Maulana Rumi (ks) – Mispronunciation of Hazrat Bilal (R)

Explaining that in the sight of the Beloved a fault committed by lovers is better than the correctness of strangers.

The veracious Bilal (R) in uttering the call to prayer, used, from ardent feeling to pronounce ʜ\ayya as hayya,

So that they (some people) said, “O Messenger (of Allah), this fault is not right (permissible) now when ’tis the beginning of the edifice (of Islam).

O Prophet and Messenger of the Creator, get a muezzin who speaks more correctly.

At the commencement of religion and piety, it is a disgrace to mispronounce ʜayy ‘ala ‘l-falah”

The Prophet’s (S) wrath boiled up, and he gave one or two indications of the hidden favours (which Allah had bestowed upon Bilal (R))

Saying, “O base men, in Allah’s sight the mispronounced hayy of Bilal is better than a hundred hā’s and khā’s and words and phrases.

Do not stir me to anger, lest I divulge your secret – (both) your end and your beginning.”

If thou hast not a sweet breath in prayer, go and beg a prayer from the pure (in heart).

Mathnawi – Volume 4 (173)