Salah is better than sleep

Article By: Raees Mustafa

Introduction
Shias and Sunnis have many differences that are speculated carefully, whether that be the Wilayat of Ali, or the Prostration upon Earth, we just can't sit down and come to a decision together. Or is it? To be honest, it's more of gaining knowledge, than abusing and exposing someone, and Shias try their best not to be rude in that way, or become a total out-cast of that exposing example. Shias and Sunnis have different views to numerous topics, regarding Salah and of course its rules and regulations. What this article looks to cover is the very famous and mischivious topic of the phrase:
Salah is better than sleep

Which was said by Hazrat Umer to a man whom came to wake him up for the Salah of Fajr, Hazrat Umer was sleeping, as mentioned, and the person came forward to say the above phrase: Assalatu Khayrum-min-Al-Naum Salah is better than sleep. When Hazrat Umer heard him and woke up, he ordered the person to add this into the Adhaan (and per some narrations) into the Salah itself. This is regarded as Bid'at, not from my words, but from the words of Imam Malik, Imam Shaf'i, and Ali Mutaqi Hindi, whom are regarded as some of the pillars of the Sunni School of thought, and are respected from head to toe... It's not our fault they quote Hazrat Umer's began Bid'at, and also it's not our fault, that they mention this, yet nowadays Sunni Muftis deny that with such rudness... Nonetheless, by the will of Allah, I've produced an article on this topic, and its confussions, with a great amount of Sunni books, and have also reported this attribution to the one of a Bid'ati, not from my words, but from Hazrat Umer's own son's. It's up to you to now take that piece of knowledge, and see for yourself, who'se right and who's wrong...

Sunni references
Mota of Imam Malik, Vol. 1, page 90 (Published from Karachi) states: Imam Malik has told that to him this talk reached, that a person came to Hazrat Umer, to inform him the Salah of fajr's time is here. The person saw that Hazrat Umer was sleeping, and went closer to him to say: Salah is better than sleep. Hazrat Umer in reply said: Add that phrase: Salah is better than sleep in the Adhaan. So as I'm sleeping, others sleeping will also wake up. Tanweer-ul-Mumajad, Alaa Mota Imam Muhammed page 36 Molana Ataa-ullah, who was the student of Molana Muhammed Hussain Muhadis, has translated this in urdu, and has analysed it as well. He has written this narration: A person came to Hazrat Umer, he was sleeping, and said: Salah is better than sleep, Hazrat Umer informed him to addthis into Adhaan. It further states: Some people say that and also say: Hayya Alaa Khyaril Amal, Molana Ata'ullah writes, Hayya Alaa Khyaril Amal to be added in Azaan is Sunnat-e-Muhammed (saws).(1) Further states: It's Abullah Ibn Umer's call, that it's Sunnat to add it in Adhaan (Hayya Alaa Khayril Amal), though some don't believe it that he done it from Sunnat-eMuhammed, but it's quite clear, that he read it, and may have read it most certainly from the intention of that being the Sunnat of the Prophet (saws). So to act upon that, there is no problem! He has mentioned Mota Imam Malik's version of this incident, though hasn't commented anything upon that... All Hanafi Ulama never ever deny the above book, of Muhammed bin Hassan Shibani, and say he is 100% authentic. Gami'il Usool Min Ahadith-r-rasool, Vol. 6, page: 197, book By Ibn Atheer Gadri, also refers to Mota Imam Malik, but he never commented anything about its narration. This also states clearly, the very same narration, that a person came to Hazrat Umer, and asked him to pray the Fajr, he was sleeping, and heard the person said: Salah is better than sleep, Umer in reply said: Add this phrase in the Adhaan. Sharh of Mota Imam Malik, called Tanweer-ul-Haqaaliq Sharh gul-Imam Malik. Sharh-ho-huu Tanweer-ul-Haqaaliq, Mota Imam Malik. Motal Imam-e-Malik's Sharh, authored by Allama Jallaludin Sayuti, Vol.1 page:

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(1) Molana Ata'ullah has written in his book, that reciting Hayya Alaa Khayril Amal in the Adhaan in Sunnat-e-Muhammed, and how Shias read is absolutely correct accordingly to the true Sunnah, and your own authentic book!

