Azan - Call to Pray Five Times a Day

The azan is the call given to announce that it is time for a particular obligatory Salah (ritual Prayer). Five times a day the azan is raised from mosques throughout the world.

The person who gives the azan is called a muadhdhin. (refered to in English “muezzin”.)

The azan begins with an affirmation of the supremacy of Allah (God). Then comes the shahadah (profession of faith), which consists of the profession of the Unity of Allah (God), the negation of shirk (polytheism), and the confirmation that Muhammad (peace and blessings be on him) is the Messenger of Allah (God). And after that, comes the call to the Prayer and to success — our eternal home in Paradise — which also implies our return to the Creator. Each line is repeated for emphasis.

The words of the azan are as follows:

• Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.
• Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest.

• Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.
• Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest.

• Ash-hadu alla ilaha illa-llah.
• I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah.

• Ash-hadu alla ilaha illa-llah.
• I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah.

• Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar-Rasulullah.
• I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah

• Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar-Rasulullah.
• I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah

• Hayya ‘ala-s-Salah, hayya ‘ala-s-Salah.
• Hasten to the Prayer, hasten to the Prayer.

• Hayya ‘ala-l-falah, hayya ‘ala-l-falah.
• Hasten to real success, hasten to real success

• Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.
• Allah is the Greatest,Allah is the Greatest.

• La ilaha illa-llah
• There is none worthy of worship but Allah.

In the azan for the Dawn Prayer (also commonly called the Fajr Prayer), the following words are added after Hayya ‘ala-l-falah:

• As-Salatu khairun min an-naum, As-Salatu khairun min an-naum.
• Prayer is better than sleep, Prayer is better than sleep.

Azan - Adzan - Adhan