Adhan and iqamah: words, meaning and reply
The adhan calls Muslims to prayer when its time begins, and the iqamah announces that the congregation is about to stand up for it. Here are their words, meanings and the Sunnah of replying.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوۡمِ ٱلۡجُمُعَةِ فَٱسۡعَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُواْ ٱلۡبَيۡعَۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ خَيۡرٞ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ ﴿٩﴾
Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo itha noodiya lilssalati min yawmi aljumuʿati faisʿaw ila thikri Allahi watharoo albayʿa thalikum khayrun lakum in kuntum taʿlamoona
O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew
Quran 62:9 · Surah Al-Jumu'ah · Translation: Saheeh International · Transliteration: Tanzil.net
The words of the adhan
- Allahu akbar (4×) – Allah is the Greatest
- Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah (2×) – I bear witness that there is no god but Allah
- Ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah (2×) – I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah
- Hayya 'alas-salah (2×) – Come to prayer
- Hayya 'alal-falah (2×) – Come to success
- Allahu akbar (2×)
- La ilaha illallah (1×)
In the Fajr adhan, after "Hayya 'alal-falah" the muezzin adds as-salatu khayrun minan-nawm (2×): prayer is better than sleep.
The iqamah
The iqamah has the same words, said more quickly, with qad qamatis-salah (the prayer is about to begin) after "Hayya 'alal-falah". In most schools its phrases are said once (with Allahu akbar and qad qamatis-salah twice); in the Hanafi school they are said twice, like the adhan.
What to say when you hear the adhan
When you hear the call, say what the muezzin says.
Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim
Repeat each phrase after the muezzin, except at "Hayya 'alas-salah" and "Hayya 'alal-falah", where you say la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (there is no might nor power except with Allah) (Muslim). Afterwards send blessings on the Prophet ﷺ and say the dua after the adhan.
The supplication made between the adhan and the iqamah is not rejected.
Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi
The virtue of the muezzin
The Prophet ﷺ said that the muezzins will have the longest necks on the Day of Resurrection (Muslim), a sign of their honour. The Hadaff app plays the adhan at each prayer time for your location.
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Frequently asked questions
Do women give the adhan?
In congregations of men the adhan is given by a man. When women pray together, most scholars say they may say the iqamah quietly among themselves; the adhan is not required of them.
Is the adhan required when praying alone?
It is recommended, also when praying alone or in the countryside. The Prophet ﷺ said that whatever hears the muezzin's voice, jinn, people or anything else, will testify for him on the Day of Resurrection (al-Bukhari).
This article was written with the help of AI. Quran verses are inserted directly from the Quran text (translation: Saheeh International); it is general information, not a religious ruling (fatwa). For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar. Found a mistake? Write to support@hadaff.de.