The Adhan and The Iqamah
Adhan is the call to the prayer, which announces the beginning of the prayer (obligatory prayer). As for the Iqamah, it is to announce the commencement of the prayer.
Narrated Ibn Umar: “When the Muslims arrived at Medina, they used to assemble for the prayer, and used to guess the time for it. During those days, the practice of Adhan for the prayers had not been introduced yet. Once they discussed this problem regarding the call for prayer. Some people suggested the use of a bell like the Christians, others proposed a trumpet like the horn used by the Jews, but Umar was the first to suggest that a man should call (the people) for the prayer; so Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ordered Bilal to get up and pronounce the Adhan for prayers.” (Bukhari, 604)
Abdullah b. Amr b. al-As reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: “When you hear the Mu’adhdhin, repeat what he says, then invoke a blessing on me, for everyone who invokes a blessing on me will receive ten blessings from Allah; then beg from Allah al-Wasila for me, which is a rank in Paradise fitting for only one of Allah's servants, and I hope that I may be that one. If anyone who asks that I be given the Wasila, he will be assured of my intercession. (Muslim, 384)
Raising the voice when pronouncing the Adhan:
Narrated Abdur-Rahman: Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri told my father, “I see you like sheep and the wilderness. So whenever you are with your sheep or in the wilderness and you want to pronounce Adhan for the prayer raise your voice in doing so, for whoever hears the Adhan, whether a human being, a jinn or any other creature, will be a witness for you on the Day of Resurrection.” Abu Sa’id added, “I heard it (this narration) from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) .” (Bukhari, 609)
Suspend fighting upon hearing the Adhan:
Narrated Humaid: Anas bin Malik said, “Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) went out with us to fight (in Allah's cause) against any nation, he never allowed us to attack till morning and he would wait and see: if he heard Adhan he would postpone the attack and if he did not hear Adhan he would attack them.” Anas added, “We reached Khaibar at night and in the morning when he did not hear the Adhan for the prayer, he (the Prophet (ﷺ) ) rode and I rode behind Abi Talha and my foot was touching that of the Prophet. The inhabitants of Khaibar came out with their baskets and spades and when they saw the Prophet (ﷺ) they shouted ‘Muhammad! By Allah, Muhammad and his army.’ When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saw them, he said, “Allahu-Akbar! Allahu-Akbar! Khaibar is ruined. Whenever we approach a (hostile) nation (to fight), then evil will be the morning of those who have been warned.” (Bukhari, 610)
Mu’adhadhin turning the face when calling the Adhan:
Narrated Aun bin Abi Juhaifa: My father said, “I saw Bilal turning his face from side to side while pronouncing the Adhan for the prayer.” (Bukhari, 634)
Repeat what the Mu’adhdhin is saying, when one hears the Adhan:
Narrated Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Whenever you hear the Adhan, say what the Mu’adhdhin is saying.” (Bukhari, 611)
It was narrated that Alqamah bin Waqqas said: “I was with Mu’awiyah when the Mu’adhdhin called the Adhan. Muawiyah said what the Mu’adhdhin said, but when he said: ‘Hayya ‘alas-salah (come to prayer),’ he said: ‘La hawla wa la quwwata illa Billah (There is no power and no strength except with Allah);’ and when he said: ‘Hayya ‘alal-falah (come to prosperity),’ he said: ‘La hawla wa la quwwata illa Billah (There is no power and no strength except with Allah).’ After that he said what the Mu’adhdhin said, then he said: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying exactly like that.’” (An Nasai, 677)
Notes: Repeat what the Mu’adhdhin says, except for when he says
حَىَّ عَلَى الصَّلاَةِ
The person hearing the Adhan should say,
لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِالله
When Mu’adhdhin says,
حَىَّ عَلَى الْفَلاَحِ
The person hearing the Adhan should say,
لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِالله
Adhan: The Call to the prayer to announce the time of the prayer
It was narrated that Anas said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded Bilal to say the phrases of the Adhan twice and the phrases of the Iqamah once. (An Nasai, 627)
Note: It is desirable to pause between the phrases to allow those listening to repeat, the Mu’adhdhin to face the Qibla (direction of the Kabah) while calling, Mu’adhdhin to insert his index finger into his ear and to stand while calling.
More Hadith:
It was narrated that Abu Mahdhurah said: “I used to call the Adhan for the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) and in the first Adhan of Fajr I used to Say: ‘Hayya ‘ala al-falah, as-salatu khairun minan-nawm, as-salatu khairun minan-nawm, Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar, la ilaha illallah (Come to prosperity, prayer is better than sleep, prayer is better than sleep, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, there is none worthy of worship except Allah).’” (An Nasai, 647)
The one hearing the Adhan should say:
وَأَنَا أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّاللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ رَضِيتُ بِاللهِ رَبّا وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولاً وَبِالإِسْلاَمِ دِينًا
And I also testify that there is no god but Allah alone. Who has no partner, and that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger. I am satisfied with Allah as my Lord, with Muhammad as Messenger and with Islam as the religion.
