Prayer (Salah)
How to Recite the Adhan (Call to Prayer)
The words of the adhan, how to call it correctly, and the etiquette of responding to the adhan.
Total Time
2–3 minutes
Total Steps
11 steps
Read Time
4 min read
The Adhan (Arabic: الأذان) is the melodic call that announces the entry of each prayer time and summons the community to worship. It was instituted in Madinah in the first year after the Hijra, when the Companion Abdullah ibn Zayd saw it in a dream and the Prophet ﷺ approved it.
The adhan is a public proclamation of the core truths of Islam — the greatness of Allah, His oneness, the messengership of Muhammad ﷺ, and the call to prayer and success — repeated five times a day across the world.
Calling the adhan is a noble, rewarded act. The Prophet ﷺ said: "The mu'adhins will have the longest necks of all people on the Day of Resurrection" (Sahih Muslim 387). He also said that if people knew the reward in the adhan and the first row, they would draw lots to be the one to call it (Sahih al-Bukhari 615). Even what hears the adhan — every stone, tree, and creature — will testify for the caller on the Day of Judgement.
The mu'adhin should be in a state of purity, face the qiblah, call with a clear raised voice, and recite the phrases in their correct order at a measured, unhurried pace. The phrases of the adhan are fixed and must not be altered; the iqamah (the second, shorter call given just before the prayer begins) follows a similar but condensed form.
Calling before the time enters — the adhan announces that the prayer time has begun; calling it early (except the first Fajr adhan, which has its own ruling) is an error.
Rushing or singing it out of measure — the adhan should be clear and dignified, not raced through or over-embellished.
Forgetting the Fajr addition — "As-salatu khayrun min an-nawm" (prayer is better than sleep) is said only in the Fajr adhan, twice, after "Hayya 'ala al-falah."
Repeat each phrase after the mu'adhin, except at the two "Hayya 'ala…" phrases, where you say: "La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah." Afterward, send blessings on the Prophet ﷺ and recite the du'a of the adhan, then ask Allah for your needs — for du'a between the adhan and iqamah is not rejected (Jami at-Tirmidhi 212, Sunan Abi Dawud 521).
Yes — the adhan is recited in its original Arabic wording, as transmitted from the Prophet ﷺ, everywhere in the world.
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Complete Guide to Salah (Prayer)
The adhan is a public proclamation of the core truths of Islam — the greatness of Allah, His oneness, the messengership of Muhammad ﷺ, and the call to prayer and success — repeated five times a day across the world.
The Virtue of the Mu'adhin
Calling the adhan is a noble, rewarded act. The Prophet ﷺ said: "The mu'adhins will have the longest necks of all people on the Day of Resurrection" (Sahih Muslim 387). He also said that if people knew the reward in the adhan and the first row, they would draw lots to be the one to call it (Sahih al-Bukhari 615). Even what hears the adhan — every stone, tree, and creature — will testify for the caller on the Day of Judgement.
Conditions and Etiquette
The mu'adhin should be in a state of purity, face the qiblah, call with a clear raised voice, and recite the phrases in their correct order at a measured, unhurried pace. The phrases of the adhan are fixed and must not be altered; the iqamah (the second, shorter call given just before the prayer begins) follows a similar but condensed form.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I say when I hear the adhan?
Repeat each phrase after the mu'adhin, except at the two "Hayya 'ala…" phrases, where you say: "La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah." Afterward, send blessings on the Prophet ﷺ and recite the du'a of the adhan, then ask Allah for your needs — for du'a between the adhan and iqamah is not rejected (Jami at-Tirmidhi 212, Sunan Abi Dawud 521).
Does the adhan have to be in Arabic?
Yes — the adhan is recited in its original Arabic wording, as transmitted from the Prophet ﷺ, everywhere in the world.
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Step-by-Step Instructions
1
Face the Qiblah
Stand facing the direction of Makkah (qiblah) when calling the adhan.
2
Place Fingers in Ears (Sunnah)
It is Sunnah to place your index fingers in your ears while calling the adhan, which helps project the voice.
3
Allahu Akbar × 4
"Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar." (Allah is the Greatest — said 4 times)
4
Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah × 2
"Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah" × 2 (I bear witness that there is no god but Allah)
5
Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah × 2
"Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah" × 2 (I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah)
6
Hayya 'ala al-Salah × 2
"Hayya 'ala al-Salah" × 2 (Come to prayer) — turning the face to the right while saying this.
7
Hayya 'ala al-Falah × 2
"Hayya 'ala al-Falah" × 2 (Come to success) — turning the face to the left while saying this.
8
Allahu Akbar × 2
"Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest — said 2 times)
9
La ilaha illallah × 1
"La ilaha illallah" (There is no god but Allah) — said once to close the adhan.
10
Fajr Addition: Al-Salatu khayrun min al-nawm
For the Fajr adhan only, add after "Hayya 'ala al-Falah": "Al-Salatu khayrun min al-nawm, al-Salatu khayrun min al-nawm" (Prayer is better than sleep — said twice).
11
Responding to the Adhan
When you hear the adhan, repeat each phrase after the mu'adhin. For the two "Hayya" phrases, say: "La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah" (There is no might or power except with Allah). After the adhan, recite the dua: "Allahumma Rabba hadhihi al-da'wat al-tamma..."
Authentic Guidance
This guide is prepared based on authentic Islamic sources. We ensure that all steps are consistent with established scholarly consensus.