What is the adhan?
The adhan is the Islamic call to prayer, announced five times a day to tell Muslims that a prayer time has begun. It's a short set of Arabic phrases declaring God's greatness and inviting people to prayer and success. The person who calls it is the mu'adhdhin (muezzin).
The words of the adhan
- Allahu akbar (God is the Greatest), four times
- Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah (I bear witness there is no god but Allah), twice
- Ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah (I bear witness Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah), twice
- Hayya 'ala-s-salah (Come to prayer), twice
- Hayya 'ala-l-falah (Come to success), twice
- Allahu akbar, twice
- La ilaha illallah (There is no god but Allah), once
In the Fajr (dawn) adhan, as-salatu khayrun min an-nawm ("prayer is better than sleep") is added twice after "Come to success". There are small differences in wording between schools and communities, but the core is the same everywhere.
How it began
When the Muslims moved to Madinah, they discussed how to gather people for prayer. Ideas like a bell or a horn were rejected because they resembled other faiths. Then the Companion Abdullah ibn Zayd saw the words of the adhan in a dream, and the Prophet ﷺ confirmed it was a true vision and told him to teach it to Bilal, who had a stronger voice (Sunan Abi Dawud 499). Bilal, a freed Abyssinian slave, became Islam's first mu'adhdhin. The Quran also mentions the call:
Why it matters
The adhan is a public reminder of tawhid, the oneness of God, five times a day. The Prophet ﷺ said that when the adhan is called, Satan runs away so as not to hear it (Sahih al-Bukhari 608), and that the mu'adhdhins will have the longest necks on the Day of Resurrection, a sign of honor (Sahih Muslim 387). It's even whispered into a newborn's ear in many families. See What do I whisper in my baby's ear after birth?
The adhan in the West
In most European and American towns, the adhan is only called inside the mosque, not over outdoor loudspeakers, though some cities now allow it for certain prayers. Many Muslims use prayer apps that play the adhan at each prayer time. It marks five prayers a day; see How many times a day do Muslims pray? The time between the adhan and the start of prayer is also a special time for dua. See What are the best times to make dua?
- The adhan is the call to prayer, five times a day.
- It declares God's greatness and invites people to prayer.
- Bilal was the first mu'adhdhin, chosen for his voice.
- Fajr's adhan adds "prayer is better than sleep".
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