Azan

Azan, also transliterated as adhan or azaan, is the Islamic call to prayer announced publicly from a mosque to invite Muslims to the five daily prayers and the Friday prayer. The term derives from Arabic adhan, meaning to listen, announce, or proclaim. Traditionally the call is delivered by a muezzin from the mosque’s minaret, though modern practice often uses loudspeakers or recorded recitals.

Originating in the early Islamic period, the practice is attributed to the time of Prophet Muhammad in Medina, with Bilal ibn Rabah commonly cited as the first muezzin. The azan serves both to signal prayer times and to awaken the community, calling people to spiritual reflection and communal worship.

A typical azan consists of a sequence of phrases in Arabic that glorify God, bear witness to the prophethood of Muhammad, and invite people to prayer and to success. A common Sunni form is recited in two repetitions of each line, including phrases such as God is the Greatest, there is no god but God, Muhammad is the Messenger of God, come to prayer, come to success, followed by additional repetitions of God is the Greatest and the declaration of faith. The iqama, a shorter call signaling that the prayer is about to begin, is sometimes issued after the azan.

Variations exist across different communities and countries. In some Shia traditions, an additional line acknowledging Ali as wali is included. In contemporary practice, azan may be delivered live or broadcast via electronic means, and in some places is regulated due to noise or cultural considerations.