THE ADHAN - Call to Prayer

 

 

Definition

 

Meaning literally to announce or declare, the adhan is the call to prayer for Muslims. The adhan notifies people of the start of the time period for a congregational service or primarily the salat, the daily prescribed prayers, which are observed five times a day at dawn, noon, afternoon, evening, and night. The adhan is one of Islam’s collective symbols and, though consisting of a few words, it covers the essentials of faith, expresses Islamic practices, and is itself a form of worship. Even if one is performing the prayer alone, it is still strongly advised to recite it before beginning the actual prayer.

 

 

Historical account

 

The adhan was formulated as it is announced today, in 622, very soon after Prophet Muhammad’s emigration to Madina (hijra), peace and blessings be upon him. In order to call people for prayer, some Companions of the Prophet proposed different methods such as using a bugle or ringing a bell. Abdullah ibn Zayd ibn Tha’laba, one of Prophet Muhammad’s Companions, dreamed the first adhan, which the Prophet ratified after a Divine confirmation. The Prophet instructed Abdullah to teach the adhan’s words to Bilal, whose voice was very sweet, and he was the first Muslim to deliver the adhan.

 

How is it performed

 

The adhan is called by muezzin who is a specially appointed person trained in directing prayer services together with imam in a mosque. Not to be disturbed from outside noise and distractions, a muezzin puts his hands over his ears and faces the direction of Makka (qibla). In the past, a muezzin would call the adhan from the minaret, where today loud speakers are utilized. He recites the following words:

 

Allahu akbar                                                        God is the Greatest (4 times)

Ashadu an la ilaha illa’llah                                I bear witness that there is no deity but God (twice)

Ashadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah        I bear witness that Muhammad is God’s messenger (twice)

Hayya ‘ala’s-salah                                             Come on, to prayer (twice)

Hayya ‘ala’l-falah                                               Come on, to salvation (twice)

Allahu akbar                                                        God is the Greatest (twice)

La ilaha illa’llah                                                   There is no deity but God (once)

 

The adhan for the dawn prayer includes assalatu khayrun mina’n-nawm which means “prayer is better than sleep” after hayya ‘ala’l-falah.

 

Musical keys

Selected for their sweet voices, muezzins are skilled in Qur’anic recitation, taught some lessons in music, as well as knowledgeable in the various musical keys. There is a special key for each prayer’s Adhan. To give examples from the Turkish tradition, the key for the dawn prayer is Al-Saba; the keys for the noon prayer are Raast and Hijaz; for the afternoon prayer, they are Biatti, Ushaq and Hijaz; for the sunset prayer, they are Hijaz, Raast, Sika and Dujah. The evening prayer’s adhan is delivered on the Hijaz, Biatti, Ushaq, Raast and Nowa keys.

It was also the custom in the city of Istanbul, that the prayer, “May God’s blessing and peace be upon the Prophet Muhammad,” be recited by the muezzin followed by a hymn of praise on the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) before delivering the prayer’s Adhan. The “blessing and peace” prayer dedicated to the noble Prophet used also to be recited after the adhan for the noon, afternoon and evening prayers. It is noteworthy to point out that the muezzin delivered the adhan in the key he was skilful at, not necessarily on one of the previously mentioned keys. The city of Istanbul also witnessed the “Double Adhan” performed by two muezzins by turns simultaneously—imitating a style popular during the Umayyad era.

 

Its virtues

 

There are several sayings of the Prophet where he mentions the virtues related with the adhan. “Were people to know the blessing of pronouncing adhan and standing in the first row, they would even draw lots to secure these privileges.” “… whenever you are in wilderness and you want to call adhan, you should raise your voice because whoever hears the adhan (human or any other creature), will testify for you on the Day of Resurrection.