What Is Adhan in Islam? (WORDS Of Adhan in Arabic And Meaning in English)

Adhan, also known as the Islamic call to prayer, is a powerful and sacred tradition that is an integral part of Muslim worship. In this blog, we will explore the history, significance, and meaning of adhan.

Whether you are a Muslim seeking to deepen your understanding of this important practice, or simply curious about the rich and diverse religious traditions of the world, this blog will provide a comprehensive and insightful look into the fascinating world of adhan.

What Is Adhan in Islam?

The Adhan (Call to Prayer) is the announcement of the beginning of a prayer period. That is, a person makes a call to notify people that it is time for Maghrib, Fajr, Asr or Zuhr prayer, except they delay it until a cooler period.

In Shari’ah terminology, adhan means: worshipping Allah by announcing the time of the obligatory prayer, using phrases that have been narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), in a specific manner.

The Adhan is at the beginning of a prayer period. The legislated Adhan is that which is called for the five daily prayers.

It was made obligatory in the second year of the Hijrah after the Prophet SAW migrated to Madinah.

The companions differed during deliberation on how to communicate the commencement of prayer period.

Some of them said, ‘We should light a great fire that will notify people of the commencement of a prayer period.’

Others said, ‘We should ring a bell, like a church bell.’ Yet some said, ‘We should blow a horn like the Jews’.

The Prophet SAW was not in favor of any of these options. One of the companions, Abdullah bin Zayd (may Allaah be pleased with him), saw a man in his dream carrying a bell in his hand.

He said to him would you sell this? He replied, ‘What will you do with it?’ He said, ‘ will call people to Salat (prayer) with it.”

He said, ‘Shall I not guide you to something better than that? He said, certainly! So he recited the Adhan and the Iqaamah to him.

When morning came, he went to the Prophet SAW and informed him of the good (news). So the Prophet SAW said, “It is a true dream.”

Narrated by Ahmad, 1588; al-Tirmidhi; Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah

Then he taught Bilal (may Allaah be pleased with him) and he called to prayer with it; with this popular manner of the call to prayer.

Adhan Words in Arabic

• الله أكبر،
• Allaah is most Great
• الله أكبر، 
• Allaah is most Great
• الله أكبر، 
• Allaah is most Great
• الله أكبر، 
• Allaah is most Great
• أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله، 
• I bear witness that there is no god except Allaah,
• أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله، 
• I bear witness that there is no god except Allaah,
• أشهد أن محمدًا رسول الله، 
• I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah,
• أشهد أن محمدًا رسول الله، 
• I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah,
• حَيَّ على الصلاة، 
• Come to prayer,
• حَيَّ على الصلاة، 
• Come to prayer,
• حَيَّ على الفلاح، 
• Come to success,
• حَيَّ على الفلاح، 
• Come to success,
• الله أكبر، 
• Allaah is most Great,
• الله أكبر، 
• Allaah is most Great,
• لا إله إلا الله
• There is no god except Allaah.

Here is the Adhan words in Arabic text

الله أكبر، الله أكبر، الله أكبر، الله أكبر، أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله، أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله، أشهد أن محمدًا رسول الله، أشهد أن محمدًا رسول الله، حَيَّ على الصلاة، حَيَّ على الصلاة، حَيَّ على الفلاح، حَيَّ على الفلاح، الله أكبر، الله أكبر، لا إله إلا الله

Adhan Words in English

The Adhan words in English are:

Allaah is most Great, Allaah is most Great, Allaah is most Great, Allaah is most Great. I bear witness that there is no god except Allaah, I bear witness that there is no god except Allaah. I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah. Come to prayer, come to prayer; come to success, come to success. Allaah is most Great, Allaah is most Great, there is no god except Allaah.

Full Adhan Pronounciation 

Allaahu akbar, Allaah akbar, Allaahu akbar, Allaah akbar, ash-hadu an laa ilaah ill-Allaah, ash-hadu an laa ilaah ill-Allaah, ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasool-Allaah, ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasool-Allaah. Hayya ‘ala al-salaah, Hayya ‘ala al-salaah; hayya ‘ala’l-falaah, hayya ‘ala’l-falaah; Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah.

Adhan MP3 Download

Here is the mp3 of Adhan for streaming and download:

With regard to what to say at the time of the adhan, it is Sunnah to repeat what the muadhdhin is saying, except when he says “Hayya ‘ala’l-salah, hayya ‘ala’l-falah (Come to prayer, come to success),” when you should say ‘La hawla wa la quwwata illa Billah (there is no power and no strength except with Allah).”  

