What is the iqamah?
The iqamah is the second, shorter call said right before the prayer starts, telling everyone to stand in rows. The adhan announces that the prayer time has begun; the iqamah announces that the prayer itself is starting now. It's said once, quickly, and includes the line "Qad qamati-s-salah" (the prayer has begun).
Adhan vs iqamah
- Adhan: called at the start of the prayer time, slowly and loudly, to invite people to come.
- Iqamah: called a few minutes later (often 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the mosque's timetable) when the imam is ready, to tell those present to line up.
The word comes from the same root as the Quran's repeated command to "establish" the prayer:
The words of the iqamah
In the most common form (Shafi'i and Hanbali, and close to Maliki practice):
- Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar
- Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, once
- Ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah, once
- Hayya 'ala-s-salah, once
- Hayya 'ala-l-falah, once
- Qad qamati-s-salah, qad qamati-s-salah (the prayer has begun)
- Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar
- La ilaha illallah
The Hanafi school says the phrases in pairs, like the adhan, with "qad qamati-s-salah" added. Both forms are rooted in authentic reports, so whichever your mosque uses is fine.
What to do when you hear it
Stand up, straighten the rows and fill any gaps, shoulder to shoulder and feet in line. If you're still walking to the mosque, don't run. The Prophet ﷺ said that when you hear the iqamah, walk to the prayer calmly and with dignity, pray what you catch and complete what you missed (Sahih al-Bukhari 636). Once the iqamah has started, don't begin a voluntary prayer: the Prophet ﷺ said that when the iqamah is given, there's no prayer except the obligatory one (Sahih Muslim 710). That includes the greeting prayer of the mosque. See What is tahiyyat al-masjid?
Many people repeat the iqamah quietly, like the adhan. Some scholars say to reply to "qad qamati-s-salah" with "aqamaha Allah wa adamaha", but that report is weak, so repeating the words is enough.
Praying alone or at home
Most scholars say saying the iqamah is a recommended sunnah even when you pray alone, at home, at work or while traveling, and it's fine for women to say it quietly too. It's not a condition of the prayer, so if you forget, your prayer is still valid. See How do I pray in a hotel room? and How do I pray as a Muslim?
- The iqamah is the short call just before the prayer begins.
- It includes "Qad qamati-s-salah" (the prayer has begun).
- When you hear it, line up; don't start a voluntary prayer.
- It's sunnah to say it even when praying alone.
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