al-Adhān: The Muslim Call to Prayers

The purpose and virtues of al-Adhān

Al-adhān [الأذان] in Arabic literally means conveying or notifying. Adhān is the Islamic announcement or call to Ṣalāt [prayer]. Adhān was prescribed during the time of the prophet ﷺ in Madīnah. Shortly before each of the five obligatory prayers, Moslems are informed of the Ṣalāt by the Adhān and are reminded that prayer leads man to salvation.

In the early days of Islam there was no prescribed way of telling people that the time for Ṣalāt had commenced, nor was there any means to call the Muslims to the mosque for congregational prayers. When the Muslims arrived at Madīnah, they used to assemble for the prayer and used to guess the time for it. During those days, the practice of adhān for the prayers had not been introduced yet.

When the number of Muslims eventually increased, the holy prophet ﷺ sought counsel and asked his companions as to what should be done to call Muslims to the mosque for the congregational prayers. He was however aware of the Jewish, Christian and pagan practices in this regard. As stated in the hadith below, during the discussion to find a solution, some of his companions came up with suggestions such as a fire to be lit so the smoke could go around to alert the believers. Others put forward the proposal to ring the bell. Some companions said, they would raise a flag when it is prayer time, and some suggested to blow in a bugle. They however did not agree on any of those ideas.

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik:
'When the number of Muslims increased, they discussed how to signal the prayer time with a familiar means. Some suggested lighting a fire [at the time of prayer], others to ring a bell. Bilāl was tasked with proclaiming the words of the Adhān twice and the Iqāma once.'

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ لَمَّا كَثُرَ النَّاسُ قَالَ ـ ذَكَرُوا ـ أَنْ يَعْلَمُوا وَقْتَ الصَّلاَةِ بِشَىْءٍ يَعْرِفُونَهُ، فَذَكَرُوا أَنْ يُورُوا نَارًا أَوْ يَضْرِبُوا نَاقُوسًا، فَأُمِرَ بِلاَلٌ أَنْ يَشْفَعَ الأَذَانَ وَأَنْ يُوتِرَ الإِقَامَةَ‏.‏
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī]

One morning ʿAbd Allāh ibn Zayd approached the holy prophet ﷺ and related to him a dream which he had heard a night before. He had seen someone announcing the prayer time and calling people to the mosque for the congregational prayer in a loud voice. A man came to him [in his dream] and said utter these words and taught him the [words of] Adhān exactly as we know it today.

The dream of Abd Allah ibn Zayd.

Narrated by ʿAbd Allāh ibn Zayd:
“When morning came, I went to the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ and told him what I had seen. He said: ‘This is a true dream, in sha Allāh. Get up with Bilāl and tell him what you have seen, so that he can call to prayer, for he has a more beautiful and stronger voice than yours.’ So I got up with Bilāl and began to tell him what I had seen, and he pronounced the call to prayer.”

Narrated Abū Qilābah:
Anas said, "Bilāl al-Ḥabashī was ordered to pronounce the wording of Adhān twice and of Iqāma once only." The sub narrator ʾIsmāʿīl said, "I mentioned that to 'Ayyūb and he added to that, "Except Iqāma [i.e. Qadqamat- is- ṣalāẗ which should be said twice].

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ أُمِرَ بِلاَلٌ أَنْ يَشْفَعَ، الأَذَانَ، وَأَنْ يُوتِرَ الإِقَامَةَ‏.‏ قَالَ إِسْمَاعِيلُ فَذَكَرْتُ لأَيُّوبَ فَقَالَ إِلاَّ الإِقَامَةَ‏.‏
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī]

ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb heard the Adhān while he was in his house and came out dragging his cloak behind him, saying: “By the One who sent you with the truth, O Messenger of Allāh, I saw the same thing he saw.” The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: “Praise be to Allāh.”
[Sunan Ibn Mājah]

These words of the Adhān; [Allāh is the greatest, I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allāh, I bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ is His Messenger, come for Ṣalāt come for success. Allāh is definitely the greatest, there is none worthy of worship besides Allāh], which came in a dream that was seen by a great companion of the prophet [Ṣaḥābì] were not mere suggestions. They were a dream in form of a revelation that was approved by our great prophet ﷺ. It is known that dreams are one of the seventy parts of prophethood.

