone of you going out for the Jumua prayer should take a bath'?''.

Once on a very cold and stormy night, Ibn Umar pronounced the Adhan for the prayer and then said, ''Pray in your homes.'' He (Ibn Umar) added. ''On very cold and rainy nights Allah's Apostle used to order the Mu'adhdhin to say, Pray in your homes.' ''

I asked Ibn Umar, ''What is your opinion about the two Rakat before the Fajr (compulsory) prayer, as to prolonging the recitation in them?'' He said, ''The Prophet (p.b.u.h) used to pray at night two Rakat followed by two and so on, and end the prayer by one Raka Witr. He used to offer two Rakat before the Fajr prayer immediately after the Adhan.'' (Hammad, the sub-narrator said, ''That meant (that he prayed) quickly.)''

While Umar bin Al-Khattab was standing and delivering the sermon on a Friday, one of the companions of the Prophet, who was one of the foremost Muhajirs (emigrants) came. Umar said to him, ''What is the time now?'' He replied, ''I was busy and could not go back to my house till I heard the Adhan. I did not perform more than the ablution.'' Thereupon Umar said to him, ''Did you perform only the ablution although you know that Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) used to order us to take a bath (on Fridays)?''

We went to the Prophet and we were all young men and stayed with him for about twenty nights. The Prophet was very merciful. He said, ''When you return home, impart religious teachings to your families and tell them to offer perfectly such and such a prayer at such and such a time and such and such a prayer at such and such a time. And al the time of the prayer one of you should pronounce the Adhan and the oldest of you should lead the prayer.''

The Muadhdhin (call-maker) of the Prophet pronounced the Adhan (call) for the Zuhr prayer but the Prophet said, ''Let it be cooler, let it be cooler.'' Or said, Wait, wait, because the severity of heat is from the raging of the Hell-fire. In severe hot weather, pray when it becomes (a bit) cooler and the shadows of hillocks appear.''

We came to the Prophet and we were (a few) young men of approximately equal age and stayed with him for twenty nights. Then he thought that we were anxious for our families, and he asked us whom we had left behind to look after our families, and we told him. He was kindhearted and merciful, so he said, ''Return to your families and teach them (religious knowledge) and order them (to do good deeds) and offer your prayers in the way you saw me offering my prayers, and when the stated time for the prayer becomes due, then one of you should pronounce its call (i.e. the Adhan), and the eldest of you should lead you in prayer.

The people mentioned the fire and the bell (they suggested those as signals to indicate the starting of prayers), and by that they mentioned the Jews and the Christians. Then Bilal was ordered to pronounce Adhan for the prayer by saying its wordings twice, and for the Iqama (the call for the actual standing for the prayers in rows) by saying its wordings once. (Iqama is pronounced when the people are ready for the prayer).

We came to the Prophet and we were young men nearly of equal ages and we stayed with him for twenty nights. Allah's Apostle was a very kind man and when he realized our longing for our families, he asked us about those whom we had left behind. When we informed him, he said, ''Go back to your families and stay with them and teach them (religion) and order them (to do good deeds). The Prophet mentioned things some of which I remembered and some I did not. Then he said, ''Pray as you have seen me praying, and when it is the time of prayer, one of you should pronounce the call (Adhan) for the prayer and the eldest of you should lead the prayer. ''

Allah's Apostle said, ''Whoever after listening to the Adhan says, Allahumma Rabba hadhihi-d-da' watit-tammati was-salatil qa'imati, ati Muhammadan al-wasilata wal-fadilata, wab' athhu maqaman mahmudan-il-ladhi wa' adtahu (O Allah! Lord of this perfect call (of not ascribing partners to You) and of the regular prayer which is going to be established! Kindly give Muhammad the right of intercession and superiority and send him (on the Day of Judgment) to the best and the highest place in Paradise which You promised him)', then intercession for me will be permitted for him on the Day of Resurrection'').