The Significance, Virtues, & Manners of Adhan (Call to Prayer)
Adhan is an Arabic word which means “to call or inform.” In the religious term, adhan means holy words uttered to inform Muslims about the time of prayer. A person who calls adhan is called a “Muezzin”. Adhan is called five times a day to remind Muslims to offer five obligatory prayers. Adhan is the formal call to congregational prayers in Islam. The congregational prayer is held in a mosque, the Adhan should be called before each prayer, according to the teachings of Islam. The purpose of the Adhan is to let Muslims living in that vicinity know that the time for prayer has arrived and that they should make due preparations. Adhan is an integral part of a Muslim’s faith.
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said about the importance and answering the Adhan in these words: “When you hear the Adhan, repeat what the Mu’adhdhin says. Then ask Allah to exalt my mention because everyone who does so will receive in return ten rewards from Allah. Then beseech Allah to grant me Al-Wasilah, which is a high rank in Jannah, fitting for only one of Allah’s slaves; and I hope that I will be that man. If anyone asks Al-Wasilah for me, it becomes incumbent upon me to intercede for him.” (Muslim)
The origin of Adhan is explained in hadith: “When the Muslims came to Medina, they, at first, used to have a time appointed for salah at which they all gathered together, but as this arrangement was unsatisfactory a consultation was held at which suggestions for ringing a bell or blowing a horn having been rejected, Umar (RA) proposed that a man should be appointed who should call out for prayer at which the Holy Prophet (SAW) ordered Hazrat Bilal (RA) to call out for prayers in the words of adhan as we now have it.” (Bukhari)
Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that: Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, “When the Adhan is pronounced Satan takes to his heels and passes wind with noise during his flight in order not to hear the Adhan. When the Adhan is completed he comes back and again takes to his heels when the Iqama is pronounced and after its completion he returns again till he whispers into the heart of the person (to divert his attention from his prayer) and makes him remember things which he does not recall to his mind before the prayer and that causes him to forget how much he has prayed.” (Bukhari)
The above-mentioned Hadith shows that Adhan is not any simple announcement; rather it is that powerful in its effect that Shaitaan (Satan) cannot bear hearing it as it contains the message about righteousness and leads one towards a spirituality of heart and soul.
Adhan (the call to prayer) testifies the oneness of Almighty Allah which affirms the Prophethood of Muhammad (SAW) also highlights the importance of five daily prayers. Adhan is the reminder of what is important in life and for Muslims, Allah is the most important and greatest of all. On hearing, Adhan Muslims must put aside what occupies them at the moment and respond to Allah’s call for His sake.
One should show respect to adhan, to listen to it until it ends and to stop doing anything one is busy with, accept the invitation made by adhan and go to the mosque for offering prayer. Muslims needs to repeat the words of the muezzin while listening to adhan. When adhan ends, the following dua needs to be recited:
اَللّهُمَّ رَبَّ هذِهِ الدَّعْوَةِ التَّامَّةِ وَ الصَّلاةِ الْقَائِمَةِ اتِ مُحَمَّدًا الْوَسيلَةَ وَ الْفَضِيلَةَ وَ ابْعَثْهُ مَقَامًا مَحْمُودًا الَّذى وَعَدْتَهُ
Translation: “O Allah! Owner of this perfect call and Owner of this prayer to be performed. Bestow upon Muhammad a station in Paradise and a rank above the rest of creation, and raise him to the rank you have promised him.”
Muslims should ask for forgiveness and utter Duas between adhan and Iqamah. We all should know that adhan is the invitation to Allah’s forgiveness and to benefit from it.
In a nutshell, Adhan is the Islamic way of calling people towards prayers and also serves as a means of reminding Muslims about their utmost religious duty of carrying out Salah. The call to prayer also describes the entire Islamic faith, pays respect to Allah Almighty, and last but not the least portrays Salah as the best source of success.