Imam Jallaludin says the same incident from Mota Imam Malik, but doesn't comment on it, as this is the Sharh, of the whole book. Nonetheless, he also says, that once a person was reading Adhaan in Syria, when Mu'awiah entered, and, within the adhaan that person says: Assalamu Alayka Yaa Ameer. As in adressing to Mu'awiah. Imam Sayuti writes, this Bid'at began during the times of Mu'awiah. If someone can send salaam upon such a person, can't we give salaams in the Adhaan upon the greatest personality after Prophet Muhammed (saws), Ali? Yes we can, and we have every write to do so... (2) On this page he writes the same incident, but doesn't refer to or mention or comment on Imam Malik's narration. Another Sharh of Mota Imam Malik, Sharh Zarqani, a very famous Sharh of Mota Imam Malik, he is the Imam of Ahl-e-Sunnat, page 221, has mentioned the same version of the incident, of Mota Imam Malik, he has reffered to the version of the incident in Mota Imam Malik, but hasn't said this is Zaeef. And says: In reality, it was Hazrat Umer, who began this work of adding: Salah is better than Sleep in the Adhaan. Seerat Ibn Halbiyah e Ali Ibn Burahanuddin Halbiy, Vol. 2, page 96; On this page he mentions the very same version of the incident, but didn't comment on it or refer it (to Mota Imam Malik's). And he mentions this with authority, that it was Hazrat Umer, who began the addition of: Salah is better than Sleep, in the Adhaan of Fajr. Another Sharh of Mota Imam Malik, Mussafa Mussawa Sharh-a-Mota. And this is the best Sharh of Mota Imam Malik. On its cover says: Hujjatullah hay Alal Alameen Shah

Waliyullah Muhadis Dhelvi.(3)

Shah Walyullah Muhadis Dhelvi, has reffered to Mota Imam Malik, and says: a person came to Hazrat Umer, and said: It's time for Namaz. Hazrat Umer was sleeping, so he went closer and said: Salah is better than sleep. Hazrat Umer said: Add this into the Adhaan. He writes further: Therefore, it's mustahab, to add this phrase: Namaz is better than sleep, in the Adhaan, twice. He then analysis Mota Imam Malik's view, and also his own, that it was Hazrat Umer, the first person, to state this, and make this an addition into the Adhaan.

Allah's Hujjat, upon all the worlds, says that Hazrat Umer added this in the Adhaan, now shall we listen to these housemade Alims, or from him? As the front cover of the book states?

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Another Sharh of Mota Imam Malik, Aujazul-Masaalik Ilaa Mota Malik, this book is written by Shaykh-ul-Hadees, Molana Muhammed Zakariya Mohajir Madani, Vol. 1, page 192 ____________________________
(2) Inshallah- I will produce an article where I ptove the Imamate of Imam Ali (as) from Quran, and also Sunni Tafaseer, that it's wajib! (3) Such titles are Haram for Non-Ma'sum, and certainly will be punsihed in the hereafter...