It was stated in a hadith narrated by Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him] said: “The pious dreams are the seventieth part of Prophecy.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim]

The Words of the Adhān

Adhān is thus widely recognised as the Islamic call to Prayer all over the world. The Method of Saying the 'adhān, is that the Muʾadhin, [the person who says the Adhān], will stand in a prominent position with his face turned towards the Qiblah, cover his ears, clear his mind and recite the Adhān in a loud voice [pronouncing the following words]:

• Allāhu akbar – ٱللَّٰهُ أَكْبَر (x4)
  Allah is the Greatest.
• As’hadu an lā ilāha illa Llāh – أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله (x2)
  I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah.
• Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar Rasūl Allāh – أشهد أن محمد رسول الله (x2)
  I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
• Hayy’ala Ṣalāt – حي على الصلاة (x2)
  Come to prayer.
• Hayy’ala Falāḥ – حي على الفلاح (x2)
  Come to success
• Allāhu akbar – ٱللَّٰهُ أَكْبَر (x2)
  Allah is the Greatest.
• Lā ilāha illa Allāh – لا إله إلا الله (x1)
  There is none worthy of worship except Allah.

The Adhān for the Fajr Prayer

During the Adhān for the Fajr prayer, the Muʾadhin should also recite the words twice:
Assalatu khairum-minan-naum (The prayer is better than sleep) after saying Hayya’ala Falāḥ (Come to success).

The Sunnah During the Adhān

The Sunnah (practice of the Prophet ﷺ) recommends that while the Adhān is being recited, one should listen attentively and repeat it silently after the Muʾadhin. However, when the Muʾadhin pronounces the words Hayya ‘ala-s-Salah (Come to prayer) and Hayya ‘ala-l-Falah (Come to success), those listening to the Adhān should say:
La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (There is no strength nor power except in Allāh).

Narrated by Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī:
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: “Whenever you hear the Adhān, say what the Muʿadhin is saying.”

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ اللَّيْثِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏”‏ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمُ النِّدَاءَ فَقُولُوا مِثْلَ ما يَقُولُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ ‏”‏‏.‏
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī]

Narrated ʿĪsā ibn Ṭalḥa al-Taymī:
that he had heard Muʿāwiya ibn Abī Sufyān repeating the words of Adhān up to "Wa ash’hadu anna Muhammadan Rasūl Lhāh [and I testify that Muhammad is Allāh’s Messenger.]"

حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ فَضَالَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ يَحْيَى، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عِيسَى بْنُ طَلْحَةَ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ مُعَاوِيَةَ، يَوْمًا فَقَالَ مِثْلَهُ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ ‏”‏ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ‏”‏‏.‏
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī]

Narrated (the same) by Yahya with the addition:
“Some of my companions told me that Hishām had said: When the Muʾadhin [مُؤَذِّن] would say: ‘Haiyi `ala Ṣalāt [Come to prayer]’, Muʿāwiya would respond: ‘La hawla wala quwata illa billah – There is no strength nor power except with Allāh’. And he would add: ‘We heard your Prophet say the same.’”

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ رَاهَوَيْهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا وَهْبُ بْنُ جَرِيرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ يَحْيَى، نَحْوَهُ‏.‏ قَالَ يَحْيَى وَحَدَّثَنِي بَعْضُ، إِخْوَانِنَا أَنَّهُ قَالَ لَمَّا قَالَ حَىَّ عَلَى الصَّلاَةِ‏.‏ قَالَ لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ‏.‏ وَقَالَ هَكَذَا سَمِعْنَا نَبِيَّكُمْ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ‏.‏
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī]

Spiritual meaning of the Adhān

Apart from its use as a reminder and call to the five daily prayers, Adhān is an act of worship entailing great reward with Allāh. It serves as a proclamation of faith, and a source of spiritual upliftment benefiting the Mu’dhin himself

Reward for the Muʿadhin:
Muʿāwiya said: “I heard the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ say: ‘The Muʿadhin will have the longest necks on the Day of Resurrection.’”
This means they will be the most visible and recognizable on the Day of Judgment. In Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim and elsewhere it is narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“The Muʿadhin will have the longest necks on the Day of Resurrection.”

