Five times a day, from rooftops to minarets, a voice rises into the air. It weaves through busy streets, slips through open windows, and settles into hearts. This is the Adhān: the call to prayer that commands the entire earth and its bounties to come to a standstill when it is announced. For some, it marks the moment to roll out the prayer mat and turn to Allah (SWT). For others, it’s a familiar background sound, always there since the time of our birth, yet we have rarely reflected upon it as Muslims.
The term Adhān, derived from the Arabic root adhina, meaning “to listen, to hear, or be informed about,” translates directly to “announcement.” It carries profound significance in Islamic tradition as the call to prayer, serving not just as a signal but as a spiritual invitation to pause, reflect, and connect with the divine. The linguistic roots of Adhān emphasize its purpose: to awaken awareness and summon attention, reminding believers of their daily rhythm of worship and devotion. It is a living, breathing symbol of Islam. Indeed, it is also a spiritual wake up that reconnects us to our purpose, no matter where we are or what we find ourselves doing.
Mankind’s first call to prayer: the origin story
The story of the Adhān begins in Madinah over 1,400 years ago. As the Muslim community grew under the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the need arose for a unique way to gather people for prayer. The companions suggested different ideas, such as using a bell like Christians, a horn like the Jews, or a flag to signal the time. However, none felt special enough for the Ummah of Muhammad (SAW).
Then, Abdullah ibn Ziyad had a dream. In it, he saw a man carrying a bell. When asked if he would sell it, the man instead taught him beautiful, powerful words that immediately lifted his heart and called people to worship Allah (SWT) alone. When Abdullah ibn Zayd told the Prophet (SAW) about his dream, the Prophet (SAW) confirmed it was guidance from Allah (SWT). He instructed him to teach the words to Bilal ibn Rabah, a former slave whose deep, resonant voice could carry across the city. And so, Bilal (RA) climbed to a high place, took a deep breath, and the very first Adhān filled the streets of Madinah.
Imagine how empowering that moment must have been when a clear voice rang over the rooftops, through the palm groves, across the open desert to proclaim the greatness of Allah (SWT) for the first time in public!
Of course, Shaytan did not like it, but that’s just more reason for us to love and respect it all the more! The Prophet (SAW) has said in a powerful hadith, “When the Adhān is pronounced, Shaytan takes to his heels and passes wind with noise during his flight in order to not hear the Adhān. When the Adhān is completed, he comes back and again takes to his heels when the Iqama is pronounced and after its completion he returns again till he whispers into the heart of the person (to divert his attention from prayer) and make him remember things which he does not recall to his mind before the prayer and that causes him to forget how much he has prayed.” (Sahih Bukhari)
What is the meaning of each phrase in the Adhān?
While the Adhān is short, every phrase carries a significant weight to it which is why, whenever we hear the call to prayer, we must pause what we are doing, and give this important reminder our full focus and attention with open minds, and cleansed hearts.
الله أكبر
“Allah (SWT) is The Greatest.”
These words, repeated four times at the start, break through the noise of life, and we are reminded of The One who is above all.
أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله
“I bear witness there is no God except Allah (SWT).”
This is our own personal testimony that we vow to every single day of our lives, and will continue to testify to even within our graves.
أشهد أن محمدًا رسول الله
“I bear witness that Muhammad (SAW) is the Messenger of Allah.”
With this being a continuation of our testimony, because our entire existence is meant to follow our Prophet’s (SAW) example in worship, character, and compassion.
حي على الصلاة
“Come to prayer!”
How fortunate we are that we are being invited to leave behind all distractions and meet Allah (SWT) in salaah.
حي على الفلاح
“Come to success!”
A gentle reminder that true success is not in wealth or power, but in answering Allah’s (SWT) call – clearly equating prayer to success, where the latter cannot truly exist without the former.
الله أكبر
“Allah (SWT) is The Greatest.”
We hear this repeated twice more at the end so that it really sinks into our hearts.
لا إله إلا الله
“There is no God except Allah (SWT).”
This is the final seal, and the truth that seals our lives.
A hadith was recorded on the authority of Abdul Rahman, “Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri told my father, ‘I see you liking sheep and the wilderness. So whenever you are with your sheep or in the wilderness and you want to pronounce Adhān for the prayer, raise your voice in doing so, for whoever hears the Adhān, whether a human being, a jinn or any other creature, will be a witness for you on the Day of Resurrection.’ Abu Sa’id said, ‘I heard it (this narration) from the Apostle of Allah (SAW).’” (Sahih Bukhari)
The call to unity
One of the most powerful things about the Adhān that everyone notices is how it connects our Ummah together. As the sun rises in one part of the world, the first Adhān of Fajr salaah is called. As it ends there, it begins somewhere else. This is an unbroken chain of voices calling to prayer across continents, time zones, and cultures.
It’s a sound that has never had any borders. In a quiet village in Indonesia, a bustling street in Cairo, or a remote desert in Morocco, the same words echo throughout Allah’s (SWT) earth. The muadhin may have a different accent, tone, or style, but the words and meaning will never change. It’s a reminder that, whether you are one of millions in a city or alone on a mountaintop, Allah (SWT) is still calling you.
The Prophet’s (SAW) guidance on how to respond to the call to prayer
Considering the origin story of the Adhān and the important statements we testify to that make up the entirety of our deen, it is not a call that we should ignore or hear half-consciously. The Prophet (SAW) has taught us to engage with it in the following ways:
- Stop and listen by giving it your full attention. In the aforementioned hadith, every creation stops to listen to the Adhān, including the animals!
- Repeat after the muadhin quietly, phrase by phrase, except for “Hayya alas-Salaah” and “Hayya alal-Falaah” where we instead say “La hawla wa la quwwata illa billa” (There is no power or strength except through Allah (SWT)).
- Make dua after the Adhān by asking Him to grant our beloved Prophet (SAW) the highest rank in Paradise.
- Let it change your state so that, even if you cannot pray immediately, the Adhān at the very least realigns your mind and your heart towards Allah (SWT).
The call that will one day become silent
This world will not last forever. The Quran tells us that there will come a day when the mountains crumble, the seas will boil, and the skies will split open. On that day, the Adhān will no longer be heard. The time for salaah will be over, and the time for answering Allah’s (SWT) call will be gone. This is why every Adhān we hear today is a gift. It is a personal invitation from Allah (SWT) to pause, reconnect, and remember what truly matters before it’s too late.
On the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn Abi Qatada, “My father said, ‘While we were praying with the Prophet (SAW), he heard the noise of some people. After the prayer he said, ‘What is the matter?’ They replied, ‘We were hurrying for the prayer.’ He said, ‘Do not make haste for the prayer, and whenever you come for the prayer, you should come with calmness, and pray whatever you get (with the people) and complete the rest which you have missed.’” (Sahih Bukhari)
So the next time you hear Allahu Akbar!, don’t just let it pass between your ears, but really feel it within your heart. Let it pull you away from the rush of the dunya, and towards the peace of standing before your Lord. May Allah (SWT) make us among those who love the Adhān, who respond to it, and who find our hearts soft whenever we hear it. Ameen!
