Azan

Q.   What is Azan?

  As the time for Salat approaches one person stands up and calls these words aloud:

AL-LAHU AKBAR, AL-LAHU AKBAR,

AL-LAHU AKBAR, AL-LAHU AKBAR,

ASH-HADU-A(N)L-LA-ILAHA IL-LAL-LAH,

ASH-HADU-A(N)L-LA-ILAHA IL-LAL-LAH,

ASH-HADU AN-NA MUHAM-MADAR-RASULUL-LAH,

ASH-HADU AN-NA MUHAM-MADAR-RASULUL-LAH,

HAY-YA ‘ALAS-SALAH, HAY-YA ‘ALAS-SALAH,

HAY-YA ‘ALAL-FALAH, HAY-YA ‘ALAL-FALAH,

AL-LAHU AKBAR AL-LAHU AKBAR,

LA ILAHA IL-LAL-LAH.

(Al-lah is the Greatest, Al-lah is the Greatest,

Al-lah is the Greatest, Al-lah is the Greatest,

I testify that none is worthy of worship but Al-lah,

I testify that none is worthy of worship but Al-lah,

I testify that Muham-mad is the messenger of Al-lah,

I testify that Muham-mad is the messenger of Al-lah,

Come for Salat, come for Salat,

Come towards success, come towards success.

Al-lah is the Greatest, Al-lah is the greatest,

None is worthy of worship but Al-lah.)

These words are called the Azan. The following words:

AS-SALATU KHAIRUM-MINAN-NAUM

(Salat is better than sleep)

are also called out twice after the words:

HAY-YA ‘ALAL-FALAH

in the Azan for predawn (Fajr) prayers.

Q.   What is Takbir?

  When people get ready for Salat, one from amongst the assembly repeats the words f the Azan. The words:

QAD QAMATIS-SALAH

are also added after

HAY-YA ‘ALAL-FALAH

These words signify that the prayer is about to begin.

Q.   What do we call the man who calls out the Azan or pronounces the Takbir?

  The man who calls out the Azan is known as the MU’AZ-ZIN and the man who calls out the Takbir is called the MUKAB-BIR.