Benefit of saying this is that the person's sins would be forgiven.
Send Salah on the prophet after the Adhan:
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
O Allah, bestow Your favor on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad as You have bestowed Your favor on Ibrahim and on the family of Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You have blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.
Then say the supplication below:
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ هَذِهِ الدَّعْوَةِ التَّامَّةِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْقَائِمَةِ، آتِ مُحَمَّدًا الْوَسِيلَةَ وَالْفَضِيلَةَ، وَابْعَثْهُ مَقَامًا مَحْمُودًا الَّذِي وَعَدْتَهُ
O Allah, the Lord of this complete call and of this prayer, which is going to be established! Give Muhammad the intercession and favor and raise him to the honored station You have promised him
Make dua between the Adhan and Iqamah:
Finally one makes supplication for oneself, ask Allah for His blessings, mercy and forgiveness. Ask Allah of your needs and wants. Hadith below tell us that the dua between the Adhan and the Iqamah is accepted.
Anas bin Malik narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The supplication is not rejected between the Adhan and the Iqamah.” (At-Tirmidhi, 3595)
Pray voluntary prayer after the Adhan:
Narrated Aisha: “The Prophet (ﷺ) used to offer two light rakat between the Adhan and the Iqama of the Fajr prayer.” (Bukhari, 619)
Narrated Aisha: “Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to pray two light rakat before the morning (compulsory) prayer after the day dawned and the Mu’adhdhin had finished his Adhan. He then would lie on his right side till the Mu’adhdhin came to pronounce the Iqamah.” (Bukhari, 626)
Narrated Abdullah bin Mughaffal Al-Muzani: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said thrice, “There is a prayer between the two Adhans (Adhan and Iqama),” and added, “For the one who wants to pray.” (Bukhari, 624)
Iqamah: The Call for the prayer commencement
It was narrated that Ibn Umar said: “At the time of the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) the phrases of the Adhan were said twice and the phrases of the Iqamah were said once, except that you should say: ‘Qad Qamatis-Salah, Qad Qamatis-Salah (prayer is about to begin, prayer is about to begin).’” (An Nasai, 628)
Note: it is desirable to pronounce the Iqamah quickly with minimal pause and the Mu’adhdhin should not put his finger into his ear. It is preferable that the person who call Adhan to call the Iqamah. To illustrate, Ziyad bin Al-Harith As-Suda'i narrated: “Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ordered me to call the Adhan for the Fajr prayer. I called the Adhan, then Bilal wanted to call the lqamah. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: ‘Indeed the brother from Suda’ has called the Adhan, and whoever calls the Adhan he calls the Iqamah.’” (At-Tirmidhi, 199)
Proceed to the prayer solemnly after the Iqamah:
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “When you hear the Iqamah, proceed to offer the prayer with calmness and solemnity and do not make haste. And pray whatever you are able to pray and complete whatever you have missed.”(Bukhari, 636)
Satan running away when hearing the Adhan:
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, “When the Adhan is pronounced Satan takes to his heels and passes wind with noise during his flight in order not to hear the Adhan. When the Adhan 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 his prayer) and makes 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.” (Bukhari, 608)
Abu Sufyan reported it on the authority of Jabir that he had heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “When Satan hears the call to prayer, he runs away to a distance like that of Rauha. Sulaimin said: I asked him about Rauha. He replied: ‘It is at a distance of thirty-six miles from Medina.’” (Muslim, 388a)
Pronouncing the Adhan as travelers:
Narrated Malik bin Huwairith: Two men came to the Prophet (ﷺ) with the intention of a journey. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “When (both of) you set out, pronounce Adhan and then Iqama and the oldest of you should lead the prayer.” (Bukhari, 630)
The Adhan alone:
It was narrated that Uqbah bin Amir said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: ‘Your Lord is pleased with a shepherd high in the mountains who calls the Adhan for the prayer and prays. Allah says: ‘Look at this slave of Mine; he calls the Adhan and Iqamah for the prayer and fears Me. I have forgiven My slave and admitted him to Paradise.’” (An Nasai, 666)
Benefits:
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, “If the people knew the reward for pronouncing the Adhan and for standing in the first row (in congregational prayers) and found no other way to get that except by drawing lots they would draw lots, and if they knew the reward of the Zuhr prayer (in the early moments of its stated time) they would race for it (go early) and if they knew the reward of `Isha' and Fajr (morning) prayers in congregation, they would come to offer them even if they had to crawl.” (Bukhari, 615)
An-Nasr bin Sufyan narrated that he heard Abu Hurairah say: “We were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and Bilal stood up and gave the call. When he fell silent the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever says the same as this (what the Mu'adhdhin) with certainty, he will enter Paradise.’” (An Nasai, 674)
It was narrated that Esa bin Talhah said: “I heard Muawiyah bin Abu Sufyan say that the Messenger of Allah said: “The Mu’adhdhin will have the longest necks of all people on the Day of Resurrection.” (Ibn Majah, 725)