The Prayer Call (Adhan)

             Now the worshipper has performed his ablution as explained above and is ready for prayer. When the time of prayers comes, it is good practice, after the Traditions of Prophet Muhammad, to say the Prayer call (Adhan). The caller stands facing the Qiblah (the direction of Ka’bah at Mecca), raising both hands to his ears and says, in a loud voice, the following:

1. Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest), (repeated four times);

الله أكبر الله أكبر الله أكبر الله أكبر

  1. Ashhadu An La illaha-ila-lah (I bear witness that there is no god but the One God), (repeated twice);

    2. أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله

  2. Ashhadu Anna Muhammadan Rasulu - l - lah (I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God), (repeated twice);

    3. أشهد أن محمداً رسول الله أشهد أن محمداً رسول الله

  3. Hayya ‘Ala-s-salah (Come fast to prayer), (repeated twice, turning the face to the right);

    4. حي على الصلاة حي على الصلاة

  4. Hayya ‘Ala-l-falah (Come fast to success), (repeated twice, turning the face to the left);

    5. حي على الفلاح حي على الفلاح

  5. Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest), (repeated twice);

    6. الله أكبر الله أكبر

  6. La Ilaha -ila-lah (There is no god but the One and True God), (once).

لا إله إلا الله

When the call is made for the early morning prayer, the caller adds one sentence right after (5) above. The sentence required is this:

As-salatu Khayrun Minan-nawm (Prayer is better than sleep), (repeated twice)

الصلاة خير من النوم

            Then the caller continues with parts (6) and (7). This exception is made in the morning only because it is the time when people are asleep and in need for a reminder of prayer.


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