He writes the reference of Mota Imam Malik, and says clearly, it was him (Umer) who started this Bid'at. And then writes something very interesting, Mohajir Madani writes: The Adhaan which came, revealed from the Sky was different, and didn't include the phrase: Salah is better than sleep. But this came afterwards, later, and as early morning, is the time to pray, and some sleep, some Sahaba denied this Bid'at! And said Prophet Muhammed (saws) never ever recited this! This is Bid'at! Mohajir Madani further writes: It's well known from Imam Ali (as), and also from Hazrat Tawoos, that this phrase, and its addition into the Adhaan is falsehood and came later. And this incident is also mentioned by Imam Shaukaani in his book Nehlul Autar with detail. This is on the page 192 of the book Aujazul-Masaalik, mentioning the reference of Imam Shaukani's book too... That the Adhaan, which came from the sky, wasn't or didn't icnlude this. Another absolute gem of a Sharh of Mota Imam Malik, written by Molana Ishfaq-ur-Rahman Kandelvi Deobandi The author is a Hanafi Scholar, and in his book on page 57 has narrated an inch perfect incident of Hazrat Umer's encounter with this man, and says clearly, that Hazrat Umer's adittioned Adhaan, with the phrase: Salah is better than sleep, is absolutely wrong, and certainly isn't the Adhaan the same which was revealed from the sky, but tampered! Al-Farooq, Shibli Nu'mani's book, Urdu publication, on page: 372 and 373 states: Hazrat Umer's character from head to toe, what he done, how he did it, why he did it, when, was he born, every question, every speck of Hazrat Umer is covered over here in this Sunni Scholar's book. And within it, it states: Islam never allowed 45 such things, the true Islam, but Hazrat Umer gave permission to do so, and practised it himself...! And within those 45 wrong additions, there is one which Shibli Bu'mani states: that Hazrat Umer was the first person to give himself, and start this title: Amir AlMu'mineen.

Though Hazrat Abu Bakr didn't even use this title for himself... He Shibli Nu'mani writes that Hazrat Umer done lots of work, situated Prisons, used the whipping rope, situated and organised a Police station/departement,

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examined and signified the Usool of Qiyaas, Bajama'at-e-Namaz-e-Taraawi was formed, made it certain for 4 Takbeer's recitation at Namaz-e-Janaazah on people. And writes one more thing: added the phrase: Salah is better than sleep in the Fajr's Adhaan! We talked nothing from our view, absolutely nothing... And it's not up to us either to talk, as by Allah, it's the books talking these rules and regulations, false ones, formed by Hazrat Umer, not accordingly to the will of Allah... These are your books everyone! Sunan-e-Dar Kutani, book of Dar Kutani, Vol. 1, page: 243, hadees no. 39: He writes the narration from Anas, but doesn't take it in 100% authentic, nonetheless, that doesn't really matter, as he the author of this book mentions on this page, that when a person came unto Hazrat Umer to wake him up for Fajr prayers, he (Umer) was sleeping, and that person came forward and said to him: Salah is better than sleep. On behalf of that, Hazrat Umer replied: Add that into the Fajr's Adhaan... This was another reference from another Sunni Alim, very well known in their School of thought, and even he approves, that Hazrat Umer, added the phrase: Salah is better than sleep into the Fajr's Adhaan. This referring incident, is narrated differently from Imam Malik's Mota, though at the end, comes to the cocnlusion, that really, Umer did add the phrase. So far I've presented several books, and all of them claim clearly, that this phrase added by Hazrat Umer into the Fajr's Adhaan, is Bid'at! Kenzul Ammal, book of Hadith, every Sunni brother approves this book, and all Hanafi Scholars approve it with authenticity. Kenzul Ammal Fiy Sunan-e-Lakwaal, written by Allama Ali Mutaqi Hindi He also mentions in his famous book, that Hazrat Umer did reply to the person who said to him: Salah is better than sleep, to add this phrase into the Fajr's Adhaan. First reference from the book, Hadees No. 23250, it states: It's a narration from Mujahid; I was with the son of Umer, Abdullah bn Umer, we entered the Mosque, and a person was giving the Adhaan, the person giving the Adhaan said the phrase:

