An insight into Islam/The Call To Prayer

Being a resident in Dubai means hearing the call to prayer loud and clear, radiating from minarets all around our beautiful city. But how much do we actually know about it? And what can we teach our kids?

How many times a day is the call to prayer called out, and when? By the time you finish reading this, you will have gained a window of insight into Islam that gives you the 411 on the call to prayer, or Adhan (pronounced Azan) as it is commonly called.

What is the purpose of Adhan?

The purpose of Adhan is to summon Muslims for their mandatory prayers. The repetition of key pronouncements of faith is a summary of Islamic belief, and to remind Muslims (and non-muslims alike) of the ideology of Islam.

How many times a day is the Adhan called out?

Since there are five prayers during the day, the Adhan is also called out five times during the day, before each prayer.

When is the Adhan called out?

The five times that the Adhan, corresponding to the five prayers, is called out as follows:

• Fajr Prayers- At the time of dawn (sunrise).
• Zuhr Prayers- Mid-day, when the sun is at the highest point in the sky.
• Asr Prayers- Afternoon, whilst the sun is still bright.
• Maghrib Prayers- At the time of sunset, when the sun has completely set beneath the horizon.
• Isha Prayers- Night, when complete darkness has arrived, and the white twilight in the sky has disappeared.

What do the wordings mean?

The following is the Arabic transliteration, along with the English translation of the Adhan.

Allahu Akbar – God is Great (said four times)

Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah – I bear witness that there is no god except the One God. (said two times)

Ashadu anna Muhammadan Rasool Allah – I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God. (said two times)

Hayya ‘ala-s-Salah – Hurry to the/Rise up for prayer (said two times)

Hayya ‘ala-l-Falah- Hurry to success/ Rise up for Salvation (said two times)

Allahu Akbar – God is Great (said two times)

La ilaha illa Allah – There is no god except the One God

For the Fajr prayer, the following phrase is inserted after the fifth part above:

As-salatu Khayrun Minan-nawm – Prayer is better than sleep (said two times)

The Adhan is something we have grown accustomed to hearing as Dubai residents, and now you are able to understand it in greater detail. Perhaps now you will be able to anticipate the next time that it will be called out, take a moment to reflect upon the wordings and the meanings they hold and tell the kids a little about what they’re hearing every day.

If you have any more knowledge to share, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section below!