Azan: Call to Salah
Allahu Akbar
Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greater).
Ash-hadu alla ilaha illa Allah (I testify that there is no god but Allah).
Ash-hadu alla ilaha illa Allah (I testify that there is no god but Allah).
Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar Rasulu Allah (I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah).
Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar Rasulu Allah (I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah).
Haiya `alas salah (Come to Salah).
Haiya `alas salah (Come to Salah).
Haiya `alal falah (Come to success).
Haiya `alal falah (Come to success).
Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greater).
Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greater).
La ilaha illa Allah (I testify that there is no god but Allah).
Azan: Call to Salah
• The Azan is a call from Allah (Exalted and Glorified be He) to all Muslims to rise and perform the due prayer on time.
• The Azan is announced five times a day, before each prayer. The person who recites the Azan is called the Muezzin (caller to prayer).
• In the earliest times of Islam, before the introduction of minarets or the invention of loudspeakers, the Muezzin would stand in a high place to be seen by everybody and heard at the furthest distance possible.
• The Azan is a continuous reminder with each single prayer that praying is the means to success in the affairs of this world and the next. It is not in anyone’s power to give that. All provisions, happiness, and prosperity rest in Allah’s Hands alone.
• Therefore, “Come to Salah,” is followed by “Come to success”; that is, there can be no prosperity without Salah. Or, to put it more plainly, you can only attain true success, happiness, and honorable provisions by aligning yourself with Allah, the Gracious.
• So when you hear the Muezzin reciting the Azan, repeat after him word for word, except for the parts “Come to Salah,” and “Come to success.” Instead of them, say, “There is neither might nor power except with Allah,” and then get up to Salah… get up to success.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“When you hear the call (to prayer), say as the Muezzin says.”
(Narrated by Muslim).
References
- ALLAHU AKBAR: This is an unfinished phrase that literally translates to ‘Allah is Greater’ and serves as a reminder of Allah’s immense power, majesty, glory, and greatness that surpass anything in this existence. No matter what one can possibly think of or might be busy with, Allah is Greater and more important than that. Once it is time for Salah, getting connected to Allah is more important than anything that can divert a person from the obligation of Salah.
