Azan

The Azan is recited from mosques all over the world using the same exact phrases and timing, which signifies the unity of all Muslim brothers and sisters in the belief of one God and his Messenger. This beautiful melodious call begins at daybreak which is referred to as the Fajr time or daybreak, and is repeated at noon, or the Dzuhr period.

The Azan is repeated in the evening to call Muslim to the Asr prayers. (more…)

The Azan call to prayer begins with a firm affirmation of the supremacy of the sole creator of the Universe, the most merciful and the most compassionate Allah. The next verse is the syahadah or the profession of the Muslim faith. It removes all kinds of polytheism or beliefs in multiple Gods and affirms the belief in the one and only God, Allah and that Muhammad is truly His Messenger (pbuh). The third line is the call to prayer and the emphasis on the eternal home for all obliging Muslims, which is the Paradise. The fourth verse is the call to success, which refers to the success in this world or the temporary dwelling of Muslims and of the eternal home of the Muslim in the hereafter. Then more emphasis is placed on affirming that Allah’s greatness and supremacy with the verse “Allahu Akbar”.

Finally the Azan reaffirms the initial faith which states that there is no other God except Allah and Muhammad is his messenger with the solemn recitation of the verse ” laiIlahailallah” which means in Arabic as: there is no God but Allah”

All of these phrases are recited twice to strengthen the faith and the force of the Azan itself.

In Islamic history, the first muezzin to perform the Azan Call to Prayer was the black slave by the name of Bilal bin Rabah who converted to Islam after receiving guidance from the Prophet Muhammad. The appointment of Bilal as the first ever Muezzin is living proof that Islam is a religion of equality. Each and every Muslim is treated equally irrespective of race, colour and social status. Isalm focuses on the individuals’ degree of obedience to the Will of God and faith in the Islamic philosophy and teachings. True salvation is found in an honest and wholehearted obedience to Allah and the teachings of his Messenger.