adhan

Adhan, also known as azan, is the Islamic call to prayer delivered from a mosque’s minaret to invite the faithful to the five daily prayers. Traditionally it is announced by a designated muezzin and serves as a reminder of prayer times as well as a public declaration of faith. In Islamic history, the practice is widely linked to the Prophet Muhammad and, according to tradition, Bilal ibn Rabah was the first muezzin appointed in Medina.

The adhan is recited in Arabic and follows a fixed sequence of phrases praising God and the Prophet Muhammad, calling people to prayer, and urging them to strive for success. The standard form includes lines such as: Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar; Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah; Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah; Hayya ‘alas-salah; Hayya ‘alas-salah; Hayya ‘alal-falah; Hayya ‘alal-falah; Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar; La ilaha illallah. For the dawn (Fajr) prayer, an additional line—As-salatu khayrun minan-nawm (The prayer is better than sleep)—is sometimes added. Texts and melodies vary slightly by region and tradition, including differences between Sunni and Shia practice.

Practically, the adhan is broadcast at the start of each prayer time, with a second call (iqama) often given inside the mosque to line up for prayer. In modern practice it is frequently amplified by loudspeakers; in some places acoustic or regulatory limits apply. The practice remains a public symbol of Muslim communal worship.