ADZAN (PRAYER CALL)
Adzan (أَذَان) is the Muslim's call to prayer. It is different from the other calls of prayers of other religions - the Christians use the bell while the Jews use the horn.
The first person to recite the call of prayer is a black man by the name of Bilal Ibn Rabbah (بلال بن رباح), and henceforth, the person who calls other to prayer, or the muezzin, is called the bilal (بلال). The adzan is usually called out by the bilal at the start of the 5 obligatory prayers. This is a notification for Muslims that the time for prayer has arrived and they should stop their worldly business and come for prayers. A second call, known as the iqamah (إقامة), then summons Muslims to line up for the beginning of the prayers.
There are specific verses recited in the adzan. It brings to mind the substance of the Islamic belief. It was taught to Bilal by Rasulullah. With each verse, Muslims who hear it is supposed to respond with a specific response.
ADZAN
الله أكبر, الله أكبر x 2
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
God is Great, God is Great
أشهد أن لا اله إلا ال x 2
Ash hadu-Allah ilaaha Illallah
I bear witness that there is no God except the One God
أشهد أن محمدا رسول ال x 2
Ash hadu-AnnaMuhammadar-Rasulullah
I bear witness that Muhammad is God's Messenger
حي على الصلاة x 2
Haiyya 'alas-sholaah
Let's come to sholah
حي على الفلاح x 2
Haiyya 'alal-Falaah
Let's proceed to success
الصلاة خير من النوم x 2 (only in Fajr prayer)
Ash-sholaatu khairum-minan-naum
Salat (prayer, worship) is better than sleep
الله أكبر, الله أكبر x 2
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
God is Great, God is Great
لا إله إلا الله x 1
Laa ilaaha Illallah
There is no god except Allah
RESPONSE
الله أكبر, الله أكبر x 2
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
God is Great, God is Great
أشهد أن لا اله إلا ال x 2
Ash hadu-Allah ilaaha Illallah
I bear witness that there is no God except the One God
أشهد أن محمدا رسول ال x 2
Ash hadu-AnnaMuhammadar-Rasulullah
I bear witness that Muhammad is God's Messenger
لا حول ولاقوة إلا بال x 2
la ḥawla wa la quwwata illa billah
There is no power or strength except with Allah
لا حول ولاقوة إلا بال x 2
la ḥawla wa la quwwata illa billah
There is no power or strength except with Allah
الصلاة خير من النوم x 2 (only in Fajr prayer)
Ash-sholaatu khairum-minan-naum
Salat (prayer, worship) is better than sleep
الله أكبر, الله أكبر x 2
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
God is Great, God is Great
لا إله إلا الله x 1
Laa ilaaha Illallah
There is no god except Allah
At the end of the adzan, there is a du'a that goes like this:اللهم رب هذه الدعوة التامة والصلاة القائمة
Allahumma rabba hadzi-hid da'wa-tit-tammah, was-sholatil Qaa-imah O God, Owner of this perfect call and Owner of this prayer to be performed
آت محمداً الوسيلة و الفضيلة
Aati muhammadanil wasilata wal fadheelahBestow upon Muhammad al waseelah (a station in
Paradise {
Jannah}) and al fadeelah (a rank above the rest of creation)
وابعثه مقاماً محموداً الذي وعدته
Wab 'ath-hu maqamam-mahmuuda-nil alladzi wa 'aadtahAnd raise him to the rank you have promised him
IQAMAH
While the Adzan is to inform Muslims of the time for prayer, and call on Muslims to proceed to the nearest masjid for prayers, the Iqamah is meant to call on the Muslims who are already in the masjid and planning to be ma'mum (followers to the Imam) to get ready for prayer, but this time to set the proper saf (line) before the start of prayer.
The recitations are the same except that they are single and differ in only one verse.
الله أكبر, الله أكبر x 1
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
God is Great, God is Great
أشهد أن لا اله إلا ال x 1
Ash hadu-Allah ilaaha Illallah
I bear witness that there is no God except the One God
أشهد أن محمدا رسول ال x 1
Ash hadu-AnnaMuhammadar-Rasulullah
I bear witness that Muhammad is God's Messenger
حي على الصلاة x 1
Haiyya 'alas-sholaah
Let's come to sholah
حي على الفلاح x 1
Haiyya 'alal-Falaah
Let's proceed to success
قد قامت الصلاة x 2
qad qāma tis-sholah x 2
Prayer has begun
الله أكبر, الله أكبر x 1
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
God is Great, God is Great
لا إله إلا الله x 1
Laa ilaaha Illallah
There is no god except Allah
جزاك اللهُ خيراً
Whatever is right, comes from Allah. Whatever is wrong is from my own weakness.
والله أعلمُ بالـصـواب