Adhan

In the early days of Islam, there was no prescribed way of telling people that the time for Prayer had commenced nor was there any means to call the Muslims to the mosque for congregational Prayers. The Holy Prophet(sa) was however, aware of the Jewish, Christian and pagan practices in this regard. He sought counsel and asked his Companions as to what should be done to call Muslims to the mosque for congregational Prayers. One morning, Hadrat ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Aziz(ra) approached the Holy Prophet(sa) and related to him a dream which he had had the night before. He had seen someone announcing the Prayer time and calling people to the mosque for the congregational Prayer in a loud voice. Hadrat ‘Abdullah then related the words of the Adhan which he had heard in the dream. They were as follows:

Transliteration:

Allahu Akbar (four times)

Translation:

Allah is the Greatest. (Recited four times)

Transliteration:

Ashhadu alla ilaha illallah (twice)

Translation:

I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah. (Recited twice)

Transliteration:

Ashhadu anna Muhammadar Rasulullah (twice)

Translation:

I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. (Recited twice)

Transliteration:

Hayya ‘alas-Salah (twice)

Translation:

Come to Prayer. (Recited twice)

Transliteration:

Hayya ‘alal-Falah (twice)

Translation:

Come to success.(Recited twice)

Transliteration:

Allahu Akbar (twice)

Translation:

Allah is the Greatest.(Recited twice)

Transliteration:

La ilaha illallah

Translation:

There is none worthy of worship except Allah.

Hadrat ‘Umar(ra), who later became the second Khalifah was also sitting in the company of the Holy Prophet(sa). He said that he had also had a dream and had heard the same words. The Holy Prophet(sa) was therefore in no doubt that this was a message from Allah, so he adopted the method of Adhan to call worshippers to the mosque. Adhan is thus widely recognised as the call to Prayer all over the world.