Sunan Abī Dāwūd · Musnad Aḥmad

‘Abdullāh ibn Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) ordered that a bell be rung to gather the people for prayer, I saw a dream where a man was going around carrying a bell.

I said to him: "O slave of Allah, are you selling this bell?" He said: "What will you do with it?" I said: "We will call the people to prayer." He said: "Shall I direct you to what is better than it?" I replied: ‘Yes.’ He said: "Say: 'Allah is the Greatest (four times); I bear witness that there is no god but Allah (twice); I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (twice); come to prayer (twice); come to success (twice); Allah is the Greatest (twice); there is no god but Allah.'" Then he stood close behind me and said: "Then, when the prayer is about to begin, say: 'Allah is the Greatest (twice); I bear witness that there is no god but Allah; I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; come to prayer; come to success; the prayer is about to commence (twice) [In another narration: “And if it is the Fajr prayer, say: ‘prayer is better than sleep (twice).’”]; Allah is the Greatest (twice); there is no god but Allah.'" When I woke up, I went to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and informed him of my dream.

He said: ‘Indeed, it is a true dream, Allah Willing! Go and teach these words to Bilāl, and let him make the call to prayer with them, as his voice is more melodious than yours.’ So I took Bilāl and taught him those words, and he made the call to prayer therewith.

‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb heard it while at home, and so he came out dragging his garment and saying: "By the One Who sent you with the truth, O Messenger of Allah, I saw the same dream that he saw!" Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "All praise is due to Allah."