What To Say After Adhan?

It is Sunnah to say the following Duas after Adhan. The first Dua after azan is written in Arabic text as:

وَأَنَا أَشَْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، رَضِيتُ بِاللهِ رَبَّاً وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ رِسُولاً وَبِالإِْسلاَمِ دِيناً“.

Transliteration

Here is the transliteration of Dua after adhan.

Wa ‘anaa ‘ash-hadu ‘an laa ‘ilaaha ‘illallaahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu wa ‘anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasooluhu, radhitu billaahi Rabban, wa bi-Muhammadin Rasoolan wa bil’islaami deenan.

Meaning In English

And I also bear witness that there is no deity has the right to be worshipped but ALLAH alone, Who has no partner, and that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger. I am pleased with ALLAH as my Lord, with Muhammad (peace be upon him) as my Messenger and with Islam as my religion.

Dua #2

The second Dua after azan is written as

اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ هَذِهِ الدَّعْوَةِ التَّامَّةِ، وَالصَّلَاةِ الْقَائِمَةِ، آتِ مُحَمَّداً الْوَسِيلَةَ وَالْفَضِيلَةَ، وَابْعَثْهُ مَقَاماً مَحْمُوداً الَّذِي وَعَدْتَهُ، إَنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ.

Transliteration

Allaahumma Rabba haadhihi ad-dawati-taammah wasalaat il-qaaimah aati Muhammadan al-waseela wal-fadeelah wab’athhu maqaaman mahmoodan alladhee wa’adtahu innaka laa tukhlif ul-Mee’aad.

Translation in English

O Allah, Lord of this perfect call of the established prayer, grant Muhammad the Wasilah and superiority and raise him up to a praise worthy position which You have promised him. For You do not break Your Promise).

The Sunnah of Adhan

To repeat the phrases uttered during the azan.

• To say at its conclusion: I am content and pleased that Allah is my Lord, Islam is my religion, and Muhammad is the Messenger.
• To ask Allah to grant Prophet Muhammad SAW the right of intercession and ascendancy and to grant him (on the day of judgement) the best and the highest place in paradise which Allah promised him.
• Then to send Salah upon him.
• And finally to ask Allah for your needs.

The prescribed five acts mentioned above should never be overlooked.

Supplication between the Adhan and the Iqamah is never rejected. Therefore, it is important for you to seize this opportunity to supplicate to Allah that He may respond to you.

Virtues Of Azan

One of the virtues of Azan is the hadeeth of Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Mu’adhdhin pronounces the Adhan, the Devil will retreat and flee because he dislikes hearing the remembrance of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime.

This is because Satan detests and hates what entails the worship of Allah from men, and what he loves most is associating partners with Allah and sins because he enjoins indecencies.

So when the Mu’adhdhin pronounces the Adhan he flees from such place in order not to hear the Adhan.

When the Adhan is over he returns to mislead or hoodwink the son of Adam. When the Iqaamah is called, he turns back and flee again.

Then when the Iqaamah is over he returns so as to confuse a person in the prayer by reminding him of many things he had forgotten. Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 608

Experience affirms this matter. At times, a person might have forgotten some things but Satan would open the door of remembrance for him when he enters the prayer.

It was mentioned that a man complained to another man that a deposit was placed in his custody but he failed to recall its location.

So he advised him to perform ablution and observe two Rak’ah that he may remember it. The man did it and he remembered it, Satan reminded him of it.

And the Messenger of Allah spoke the truth.

In this hadeeth, the Prophet SAW intended two great benefits:

The first benefit: explaining that the Adhan distances Satan. Hence, most scholars stated that it is recommended to pronounce the Adhan into the ears of a newborn in order to drive Satan away from him.

Other scholars stated that the Adhan should be pronounced into his ears so that the first thing he will hear is the remembrance of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime.

In any case, remembrance of Allah drives away Satan. However, will the Adhan drive away Satan if a person pronounces it at other than the time of Salat?

Allah knows best, but remembrance of Allah generally drives away Satan because Al-Khannas means the one that withdraws when Allah is remembered.

Is Adhan Necessary?

The fuqaha are agreed that the adhan is one of the unique features and manifest symbols of Islam, but they differ as to the rulings on it. 

Some say that adhan is fard kifayah (a communal obligation); this is the view of Imam Ahmad and was the view favoured by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah; among contemporary scholars it is the view of Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymin (may Allah have mercy on him). 

And some said that adhan is a Sunnah mu’akkadah. The correct view is that adhan is fard kifayah; if someone who is competent does it, the rest are absolved of sin.