Sunan at-Tirmithiy كتاب الصلاة
The Messenger of God, peace and blessings of God be upon him, did not pray any prayer at the end of its [appointed] time twice until God took his life(1). Footnote (1): This means that he generally observed prayers at the desirable times, except for some rare incidents in which he delayed observing prayer until the end of its appointed time to demonstrate admissibility. Click on ḥadīth to read more
Ibnul-Khattāb, on the day of [the Battle of] the Trench, while cursing the disbelievers of Quraysh (because they had caused them to delay prayer) said, "Messenger of God, no sooner had I prayed the afternoon prayer (1) than the sun set." The Messenger of God, peace and blessings of God be upon him, said, "By God, I have not prayed it." He (Jābir Ibn-Abdullāh) said, "We thus settled in But-hān (a valley in Madīnah) and the Messenger of God, peace and blessings of God be upon him, performed ablution, and so did we. Then the Messenger of God, peace and blessings of God be upon him, prayed the afternoon prayer after the sun had set; thereafter he prayed the sunset prayer (2). Footnotes: 1. Third prescribed prayer of the day. 2. Fourth prescribed prayer of the day. Click on ḥadīth to read more
The Messenger of God, peace and blessings of God be upon him, said, "The middle prayer is the afternoon prayer (1)." Footnote: 1. Third prescribed prayer of the day. Click on ḥadīth to read more
Now that it was morning, we came to the Messenger of God, peace and blessings of God be upon him, and I informed him about the vision (the dream about the call to prayer). Whereupon he said, "Indeed, this is surely a true vision. So go with Bilāl, as his voice is more pleasant and resounding than yours, and recite to him what has been said to you, and let him use it to call (to prayer)." When Umar Ibnul-Khattāb heard Bilāl's call to prayer, he came out to the Messenger of God, peace and blessings of God be upon him, dragging his lower garment (in haste) and said, "Messenger of God! By Him who has sent you with the truth, I've had a vision similar to what he has said." So the Messenger of God, peace and blessings of God be upon him said, "To God is all praise, for that is better (as the wording has been confirmed from a different source)." Click on ḥadīth to read more
Upon settling in Madīnah, as the call to prayer was not yet a practice, Muslims used to congregate and estimate the time for prayer [in order to pray]. Once, they discussed this matter: "Use a bell, like that of the Christians," some suggested. "Use a horn, like that of the Jews," others added. Umar Ibnul-Khattāb then said, "Would you not rather appoint one of you to call to prayer?" So the Messenger of God, peace and blessings of God be upon him, said, "Bilāl, go and call to prayer." Click on ḥadīth to read more