Adhan & Iqama

    

 

The Adhan

Both the Adhan (the call to prayer) and the iqama are called in cities all around the world.  From Timbuktu, to Jakarta, from Lahore to Makkah, the adhan and iqama are called. In almost every part of the Muslim world, every Muslim - whether a local or foreigner - can easily recognize the call to prayer because of its existing universal standardisation. So even if it is not fully understood by all the listeners, it gives a universal recognition and standardisation to its words.

At the appointed time, 5 times daily in each of the millions of mosques now established all over the world, a Muslim will climb to the highest point available and call in a beautiful voice to announce to the world that it is now the time for prayer. The Muezzin (caller) stands facing the Qibla, and raising his hands to his ers delivers the Adhan in a loud voice which is slow, distinct and understandble.

Whether in a masjid or an open place, where two or more people are gathered and wish to pray the obligatory prayer together, one should make the Adhan.

The adhan serves a double purpose; as well as being an announcement of the time of prayer; it is, at the same time, an announcement of the principles of Islam and the significance underlying them. Of Tawheed, the Risalah, and so on. The call to the peace and the beauty of a moment of sacred worship together.
The adhan was made part of the shari'ah during the first year after the migration to Madinah.

While the performance of adhan is melodious, there are no fixed melodies. The muezzin is free to modulate the sentences to what he feels is best. So you may be able to hear the beautiful sound of the adhan in all areas of the world, in different fashions yet being the same words. It doesnt fail to touch the hearts of those that listen to it, muslim, or otherwise.

The adhan is also used in connection with the birth of a child, when the father reads the adhan into the ear of his newborn child.

 

God is Great, God is Great
اللَّهُ اكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ اكْبَرُ    
 Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
 
God is Great, God is Great
اللَّهُ اكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ اكْبَرُ
 Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
 
I bear witness that there is no God But Allah
اشْهَدُ انْ لَّآ اِلهَ اِلَّا اللَّهُ
Ash-hadu allaa illaha ilAllah
 
I bear witness that there is no God But Allah
اشْهَدُ انْ لَّآ اِلهَ اِلَّا اللَّهُ
Ash-hadu allaa illaha ilAllah
 
I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah
اشْهَدُ انَّ مُحَمَّدً ارَّسُوْلُ اللَّهِ
 Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar Rasul-Allah
 
I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah
اشْهَدُ انَّ مُحَمَّدً ارَّسُوْلُ اللَّهِ
 Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar Rasul-Allah
 
Come to the prayer, Come to Prayer*
حَىَّ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ
، حَىَّ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ
 Hayya 'alas salaah, hayya 'alas salaah
 
Come to the Success, Come to Success*
حَىَّ عَلَى الْفَلَاحِ،
حَىَّ عَلَى الْفَلَاحِ
 Hayya 'alal falaah, hayya 'alal falaah
 
Allah is Great, Allah is Great
اللَّهُ اَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ اَكْبَرُ
 Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
 
There is no God But Allah
لَآ اِلهَ اِلَّا اللَّهُ
La illaha il-Allah
 

 

*When the adhan is being called, those listening to it should repeat the same words as the caller to the adhan, except when the caller comes to this point, at which the listener should say:

There is no Power and no strength except with Allah
لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
 La hawla wa la quwwatta illa billah

 

*During the Adhan for Fajr Salah, the following words are added after "haya 'alal falaah"



Salah is better than sleep, salah is better than sleep
اَلصَّلوةُ خَيْر مِّنَ النَّوْمِ، اَلصَّلوةُّ خَيْر مِّنَ النَّوْمِ
 Assalaatu khairum munan nawm, assalaatu khairum minan nawm

 

*After hearing the mu'adhdhin say "assalaatu khairum minan nawm", one says:

You told the truth and you did good
صَدَقْتَ وبَرَرْتَ
 Sadaqata wa bararta

 

 

The Iqama

After the Adhan; when the muslims are assembled at the place of worship, a second call (iqamah) is recited by one of the group. This signals the start of the congregational salah. It is similar to adhan except that it is recited faster but in a lower tone.

Here are the words to the iqama:

 

God is Great, God is Great
اللَّهُ اكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ اكْبَرُ    
 Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
 
I bear witness that there is no God But Allah
اشْهَدُ انْ لَّآ اِلهَ اِلَّا اللَّهُ
Ash-hadu allaa illaha ilAllah
 
I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah
اشْهَدُ انَّ مُحَمَّدً ارَّسُوْلُ اللَّهِ
 Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar Rasul-Allah
 
Come to the prayer
حَىَّ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ
 
 Hayya 'alas salaah
 
Come to the Success
حَىَّ عَلَى الْفَلَاحِ،
 
 Hayya 'alal falaah
 
The prayer is being established,    the prayer is being established
قَدْ قَامَتِ الصَّلوةُ، قَدْ قَامَتِ
الصَّلوةُ
 Qad qaamatis salaah, qad qaamatis salah
 
Allah is Great, Allah is Great
اللَّهُ اَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ اَكْبَرُ
 Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
 
There is no God But Allah
لَآ اِلهَ اِلَّا اللَّهُ
La illaha il-Allah
 

 

*When the Muadhdhin says "qad qaamatis salah", one is to say:


May Allah establish it and make it permanent
اَقَامَهَا اللَّهُ وَ اَدَامَهَا
 aqamahAllahu wa adaamaha

 

 

The Adhan from around the world

From Makkah

From Madinah

From Masjid al-Aqsa (Jerusalem)

From Turkey

From Egypt

From Halab

 

 

 

 

 

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