Call to prayer (adhan)

The adhan is the call to prayer, established in the early Medinan community. The first performer was the Prophet’s Ethiopian muezzin Bilal ibn Rabah.

The text:

Allahu akbar Allahu akbar
Allahu akbar Allahu akbar Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah Ashhadu anna Muhammad rasul Allah Ashhadu anna Muhammad rasul Allah (more melismatic) Hayya ‘ala al-salah Hayya ‘ala al-salah Hayya ‘ala al-falah Hayya ‘ala al-falah al-salatu khayrun min al-nawm* al-salatu khayrun min al-nawm* Allahu akbar Allahu akbar la ilaha illa Allah

The meaning:

God is greater [than all else] (2x) God is greater (2x) I testify that there is no deity but God I testify that there is no deity but God I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God Come to prayer! Come to prayer! Come to salvation! Come to salvation! Prayer is better than sleep.* Prayer is better than sleep.* God is greater (2x) There is no deity but God.

• performed at dawn prayer only

The call to prayer in Medina, performed by Muhammad Hakim

The call to prayer, with Islamic images, performed by Kuwaiti Shaykh Mashari Rashid