Islamic Adhan or Azan (The Prayer Time reminder)

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Most Kind

Islamic Adhan or Azan
The Adhan (the call to prayer) and the Iqama are called in cities all around the world. 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.

Adhan, Arabic and its Meaning:

 اللهُ اكْبَرُ اللهُ اكْبَرْ اللهُ اكْبَرُ اللهُ اكْبَرْ

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, - Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

God is Great, God is Great, - God is Great, God is Great

 

اَشْهَدُ اَن لَّا اِلَه اِلَّا لله اَشْهَدُ اَن لَّا اِلَه اِلَّا لله

Ash-hadu allaa illaha ilAllah, - Ash-hadu allaa illaha ilAllah

I bear witness that there is no God But Allah, - I bear witness that there is no God But Allah

اَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَدًا رَّسُولُ الله اَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَدًا رَّسُولُ الله

 Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar Rasul-Allah, - Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar Rasul-Allah

I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, - I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah

  

حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ

Hayya ‘alas salaah, - hayya ‘alas salaah 

Come to the Prayer, - Come to Prayer

حَيَّ عَلَى الْفَلَاحِ حَيَّ عَلَى الْفَلَاحِ

Hayya ‘alal falaah, - hayya ‘alal falaah

Come to the Success, - Come to Success

اللهُ اكْبَرُ اللهُ اكْبَرْ

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

God is Great, God is Great

لَا اِلَهَ اِلَّا الله

La illaha il-Allah

There is no God But 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, "Hayya ‘alas salaah and Hayya ‘alal falaah" at which the listener should say:

  لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللَّهِ 

La hawla wa la quwwatta illa billah 

There is no Power and no strength except with Allah

*During the Adhan for Fajr Salah, the following words are added after “haya ‘alal falaah”

  اَلصَّلوةُ خَيْر مِّنَ النَّوْمِ، اَلصَّلوةُّ خَيْر مِّنَ النَّوْمِ 

Assalaatu khairum munan nawm, assalaatu khairum minan nawm

Salah is better than sleep, salah is better than sleep

*After hearing the mu’adhdhin say “assalaatu khairum minan nawm”, one says: You told the truth and you did good


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