Salah is better than sleep

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After hearing this, Hazrat Umer's son says: Take this Bid'at and this Bidati (person performing the Bid'at) out of the Mosque!!! Because the Prophet Muhammed (saws) never added this into the Adhaan, via the will of Alah, he's performing such an act, which is not liked by Allah and his rasool! Take him out of the Mosque! Now those who say that it was the granted permission and order by Prophet Muhammed (saws) to add the phrase: Salah is better than sleep in the Adhaan, are they more knowledgeble than Hazrat Umer's son? The most authentic personality in the School of Sunnism, for narrating Ahadith? Al-Hidaday'h, page: 84, this book is written by Ahl-e-Sunnat wal-Jammat's Alim, Allama Murghi Naani. This is the book of Fiqh. Even he writes the narration in his book, he says: Imam Ali (as) saw a man who was reciting the phrase: Salah is better than sleep. Imam Ali (as) on behalf of witnessing that said: Take this Bid'ati (person performing Bid'at) out of the Mosque! Abdullah bn Umer said take such a person doing such a Bid'at out of the Mosque, and so did Imam Ali (as). Second reference from Kenzul Ammal, Hadees no. 23291 It's a related from Ibn Jurrair, that Hassan bn Muslim gave me news of a person, who asked Hazrat Tawoos that when was the phrase: Salah is better than sleep, said in the Adhaan? Hazrat Tawoos in reply said: By Allah, this phrase: Salah is better than sleep, was never ever said during the time of Prophet Muhammed (saws). Third reference from Kenzul Ammal, this is also related from Ibn Jurrair, Hadees No. 2352; It states that the person who came to inform Hazrat Umer of Salatul-Fajr, was Saad, and when he recited this in the Adhaan, Hazrat Umer himself said it, that it was Bid'at!!! Now Hazrat Umer according to Sunni School of thought is Farooq-e-Azam, isn't he? Shall we listen to these nowadays Muftis, or Hazrat Umer himself, that adding the phrase: Salah is better than sleep in the Adhaan, or after the Adhaan is Bid'at or not? Another Sunni book: Mazahir-e-Haqq, translation of Mishqaat Sharif, translated by Allama Qutubudin Khan Kalvi, page No: 586

It has got the very same narration related in Kenzul Ammal, and other books, that Imam Ali (as) and Abdullah bn Umer said it himself, that whoever recited this in his Adhaan in the mosque, take him out of the Mosque, he is a Bid'ati! Improtant to note here is that in Mishqaat Sharif, has also mentioned that: Hazrat Abu Mahzura, said that the Prophet (saws) did order to add this phrase in the

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Adhaan. It's important to note this, even though many more books of much higher stature deny this, those Sunni brothers will now and then come with this book to regard their view correct. The thing is that people don't even know properly who he is, and what people have done to his narration, what is its true reality... Abu Mahzura's narration is annalysed by the author of Mishqat Sharif from the book Sunan-e- Abu-Dawood, people say there are 2 such narrations of Abu Mahzura, regarding the Prophet's order of adding this phrase into the Adhaan. Now lets cover both of these narrations from Abu Mahzura. First narration from Sunan-e-Dawwod, Hadees no. 500. It states this narration from Abu Mahzura. And approves the fact that Prophet Muhammed (saws) did order to add the phrase: Salah is better than sleep in the Adhaan. But I don't agree... (As usual) Though lets not forget Mota Imam Malik, Imam Malik died in 150-70 (A.H), and Abu Dawood died in the 200s. Who shall we trust? The more famous book, or the less famous one? The early published one or the later one? The more elevated book or the lesser elevated one? The person coming 100 years later says and claims that Prophet Muhammed (saws) ordered Abu Mahzura to recite this phrase: Salah is better than sleep, in the Adhaan? What Blasphemy? Nehlul-Autaar, book of Sunni School of thought, book of Imam Shaukani, now he died in the year 1200 (A.H), he on the page: 246 has written about the narration of Abu Mahzura: Abu Mahzura's narration, which is recorded in Sunan-e-Abu Dawood, its reality is that within this narration recorded in Sunan-e-Abu Dawood, its sanad contains a relator called Muhammed bn Abdul Malik bn Abu Mahzura, no one in this world knows about this man, who was he, where he came from, no one knows of him... Secondly Imam Shaukani writes: There is another relator called Haris bn Ubaid, and many people say no one should trust him, as he lies... Now this narration recorded in Sunan-e-Abu Dawood saying that Prophet Muhammed (saws) ordered people to recite the phrase: Salah is better than sleep, in the Adhaan, is wrong, may be written in the book, and is, there is no doubt about the book relating this incident, but its relators of the ahadith narrated by Abu Mahzura, isn't reliable, according to their own books! Another relator is Abu Mahzura himself, and another person relating this

event is Muhaddis, about him dozens of Sunni Alims and books narrate, that he was a lazy person, so his talk and information, isn't reliable... (writes Allama
Shaukani in his book)