Imām al-Nawawī said in his commentary on Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim:
“It has been said that this means they are the people with the highest expectations of Allāh's mercy, the Exalted, because those who expect something tend to stretch their necks to see what they are expecting. This, therefore, refers to the great reward that they will see.”

Adhān has a deep spiritual significance also for anyone listening to it. It serves as a beautiful and recurring reminder to turn towards Allāh the Almighty throughout our busy days. Understanding the proper etiquette and making a conscious effort to know Adhān with translation is an act of spiritual experience.

Embracing these acts of reverence and supplication allows us to reap countless blessings and strengthens our commitment to our faith.

The Prophet ﷺ, in this regard, recommended that anyone who listens to the Adhān should repeat the same words, phrase by phrase, after the Muʿadhin has recited them. However, when the Muʿadhin pronounces the words: حي على الصلاة [Haiyi `ala Ṣalāh] and حي على الفلاح [Hayya ‘alal-Falāḥ], the person listening should say: “La haula wala quwwata illa billa-hil ‘aliyyul ‘Azim”, which means: “There is no strength nor power except with Allāh, the Most High, the Almighty.”

Recommended supplication after the Adhān.

After the Adhān concludes, it is recommended to recite a specific duʿāʾ (supplication). This duʿāʾ praises Allah the Almighty and sends blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ:

Allahumma Rabba hadhih a’dda‘wati t-tammati wassalatil qa’imati, ati Muhammada-nil-wasilata wal-fadilata waddarajatar-rafi‘ata, wab‘ath-hu maqamam-mahmuda-nilladhi wa’attahu. Innaka la tukhliful mi‘ad.

"O Allāh, Lord of this Perfect Call, and of the Congregational Prayer, make Muhammad a means of our access to You, and bless him with excellence and the lofty office, and grant him the most exalted station Thou hast promised him. Verily, Thou goest not back on Thy promise".

[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī]

Narrated by Jābir ibn ʿAbd Allāh:
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:
“Whoever, after hearing the Adhān, says:

Allahumma Rabba hadhihi-ddawatit-tammah, was-salatil qa’imah, ati Muhammadan al-wasilata wal-fadilah, wa bath-hu maqaman mahmudan-il-ladhi wa`adtahu

"O Allāh! Lord of this perfect call [perfect by not ascribing partners to You] and of the regular prayer which is going to be established, give Muhammad the right of intercession and illustriousness, and resurrect him to the best and the highest place in Paradise that You promised him [of], then my intercession for him will be allowed on the Day of Resurrection"

عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏”‏ مَنْ قَالَ حِينَ يَسْمَعُ النِّدَاءَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ هَذِهِ الدَّعْوَةِ التَّامَّةِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْقَائِمَةِ آتِ مُحَمَّدًا الْوَسِيلَةَ وَالْفَضِيلَةَ وَابْعَثْهُ مَقَامًا مَحْمُودًا الَّذِي وَعَدْتَهُ، حَلَّتْ لَهُ شَفَاعَتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ‏‏.‏
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī]

Importance of the Adhān and Iqāmah

Although the Adhān is not obligatory, it is not a necessary condition for the validity of the obligatory daily prayers (Ṣalāt al-Fardh). The Iqāma is also not obligatory, although it is highly recommended. Therefore, if a person begins to pray without Adhān or Iqāma, the prayer is still valid.

The Adhān is highly recommended when there are other people who might hear it and gather for prayer, as is the case for Ṣalāt ul-Jumuʿa (Friday Prayer).

The two Adhān of the Friday prayer.

For Friday prayer, there are two Adhān:

1. The first Adhān is recited when the sun begins to decline.
2. The second Adhān is recited just before the Imām stands in front of the congregation to deliver the sermon (khuṭbah).

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