ʿAađān (أذان) - The Call to Prayer
The ʿAđān is one of the most recognisable and apparent symbols of Islām. Prior to every one of the 5 daily prayers the mu’ađđin (the one who calls to prayer) makes this call to prayer to inform the believers that the time for prayer has come.
This ʿAđān is made either from the inside or the outide of the masjid or also from atop of the minaret.
The wording of the ʿAđān is as follows in Arabic (with transcription and English translation below each line):
الله أكبر الله أكبر
Arabic – ‘Allāhu ‘Akbar (x4)
English – God is greater (than all things)
أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله
‘Ash-hadu al-lā ilāha ill-Allāh (x2)
I testify that there is no god but Allāh
أشهد أن محمّدًا رسول الله
‘Ash-hadu ‘anna Muhammadã-rasūl-ullāh (x2)
I testify that Muhammad is Allāh’s Messenger
حيّ على الصلاة
Hayya ʿalas-Solāh (x2)
Hasten towards the Prayer
حيّ على الفلاح
Hayya ʿal al-falāh (x2)
Hasten towards Success
الله أكبر الله أكبر
‘Allāhu ‘Akbar-ullāhu ‘Akbar (x2)
God is greater (than all things)
لا إله إلا الله
Lā ilāha ill-Allāh
There is no god but Allāh