Abu Mahdhura

Aws b. Mi'yar b. Lawdhan al-Jumahi known as Abu Mahdhura (59/679) was a companion of the Prophet (s) and Adhan reciter in Mecca.

Name and Linage

There’s a disagreement in the exact names of his and his father. Different records of historians and biographers make the ultimate conclusion over their exact names difficult. Some accounts present him as Samura or with some other names; however regarding the name of his father, it is mainly a matter of wrong dictation. Even in some sources, Aws or Anis has been reported as the brother of Abu Mahdhura, and that he was one of pagans killed in the battle of Badr; according to Ibn ‘abbas, this person was among those who were referred to as Muqtasimin, in verse 90 of Sura al-Hijr.

Adhan Reciter of Mecca

It’s been reported that Abu Mahdhura converted to Islam on the day of Mecca Triumph, according to some accounts he converted to Islam after the battle of Hunayn and then he was appointed by the Prophet (s) as the Adhan reciter of Mecca. Also it’s been reported that he, along others, repeated the Adhan which was recited by the Mu’adhdhin (Adhan reciter) of the Prophet (s), upon hearing his voice, the Prophet (s) appointed him as the Adhan reciter of Mecca.

In a narration by Ibn Sa‘d, three individuals are counted as the Adhan reciters of the Prophet (s): Bilal, Abu Mahdhura and Umar b. Maktum, and whenever Bilal was absent, Abu Mahdhura would recite the Adhan; however as Ibn Sa‘d himself mentions Abu Mahdhura’s residence in Mecca, the Issue of him being a replacement for Bilal, remains dubious.

Learning Adhan From the Prophet (s)

Abu Mahdhura had a nice voice and in a poem, Abu Dihbil praised his loud and nice voice.

Abu Mahdhura said that the Prophet (s) had taught him Adhan word for word and had said that Adhan includes 19 words (lines) and Iqama 17.

Narrating Adha

The narrations of Abu Mahdhura about Adhan and Iqama are notable in terms of their jurisprudential value and have been taken as bases for deducing the rulings of Adhan and Iqama.

Some narrators have reported from him an Adhan with two Takbirs; on the contrary, more well-known reports present Adhan with four Takbirs.

In an account by ‘abd Allah b. Muhayriz, Abu Mahdhura recited Fajr (dawn) Adhan with Tathwib i.e. addition of Al-Salat Khayr-un min al-nawm, however, Shafi‘i does not recognize this particular line from the Prophet (s) and expresses his dislike in this regard.

Also in a Zaydi narration by ‘abd al-‘aziz b. Rafi‘, the phrase: Hayya ‘ala khayr al-‘amal is documented among the lines of Adhan.

Narrators

Some people have narrated the sayings of Abu Mahdhura regarding Adhan: his son ‘abd al-Malik, ‘abd Allah b. Muhayriz, Safiyya bint Bahra, Aswad b. Yazid, ‘abd al-‘aziz b. Rafi‘ and Ibn Ali Malika.

Reciting Adhan After the demise of the Prophet (s)

Abu Mahdhura continued reciting Adhan in Mecca after the demise of the Prophet (s) and even when Mu‘awiyya appointed an Adhan reciter for his position, Abu Mahdhura pushed the appointed person into the Well of Zamzam. The recitation of Adhan in Masjid al-Haram remained in his descendants, generation after generation, for the next three centuries.

Demise

In later stages of life, he had a short trip to Kufa. He remained the Adhan Reciter of Masjid al-Haram and passed away in Mecca.