Category: Adhan and Iqamah

Adhan and Iqamah ~ The adhan, or call to prayer, is a collection of phrases sung or recited harmoniously by a muezzin, calling the Muslim faithful to the five daily prayers (salat) the times of which are determined by the sun, and therefore change daily and vary depending on location.

The Iqama (also Iqamah) is the Islamic second call to salah (prayer), which signals that it’s time for the prayer to start. It’s recited by a caller, usually the muezzin (also Mu’adhdhin) in a mosque, after the first call to prayer, which is called the Athan (also Adhan).

During the adhan, Muslims should stop and listen. The word adhan itself means “to listen”. This is what is said in the adhan; the first phrase is said four times and the rest twice. Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah – I bear witness that there is no god except the One God.