Resources dedicated to helping the Chicago Muslim Convert/Revert

Although Muslims said prayers (salat) in congregation from the very start of the institution of Islam, a public ‘call to prayer’ (athan, أَذَان, also commonly spelled adhan or azan) was instituted after the migration to Madina. If you have been to a Friday prayer at a mosque, you probably took note of two melodic Arabic recitations preceding the prayer (salat, صلاة) - this is the athan and iqama (إقامة).

Sunnis state that the athan was the result of a vision by Umar, a prominent companion (sahabah) of Prophet Mohammed, Peace Be Upon Him (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم). Umar had a vision in his dream, in which the call for prayers was revealed to him by God (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى). He later related this vision to his companions, and this news later reached Mohammad (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم), who liked it and confirmed it. (Reference: Hadith by Abu Dawud; Book 2, chapter 27) Mohammad (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم) preferred the call better than the use of bells (as by the Christians) and horns (as by the Jews).

Shi'a sources state that it is Mohammed (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم) who, according to God's command, ordered the athan as a means of calling Muslims to prayer. Shi'a Islam teaches that no one else contributed, or had any authority to contribute, towards the composition of the athan.

Both Sunni and Shi’a agree that because of his stunning voice, Mohammed (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم) chose a freed Habeshan slave by the name of Bilal ibn Rabah al-Habashi to give the call for prayers. Mohammed (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم) said “O Bilal! get up and give a call for prayer.” (Reference: Hadith Narrated 'Abdullah bin Abi Qatada in Bukhari Volume 1, Book 10, Number 569).

What is the “athan” and “iqama”?
The athan not only announces the start of the time interval for each prayer, but the contents of the athan declare the principles of Islam and the significance underlying them. The athan is recited by a muathin (مؤذن) in mosques at the onset of the time interval of each of the 5 mandatory (fard) prayers; the iqama (إقامة) for each prayer announces the time the prayer is about to be performed (whether in the mosque or at home), which calls for the people to line up for the prayer. During the Friday prayer (Salat Al Jumu'ah), there are two athans; the first is at the time of the Duhr prayer which calls the people to the mosque and the second is said before the sermon-giver (khatib, خطيب) starts the sermon (khutbah, الخطبة); the iqama is recited after the sermon is over and summons Muslims to line up for the beginning of the prayer. Details from the 5 Islamic Schools of Law specifications/conditions regarding the athan can be found at this One Ummah webpage.

What does the athan sound like?
Listen to athan in Al Madina style, Al Hijaz style, or Al Qatami style.

What is said in the athan and iqama?
According to hadith (reports of sayings, doings, or contentions of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم)), the words of the athan were provided by the Prophet (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم) to Abu Mahdhurah (Reference: Hadith by Abu Dawud, Mishkat; Book 4 Chapter 4). The Arabic text of the athan is similar for all five recitations (with a slight difference in the athan recited for the pre-dawn (Fajr) prayer, which adds the line "Prayer is better than sleep"), and summarizes Islamic beliefs. For details regarding the content of the athan, per the 5 Islamic Schools of Law, please refer to this One Unnah Webpage.

Recital in Athan	Recital in Iqama	Transliteration	Translation	Arabic
4x	2x	Allâh-hu Akbar	Allâh is greater than any description.	الله أكبر
2x	1x	Ash-hadu a'la ilaha ill-Allâh	I testify that there is no deity except for Allâh.	أشهد أن لا اله إلا الله
2x	1x	Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasulul'Allâh	I testify that Mohammed is a messenger of Allâh.	أشهد أن محمدا رسول الله
2x	1x	Hayya 'ala-salatt	The time for prayer has come.	حي على الصلاة
2x	1x	Hayya 'ala 'l-falah	The time for worship has come.	حي على الفلاح
2x2 - said only at Fajr prayer	0x	Al-salatu khayru min an-nawm	Prayer is better than sleep.	الصلاة خير من النوم
0x	2x	Qad Qamat issalah	The prayer is on (to be held)	قد قامت الصلاة
2x	2x	Allâh-hu akbar	Allâh is greater than any description.	الله أكبر
1x	1x	La ilaha illa Allâh	There is no deity except for Allâh.	لا إله إلا الله

What should I do during or after the athan?
When you hear the athan, you should repeat the same words silently, except when the muathin says hayya 'alas-salah or hayya 'alal-falah, you should silently say la hawla wa la quwata illa billah (there is no strength or power except from Allâh, SWT, سبحانه وتعالى).

You can optionally recite a supplication (du'a) after the athan is recited, listed below is one du'a that may be said.

Transliteration	Translation	Arabic
Allâh-humma rabba hadhi-hid d' ai'wa-tit-tamma wa-salatil qae-ma	O Allâh, owner of this perfect call and owner of this prayer to be performed	اللهم رب هذه الد عوة التامة والصلاة القائمة
Ati muhammadanil waseelata wal fadeela	Bestow upon Mohammed al waseelah (a station in paradise {Jannah}) and al fadeelah (a rank above the rest of creation)	آت محمداً الوسيلة و الفضيلة
Wab ath-hu maqamam-mahmudan il athee wa aiadtha	And raise him to the rank you have promised him.	وابعثه مقاماً محموداً الذي وعدته

Typically, about 15–20 minutes after the athan is recited (but only 5 minutes in the case of the Maghrib prayer), the iqama is recited to call for people to line up for the prayer. If you will be praying, line up shoulder to shoulder for the prayer. This equally applies for congregation prayers in the mosque or at home. Refer to our Jumu'ah Guide webpage for information on how to pray at a mosque.

Do I recite the athan or iqama if I am praying alone?
Reciting the athan and iqama are sunnas (sayings, actions, and general way of life of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم), including instances when he endorsed actions he saw being done by others) for men only. This is because the structure of men's prayer is based on it being performed in a congregation; thus, when men pray alone, they perform it as congregational prayers are performed. The structure of women's prayer, on the other hand, is based on it being performed alone, thus athan and iqama are not sunna for women. (References: Hadith by Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar; Ibn al-Humam, Fath al-Qadir; Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah)

When men pray anywhere besides a mosque, it is sunna for men to recite the iqama. When men are praying alone at a mosque after the main congregation, it is praiseworthy to recite the iqama quietly to oneself, without raising one's voice. It is sunna for men to give the iqama whether alone or with others or in a mosque or elsewhere. (Reference: Hadith by Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar; Fatawa Hindiyya)

Additional Links
A film "Voices and Faces of the Athan: Cairo" is a documentary about the athan in Cairo and how in 2010, a new law will go into effect reducing the daily symphony of thousands of diverse voices to a single pre-recorded call broadcast throughout the entire city using wireless receivers.