Azan

The Azan (أَذَان) is the Islamic call to prayer, recited by the muezzin. The root of the word is ʼḏn, meaning “to permit”, and another derivative of this word is uḏun, meaning “ear.”

 Azan is called out by the muezzin in the mosque, sometimes from a minaret, five times a day summoning Muslims for mandatory (fard) prayers (salah). There is a second call known as iqama (set up) that summons Muslims to line up for the beginning of the prayers. The main purpose behind the loud pronouncement of azan five times a day in every mosque is to make available to everyone an easily intelligible summary of Islamic belief. It is intended to bring to the mind of every believer and non-believer the substance of Islamic beliefs, or its spiritual ideology. Loudspeakers are sometimes installed on minarets for the purpose. (more…)

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.