In the center of a bustling city, where the tapering towering minaret of a mosque adorned the skyline, there lived a young boy named Abdulazeez who was fascinated by the beautiful melodies of the call to prayer, known as the Adhan.

What is the history and evolution of this call?

A Brief History of Adhan; the Islamic Call to Prayer

When Prophet Muhammad (SAW) arrived in Madinah, the population of Muslims began to grow. People announced loudly. “As-salat ul-jamiah (the Salaah for jama’ah is ready).” 

Those who heard this call came to join the Salaah. Muslims felt the need to find a way to inform people to come to the Salaah. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) asked his Sahabah for their advice.

One day, a Sahabi, Abdullah ibn Zaid came to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and said, “O Messenger of Allah! I had a beautiful dream last night.”

“What was the dream you saw”, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) asked Zaid.

Zaid answered, “I’ve seen that a man wearing a green garment taught me the words of the Adhan and advised me to call people to prayer with these words.” He then recited the words of the Adhan.

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) recognized that the dream of Zaid was true. He asked Zaid to teach the words of Adhan to Bilal.

Bilal stood up and called the Adhan. The voice of Bilal resounded across Madinah. People ran to the Masjid Al-Nabawi. Umar ibn Khatib was one of those who came and said, “O Messanger of Allah, an angel taught me the same words in my dream last night.” The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) accepted this Adhan as the official call to Salaah. 

Evolution of the Adhan

The adhan is one of the most lyrical and inspirational prayers for Muslims. According to prophetic tradition, Muhammad’s companions were one day discussing how to gather everyone for prayer.

Some recommended using a bell, as Christians do, while others suggested using a ram’s horn, an ancient Jewish tradition.  

Meanwhile, two of the companions had dreams in which they learned about the adhan. 

As a result, it was decided that one individual would call everyone to prayer. The Prophet, peace be upon him (PBUH), instructed his former slave, Bilal, to recite the adhan. 

The construction of minarets (towers attached to mosques) became a significant development in the evolution of the Adhan. The Adhan was traditionally recited from the minaret to reach a larger audience. Minarets gave a vantage point for the muezzin (the caller of the Adhan) to broadcast the call throughout the city or town. 

Despite regional variances, the content and structure of Adhan have been standardized by essential Islamic beliefs. The basic lines evoking Allah’s majesty and proclaiming Muhammad’s prophethood are consistent across Muslim communities. 

With technological advancement, the Adhan is now broadcast using loudspeakers from mosques, reaching a wider audience than ever before. This has further shaped the way the Adhan is experienced in contemporary times.

Abdulazeez decided to learn more about this mesmerizing practice. He visited the mosque and approached the elderly Mu’adhin (the one who calls the Adhan), whose voice had captivated him so deeply, and asked respectfully about the significance of the Adhan.

The Significance of Adhan

The Adhan is significant in the Islamic faith and plays a major part in the lives of Muslims all over the world. Its significance is broad, including spiritual, social, and communal aspects.

Here are several key aspects that highlight the significance of the Adhan:

1. Announce the Specific Times for Each Prayer: The primary purpose of the Adhan is to announce the specific times for each prayer throughout the day: Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (midday), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (sunset), and Isha (night). It serves as a melodic reminder for believers to take a break from worldly occupations and focus their prayers on God. The Adhan promotes a daily worship rhythm that fosters a stronger connection with the divine.

2. Emphasizes the Centrality of God in the Life of Muslims: The Adhan begins with a statement of God’s oneness (Allah), which affirms the fundamental principle of Islamic monotheism (Tawheed). The Adhan highlights the importance of God in a Muslim’s life by chanting expressions such as “Allahu Akbar” (God is the greatest) and “La ilaha illallah” (There is no deity but God). 

3. Spiritual Reflection and Focus: The Adhan serves as a time for spiritual meditation and mindfulness. Hearing the call causes believers to pause, consider their spiritual responsibilities, and engage in spiritual introspection.

4. Sacred Call: Muslims see the Adhan as a heavenly invitation to pray and connect with God. It is a sacred invitation that asks believers to seek spiritual purity while also seeking God’s mercy and direction. 

5. Expression of Faith: The Adhan is said in public to reinforce Islam’s core principles, such as God’s oneness (Tawheed) and Muhammad’s prophethood. The Adhan expresses faith and devotion through the proclamations “Allahu Akbar” (God is the greatest) and “La ilaha illallah” (There is no deity except God).

6. Unity and Community Gathering: The Adhan announces the start of congregational prayers at mosques, encouraging Muslims to come together and worship as a community. It promotes a sense of solidarity and brotherhood/sisterhood among believers by moving beyond individual worship and emphasizing communal involvement in religious rites. 

7. Spiritual Preparation: Hearing the Adhan encourages Muslims to prepare spiritually for prayer. It is an invitation to put aside worldly concerns and focus on connecting with God via worship. The melodic recital of the Adhan provides a peaceful environment favorable to spiritual introspection. 

8. Promotion of Virtues: The Adhan contains expressions that emphasize ethical and moral principles, such as the call to success (Hayya ‘ala al-Falah) and the remembrance of God. These speeches inspire believers to pursue righteousness and spiritual progress. 

Abdulazeez listened carefully, absorbing every word. He marveled at the Adhan and the wisdom it contained. Abdulazeez made it his aim from that day to memorize Adhan’s phrases and meanings

In our modern lives, maintaining the sanctity and timeliness of prayers can sometimes be challenging amidst our busy schedules. To help bridge this gap, the Kaaba Azan Prayer Clock serves as a constant reminder of the time for Salah, allowing you to honor the significance of the Adhan in your daily life. Embrace the sacred tradition with the convenience of modern technology. Discover how here..

 

The Words of the Melodious Call of the Adhan

The Arabic text of the adhan remains consistent over all five recitations for Salah (Fajr dawn, Dhuhr midday, Asr afternoon, Maghrib sunset, and Isha night) except the dawn prayer, which includes the line “Prayer is better than sleep” (Aṣ-ṣalātu khayrun mina n-nawm).

Allāhu akbaru 2x

Allah is Most Great

Ashhadu an lā ilāha illa llāhu 2x

I bear witness that there is none worthy of being worshipped except Allah.

Ashhadu anna muḥammadan rasūlu llāh 2x

I testify Muhammad is the messenger of Allah

Hayya ʿala ṣ-ṣalāh 2x

Come to prayer

Hayya ʿala l-falāḥ 2x

Come to Success. 

Aṣ-ṣalātu khayrun mina n-nawm (dawn prayer only) 2x 

Prayer is better than sleep

Allāhu akbar 2x

Allah is Most Great. 

Lā ilāha illā llāh 1x

There is no god except the one God.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “When you hear the Mu’adhin (the one who calls the Adhan), repeat what he says.” (Sahih al-Bukhari). Narrated by Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him). 

One day, Abdulazeez was granted the opportunity to recite the Adhan during an evening prayer. His heart raced with excitement and reverence as he stood before the congregation, his voice clear and strong.

The sincerity and passion with which Abdulazeez recited impressed the congregation as his voice echoed through the mosque. 

From that day onward, Abdulazeez cherishes the Adhan not only as a lovely melody but also as a reminder of his life’s purpose which is to worship and seek closeness to Allah. 

The Adhan is a powerful symbol of Islamic identity and collective devotion, resonating deeply with millions of Muslims around the world. 

The story of Abdulazeez and the Adhan demonstrates the everlasting beauty of the call to prayer that echoes through the hearts of Muslims, guiding them on their spiritual path.