Now those reporting in return, the narration from Rasool-ul-Allah regarding the addition of this

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phrase into the Adhaan as fine and obligatory, how comes the Sanad and the relators of this hadith narrated by Abu Mahzura from Prophet Muhammed (saws), are reported weak and lazy, from Sunni books? There were 2 places quoting Abu Mahzura's hadith from Prophet (saws) about this phrase's addition into the Adhaan, but it turned out quite happily, that 3 of the people narrating this, were weak, and aren't to be trusted. The second place where this even is mentioned, is the very next hadith in Sunan-e-Abu Dawood, Hadees 501 quoting this incident from Abu Mahzura's hadith from Prophet Muhammed (saws), is also mentioned as weak. Sunan-naul Kubra, book of Imam Nasayi, Imam Nasyi died in 303 (A.H), Vol. 1, page: 499 says about the relators of Abu Mahzura's hadith from Prophet Muhammed (saws): The whole of incident of Prophet Muhammed (saws) ordering Abu Mahzura to read this phrase: Salah is better than Salah, in the Adhaan, is weak, in fact this hadith contains a relator called Uthmaan bn Saib, him and his father are totally unreliable!...... So tell me now, would you trust Sunan-e-Abu Dawood quoting Abu Mahzura's fake hadith from Prophet Muhammed (saws) saying: Recite the phrase: Salah is better than sleep, in the Adhaan, or the Saheeh, authentic and reliable books of much elevated Sunni Alims, and the good Hassan narrators? It's up to you to decide... Now this is a gem of a reference, from a Sunni book, Kitabul Umm, written By Imam Shaf'i, he died in the year 204 (A.H), Vol. 1, page: 55, he writes: I don't like the addition of the phrase: Salah is better than sleep, in the Adhaan!!!!!!!! And Abu Mahzura's Adhaan didn't include the phrase: Salah is better than sleep, in his Adhaan!!!!!!!! I say this with the witnessing of Allah recording this! And I neither like this after the Salah. Another book: Bidayat-ul-Mujtahid wa Nihayat-ul-Muqtasid, written by Allama Ibn Rushd Qurtubi, Sunni Alim! Vol. 1, page: 77, he died in the year, 593 (A.H), and has written in his book: You shouldn't say: Salah is better than sleep in the Adhaan! Because this phrase, is not from the natural Adhaan revealed by Allah! The Salah Prophet Muhammed (saws) taught didn't include this phrase: Salah is better than sleep. And neither did its Adhaan taught by Prophet (saws) conatin this phrase...! I'm not saying this, but Imam Shafa'i is! In this topic, I will go with Imam Shaf'i, that adding the phrase:

Salah is better than sleep

is Bid'at from head to toe!

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The author further writes on the same page: The confusion and bemusion of reciting this came upon due to the fact that Prophet Muhammed (saws) never recited this in his Adhaan or the Prayers, but Hazrat Umer gave permission, and ordered it...

Conclusion
There my brothers and sisters were dozens and dozens of references, not from me, but from your Sheikhs, your Imams! They aren't me quoting, and it's quite clear, after all that research, that really, Hazrat Umer performed this Bid'at first, and said it afterwards, that don't recite this, it's Bid'at, I appologise, yet we see our Sunni brothers not addmiting it's a Bid'at, given birth by Hazrat Umer himself... Not to only note that, but also the fact that adding Hayyala Khayril Amal in the Adhaan, isn't Bid'at, likewise the addition of Hazrat Umer, and that's a point to note, as we Shias, recite this in our Adhaan with great repute and pleasure, as it's a Sunnat, performed by your great Ahadith narrator, and also, orriginally Sunnate-Muhammed!

Allah, forgive us all, for our

bad sins...