iqmah

Iqmah, also spelled iqama, is a call in Islam that signals the imminent start of the congregational prayer. It serves as the second call to prayer, occurring after the adhan (the initial announcement) and just before the prayer begins. The term derives from the Arabic root q-w-m, meaning to stand up or arise, reflecting the moment when worshippers prepare to stand for the prayer.

The iqamah is typically shorter than the adhan and often contains a concise formula announcing that the prayer is about to commence, followed by the actual starting phrases of the prayer. In many communities the content resembles the adhan but omits some lines and adds phrases such as “Qad qamatis-salah” (the prayer has been established). The exact wording can vary by tradition and local practice, but the purpose remains the same: to announce the start of the obligatory (fard) or voluntary prayers and to gather the congregation.

Practice and usage vary across communities and schools. The person delivering the iqamah is usually a designated caller, distinct from the first caller for the adhan, though in some places the same person performs both. Some schools and communities emphasize iqamah for all obligatory prayers in a mosque, while others apply it more flexibly, especially for Sunnah or private prayers. In many mosques, the imam begins the sermon or prayer shortly after the iqamah is completed, with the exact timing sometimes differing by local custom.

Etymologically, iqamah comes from the Arabic word for standing up or rising, reflecting its function as the signal for the congregation to rise and perform the prayer.