Adhan

Adhan

The adhān (Arabic: أَذَان‎ ), or azan (as pronounced in Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan), is the Islamic call to prayer, recited by the muezzin at prescribed times of the day. The root of the word is ʼḏn أَذَن meaning "to permit"; another derivative of this word is uḏun, meaning "ear".

Adhan is called out by the muezzin in the mosque five times a day, traditionally from a minaret, summoning Muslims for mandatory (fard) prayers (salah). A second call known as iqama (set up) then summons Muslims to line up for the beginning of the prayers. The main purpose behind the multiple loud pronouncements of adhan in every mosque is to make available to everyone an easily intelligible summary of Islamic belief. It is intended to bring to the mind of every believer and non-believer the substance of Islamic beliefs, or its spiritual ideology. In modern times, loudspeakers have been installed on minarets for this purpose.

The adhan sums up the Shahada, the statement of faith: There is no deity but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God. This statement of faith called the Kalimah, is the first of the Five Pillars of Islam.