Athan and Iqamah

As you know, in all Muslim countries athan is called aloud five times a day and you must have heard it. Have you ever wondered how it started?

STORY OF THE ATHAN

"A long time ago when the Muslims migrated from Makkah to Al-Madinah they used to agree about a fixed time for the congregational prayer. But they found it difficult to remember the time fixed for the Salat sometimes, especially when they were busy doing their work. Once day Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and the Muslims discussed the matter of calling the people for the congregational prayer at the exact time. Some of the believers suggested the use of something like the bell of the Christians, others suggested the use of a horn like that of the Jews, but Umar suggested sending someone to announce the prayer. Then Allah's Messenger (pbuh) agreed to use a Naqoose (a conch), something like the bell of Christians, but he was not happy to use it because of its similarity with the Christians.

After Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had ordered a bell to be made so that it could be struck to gather the people to Salat; on that same day a companion, Abdullah bin Zaid bin Abd Rabbihi, said, "I was sleeping when I saw a man carrying a Naqoose in his hands, and I said, "Servant of Allah, will you sell this to me?" When he asked what I would do with it? I replied that we would use it to call the people to Salat. He said " Shall I not guide you to something better than that?" I replied, "Certainly", so he told me to say:

'Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Ash hadu an la ilaha illal lah, Ash hadu an la ilaha illal lah, Ash hadu an-na Mohammedar resulul-lah, Ash hadu an-na Mohammedar resulul-lah, hayya 'allas salah, hayya 'allas salah, hayya alal falah, hayya alal falah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illal lah'

After the Athan the stranger kept quiet for a while end then said, 'When the congregation is ready you should say:

'Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Ash hadu an la ilaha illal lah, Ash hadu an-na Mohammedar resulul-lah, hayya alas salah, hayya alal faleh, qad qama tis salah, qad qama tis salah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illal lah'.
 

When I told Allah's Messenger (pbuh) in the morning what I had seen, he said, "It is a true vision, Inshallah so get up along with Bilal, and when you have taught him what you have seen, let him use it in making the call to Salat, for he has stronger voice than you have.".

So, I got up along with Bilal and began to teach it to him, and he used it in making the call to Salat.

Umar bin Al-Khattab heard this when he was in his house, and he came out trailing his cloak and said, "Allah's messenger (pbuh), by Him, Who has sent you with the truth, I have seen the same kind of thing as has been revealed." To this Allah's Messenger (pbuh) replied, "Praise be to Allah!" (Darmi, Ahmad, Ibn Majah, Ibn Khuzaimah and Tirmidhi).

So from that day on to the present day, athan is said to gather people for the congregational prayer.

THE MUADHIN

A person who calls people for the congregational prayer is called a Muadhin. Before saying the athan, he should stand facing Kabah in Makkah. He should raise his hands to his ears putting the tips of forefingers into his ears and call in a loud voice. When he says Hayya alas salah he should turn his face to the right and when he says Hayya alal falah he should turn his face to the left.

TEXT OF THE ATHAN

Allahu Akbar - (Allah is the greatest)
Allahu Akbar - (Allah is the greatest)
Allahu Akbar - (Allah is the greatest)
Allahu Akbar - (Allah is the greatest)
Ash hadu an la ilaha illal lah - (I bear witness that there is no God but Allah)
Ash hadu an la ilaha illal lah - (I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah)
Ash hadu an-na Mohammedar resulul-lah - (I bear witness that Mohammed is the messenger of Allah)
Ash hadu an-na Mohammedar resulul-lah - (I bear witness that Mohammed is the messenger of Allah)
hayya 'allas salah - (Come to Prayer)
hayya 'allas salah - (Come to Prayer)
hayya alal falah - (Come to your Succes) in this life and the Hereafter)
hayya alal falah - (Come to your Succes) in this life and the Hereafter)
Allahu Akbar - (Allah is the greatest)
Allahu Akbar - (Allah is the greatest)
La ilaha illal lah' - (There is no God but Allah)

ATHAN FOR FAJR

An additional phrase is included in the Athan for Fadjr prayer after the second Hayya alal Falah.

As salatu Khayrum minan nawm, As salatu Khayrum minan nawm, - (Prayer is better than sleep, Prayer is better than sleep).

LISTENING TO THE ATHAN

1- When the believers hear the ATHAN they should listen to it in silence and repeat each phrase of the ATHAN in silence immediately after the Muadhin has finished saying the phrase.

2-When the Muadhin says, Hayya alas salah and Hayya alal falah the listener should say in reply, La hawla wala quwaata illa bil lah - (there is no power or might save Allah).

3-When the athan has been completed, the listener and the Muadhin recite Darud unto Muhammad (pbuh) followed by the Du'aa.

DARUD AFTER THE ATHAN

"Allah humma sal-li ala Mohammedin wa ala ali Mohammedin kama sal-layta ala Ibraheema wa ala ali Ibraheema innaka hameedum majeed. "

"Oh Allah, let your peace come upon Mohammed SAW and the family of Mohammed (SAW) as you have sent peace upon Ibrahim (A.S.) and his family. Truly you are praiseworthy and glorious"

"Allah humma barik ala Mohammedin wa ala ali Mohammedin kama barakta ala. Ibráheema wa ala ali Ibraheema innaka hameedum majeed. ""

"Oh, Allah, bless Mohammed and the family of Mohammed (SAW.) as you have blessed Ibrahim (A.S.) and his family. Truly you are praiseworthy and glorious."

DU'A AFTER THE ATHAN

(O Allaah, Lord of this perfect Call and the Prayer to be offered, grant Muhammad the privilege (of interceding) and also the eminence, and resurrect him to the praised position that You have promised, verily You do not break Your promise)

Jabir (A.A.) reported Allah's Messenger as saying, "If anyone says when he hears the Athan , '0 God, Lord of this perfect call and of the prayer which is established for all time, grant Mohammed the Wasila and Excellency, and raise him up in a praiseworthy position which you have promised', he will be assured of my intercession," (Bukhari)

IQAMAH

Iqamah is the second call to Salat and is uttered immediately before the beginning of the obligatory prayer offered with congregation.

TEXT OF IQAMAH

Allahu Akbar - (Allah is the greatest)
Allahu Akbar - (Allah is the greatest)
Ash hadu an la ilaha illal lah - (I bear witness that there is no God but Allah)
Ash hadu an-na Mohammedar resulul-lah  - (I bear witness that Mohammed is the messenger of Allah)
hayya allas salah - (Come to Prayer)
hayya alal falah - (Come to your Succes) in this life and the Hereafter)
Qad qamatis salah - (Jamaat is ready)
Qad qamatis salah - (Jamaat is ready)
Allahu Akbar - (Allah is the greatest)
Allahu Akbar - (Allah is the greatest)
La ilaha illal lah - (There is no God but Allah)

This text of Iqamat is the same as that mentioned in the hadith of Abdullah bin Zaid Abd Rabbihi who was the first to have a vision about Athan.