The Adhan: The Call to Prayer

Listen to the Adhan

Listen to different recitations of the Adhan, the call to prayer that announces the times of Salat in Islam.

The Adhan in Arabic and English

The Adhan is recited in Arabic and announces the beginning of prayer in Islam. Its words include the declaration of faith and the call to Salat.

In Arabic

الله أكبر الله أكبر – أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله – أشهد أن محمدًا رسول الله – حي على الصلاة – حي على الفلاح – الله أكبر الله أكبر – لا إله إلا الله

Transliteration

Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar – Ashhadu an lā ilāha illā-llāh – Ashhadu anna Muḥammadan rasūl Allāh – Ḥayya ʿalaṣ-ṣalāh – Ḥayya ʿala-l-falāḥ – Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar – Lā ilāha illā-llāh

Translation

“Allah is the Greatest. I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah. I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Come to prayer. Come to success. Allah is the Greatest. There is no deity except Allah.”

The Adhan and Salat

The Adhan and Salat are part of daily Islamic practice. The Adhan announces the beginning of each of the five daily prayers and signals the time to perform Salat.

Through the call to prayer, Muslims know the times of Salat and prepare for daily worship.

The Adhan accompanies every obligatory prayer and holds an important place within Islamic practice.

What Does the Adhan Mean?

The Adhan means “call” or “announcement” and is the invitation to prayer in Islam. It is recited five times a day before each Salat to announce the beginning of the prayer time.

The Adhan is part of daily Muslim practice and accompanies the established times for each prayer.