The Muezzins in Medina During the Prophetic Era: A Historical and Analytical Study

Abstract

This study examines the muezzins of Medina during the Prophetic era from a historical and analytical perspective. It focuses on individuals whose association with the adhan in Medina and its mosques is supported by the historical sources, foremost among them Bilal ibn Rabah al-Habashi, Abdullah (also reported as Amr) ibn Qays ibn Za'idah, known as Ibn Umm Maktum, and Sa'd ibn A'idh, known as Sa'd al-Qaraz, who served as a muezzin at the Quba Mosque. The study adopts a historical-analytical approach based on hadith collections, sira works, biographical dictionaries, and tabaqat literature. Narratives are compared with attention to their chronological and geographical contexts in order to distinguish the muezzins of Medina from those serving elsewhere. The findings show that the adhan contributed to regulating prayer times and strengthening communal cohesion in Medina, while the presence of more than one muezzin reflected practical needs within the city. The study adheres strictly to its geographical scope and does not include muezzins whose established service was outside Medina.