Prayer In Islam: How to Pray Part 3 – The Call to Prayer

I thought it may be good to help Muslims, new and old, by explaining the actions of prayer. I have previously covered some issues around washing and cleanliness: How to Pray Part 1: Cleanliness and How to Pray Part 2: Getting ready for Prayer

THE CALL TO PRAYER (ADHAAN)
Whether in a Masjid, home or an open place, when two or more people want to pray in congregation, one person should make the Call to Prayer. The Call to Prayer is performed by a man. He does this by standing and facing Makkah, raising his hands to his ears and then making the Call to Prayer in a loud but melodious voice.

The words of the Adhaan (for all obligatory prayers except Fajr) are:

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

Ash-hadu an la ilaaha illallah, Ash-hadu an la ilaaha illallah

Ash-hadu anna Muhammadur Rasoolullah, Ash-hadu anna Muhammadur Rasoolullah

Hayya alas-salaah, hayya alas-salaah

Hayya alal-falaah, hayya alal-falaah

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

La ilaaha illallah

Translated this is:

Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest

Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest

I bear witness that there is no god except Allah, I bear witness that there is no god except Allah

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

Come to the prayer, Come to the prayer

Come to the success, Come to the success

Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest

There is no god except Allah

The Adhaan for Fajr
The Adhaan for Fajr is slightly different.

The words of the Adhaan (for all obligatory prayers except Fajr) are:

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

Ash-hadu an la ilaaha illallah, Ash-hadu an la ilaaha illallah

Ash-hadu anna Muhammadur Rasoolullah, Ash-hadu anna Muhammadur Rasoolullah

Hayya alas-salaah, hayya alas-salaah

Hayya alal-falaah, hayya alal-falaah

As-salaatu khayrum minan nawm, As-salaatu khayrum minan nawm

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

La ilaaha illallah

Translated this is:

Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest

Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest

I bear witness that there is no god except Allah, I bear witness that there is no god except Allah

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

Come to the prayer, Come to the prayer

Come to the success, Come to the success

Prayer is better than sleep, Prayer is better than sleep

Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest

There is no god except Allah

Repeating the Adhaan
If you are listening to a Mu’adhin performing the Adhaan, you should repeat what he says. When the Mu’adhin says “Hayya alas-Salaah”, or “Hayya alal-falaah”, instead of repeating this, you should say “La hawla wa laa quwwatta illa billah” (which means “There is no Might and no Power except by Allah”). This is from Bukhari and Muslim.

After the Adhaan
When the Adhaan has finished, the mu’adhin and the listener should invoke blessings on the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), as follows:

Allahumma salli ‘alaa Muhammadin wa ‘alaa aali Muhammadin kamaa sallayta ‘alaa Ibraheema wa ‘alaa aali Ibraheema, innaka Hameedum Majeed. Allahumma baarik ‘alaa Muhammadin wa ‘alaa aali Muhammadin kamaa baarakta ‘alaa Ibraheema wa ‘alaa aali Ibraheema, innaka Hameedum Majeed.

This means: O Allah! Show Mercy to Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You have Shown Mercy to Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are indeed Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah! Bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You have Blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are indeed Praiseworthy, Glorious.

Then make the following dua:

Allahumma Rabba haathihid-da’watit-taammati wassalaatil-qaa’imati, ‘aati Muhammadanil-waseelata walfadheelata wab’ath-hu maqaamam-mahmoodanil-lathee wa’adtahu, [‘innaka laa tukhliful-mee’aad]

O Allah, Lord of this perfect call and established prayer. Grant Muhammad the intercession and favour, and raise him to the honoured station You Have Promised him. [Verily You Do Not Neglect promises]

This is from Sahih Bukhari.

CALLING THE IQAAMAH
The Iqaamah is slightly different from the Adhaan in that it signals that the obligatory prayer is about to start. The Iqaamah is pronounced by the same person who performed the Adhaan.

The words of the Iqaamah are:

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

Ash-hadu an la ilaaha illallah

Ash-hadu anna Muhammadur Rasoolullah

Hayya alas-salaah, hayya alal-falaah

Qad qaamatis-salaah, Qad qaamatis-salaah

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

La ilaaha illallah

Translated this is:

Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest

I bear witness that there is no god except Allah

I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah

Come to the prayer, Come to the success

The prayer is being established, the prayer is being established

Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest

There is no god except Allah

Listen to the Adhaan
If you would like to listen to recordings of the Adhaan, visit my page on Qur’an and Adhaan.

Move on to “How to Pray Part 4: Performing the Prayer”

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