Did the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and his honorable companions prepare for prayer before the Adhan, such that failing to do so would make them subject to the saying, "Wretched is the servant who does not enter the mosque until after hearing the Adhan"?

This phrase originates from Sufyan ibn Uyaynah, may Allah have mercy on him: "Do not be like the bad servant who does not come until he is called; rather, come to the prayer before the call." This phrase can carry several valid meanings, including:

1. That it intends to censure those who dislike attending congregational prayer and are sluggish about it, resembling a bad servant who resents his master's summons. 2. That "before the call" means before the Iqamah, as the Iqamah is also called a call (nida'). It has been narrated that a man said: "It is a sign of revering the prayer to come before the Iqamah." This was often the practice of the Companions. As for the Prophet, peace be upon him, he used to pray the regular (Sunnah) prayers in his house and then go out to the mosque when the Iqamah was called. 3. That the similitude is not to be taken literally, but rather Sufyan intended to encourage hastening to prayer and to discourage delaying it, due to the great virtue and reward in early attendance.