Monday, January 23, 2012

The Adhan and Iqama

The Adhan literally translates to a 'call to prayer'. For each prayer in the Muslim faith, in most areas of the middle east, there are minarets where a cassette recording sings the Adhan which calls Muslims to prayer (5 times a day). These clearly aren't the prayers themselves, but in short: they let the community know that it is time to pray. 


The sound itself is very melodic, but there is no definite melody assigned to the hymn. So it can sound very differently in different parts of the globe - no region specificity. It is the same for each of the five prayers EXCEPT for the Fajr - the sunrise prayer. In an outdoor setting, the Adhan acts as a reminder to go to a Mosque.
Basic Adhan prayer chart:

Recital Arabic Transliteration Translation
4x الله أكبر Allahu Akbar God is Greatest
2x أشهد أن لا اله إلا الله Ash-hadu al-la ilaha illa llah I bear witness that there is no God except Allah.
2x أشهد أن محمدا رسول الله Ash-hadu anna MuħammaduRasulullah I bear witness that Muhammad is God's messenger
2x حي على الصلاة Hayya 'ala s-salah Come to salat (prayer, worship)
2x حي على الفلاح Hayya 'ala 'l-falah Come to salvation
2x الله أكبر Allāhu akbar God is greatest
1x لا إله إلا الله La ilaha illallah There is no god except Allah.



Following the Adhan, immediately before prayer, the Iqama is prayed. The Iqamah refers to the second call to Islamic prayer said immediately before prayer begins. 
Basic Iqama prayer chart:

Recital Arabic Transliteration Translation
2x الله اكبر الله اكبر āllahu ākbar, āllahu ākbar Allah is Greatest, Allah is Greatest,
2x اشهد ان لا اله الا الله āsh'hadu ān lā ilaha illā-llah I assert that there is no god but Allah,
2x اشهد ان محمد رسول الله āsh'hadu ānna mūhammadār rasūlu-llah I assert that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,
2x حي على الصلاة hayyā `alā-s-salat Come to prayer,
2x حي على الفلاح hayyā `alā-l-falāh Come to worship,
2x قد قامت الصلاة qad qāma tis-salaat Prayer has begun,
1x الله اكبر الله اكبر āllahu ākbar, āllahu ākbar God is Greatest, God is Greatest,
1x لا اله الا الله lā ilaha illā-llah There is no god but Allah

More info on the Adhan and Iqama
Sample sound sample of the Adhan
The Adhan - Basic


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