How to Perform the Adhan (With Du'a & Iqama)

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Islam expert Mufti Samir Wahid explains the order of the adhan and translates Arabic phrases

Co-authored by Mufti Samir Wahid and Elaine Heredia, BA

Last Updated: March 9, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Preparation
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• Calling the Adhan
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• Du’a & Iqama
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• Video
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• Q&A
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• Tips
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• Warnings

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"Adhan" (also "azan" or "athan") literally translates to "announcement," and it’s just that, an announcement to Islamic people that it’s time to pray. The announcer, or mu'adhdhin, stands in the minaret of a mosque or another high place, and sings the announcement 15 minutes before each of the 5 daily prayers. Acting as the mu'adhdhin is a great responsibility and honor, but it does take a little practice and memorization. That’s why we consulted one of wikiHow’s Islam experts and put together a simple guide on preparing for the adhan, the proper Arabic phrases to say during the adhan, and what to do after, so that you can start each daily prayer with the best intentions.

How do you call the azan?

Islam expert Mufti Samir Wahid says to start the adhan by reciting "Allahu Akbar" ("God is greater than") 4 times. To continue calling the adhan:

1. Say Ashhadu ala ilaha illallah ("I testify that there is no one worthy of worship except for Allah") twice.
2. Repeat Ash hadu anna Muhammadar rasoolullah ("I testify that Muhammad is the slave and messenger of God") twice.
3. Say Hayya 'ala as-salah ("Come to prayer") twice.
4. Say Hayya 'ala al-falah ("Come to success") twice.
5. Repeat Allahu Akbar twice, followed by "La ilaha illallah" ("There is none worthy of worship except God").

Steps

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Preparing to Call the Adhan

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1. 
   1
   Call the adhan before each of the 5 daily prayers. These prayers are the Fajr (before sunrise), Zuhr (at high noon), Asr (between noon and sunset), Maghrib (just after sunset), and Isha (before midnight). Your community will take more or less time to congregate based on its size, so consult your spiritual leaders to find out how far in advance you should perform the call.

   • Specific times for each prayer vary by location, so use a tool like IslamicFinder to find the times for your location.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Mufti Samir Wahid is an Islam expert and Imam. He's also the CEO of 4 Islamic academies, where students study the Qur'an, learn Arabic, and more.
2. 
   2
   Wash your hands, face, arms, and feet to prepare for prayer. Before you pray, perform wudu to purify yourself—the adhan isn’t just a call to prayer, it’s a prayer itself. If you neglect to wash yourself earnestly and reverently, your prayer may not be accepted by Allah. Make your intention (niyyah) before you begin, resolving to wash and pray as best you can.

   • Gargle water in your mouth 3 times to remove remaining food. Inhale water into your nose to clear your breathing passages.
   • Wash your face 3 times: use your hand to spread water from your right ear to your left ear, and then from your hairline down to your chin.
   • Thoroughly wash your feet and your forearms – 3 times each. Clean your head and wash out your ears.
   • Bear in mind that you must repeat wudu if you nullify it. Any form of body discharge (urination, defecation, gas, bleeding) invalidates wudu, as does a bout of deep sleep.
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3. 
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   Stand facing the Qibla. The Qibla is the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca. All Muslims face this place when they pray during salah, and many mu'adhins face the Qibla when calling the adhan. If possible, stand in a high place, like a tower, a rooftop, or an upstairs window.
4. 
   4
   Set your intention (or niyyah) to call the adhan, and cover your ears. Just as you wash yourself before the adhan, you also set your intention beforehand. Take a few moments to consider what this moment means to you, to your faith, and to the people whom you are calling. Muffle your ears with your palms or index fingers. Muffling is optional, but traditional.

   • Plugging your ears may help you set your intention and focus on the words you are about to say.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Calling the Adhan

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1. 
   1
   Call "Allahu Akbar" (الله أكبر) four times. This means "Allah is greater than," says Wahid, implying that Allah is greater than anyone or anything else you can imagine. Wahid also says to repeat this phrase 4 times: "Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar!" Say it slowly, in a loud and clear voice. Consider singing the words if you feel comfortable doing so.

   • After you recite each sentence, the rest of the congregation (jama'ah) will softly answer every phrase that the mu'adhdhin recites – with one exception. After "hayya 'alasalah" and "hayya 'alal falah," the others should answer with La hawla wala kuwata ila billah, meaning "There is no Power or Authority except Allah."
   • Followers of the Maliki Madhab say this line twice instead of 4 times.
2. 
   2
   Say "Ashhadu ala ilaha illallah" (أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله) twice. Wahid translates this phrase as, "I testify that there is no one worthy of worship except for Allah." Pronounce it as "ash-hadu ala i-laa-ha ill-all-ah."
3. 
   3
   Repeat "Ash hadu anna Muhammadar rasoolullah" (أشهد أن محمد رسول الله) twice. This means "I testify that Muhammad is the slave and messenger of God," explains Wahid. Pronounce it as "ash-hadu ana Mu-ha-mud-ar rah-sool all-ah." Pace yourself, and avoid rushing through the words.
4. 
   4
   Call "Hayya 'ala as-salah" (حي على الصلاة) twice. Wahid translates this phrase as, "Come to prayer." Pronounce it as "hey-ah-'alas sal-ah" in Arabic.
5. 
   5
   Say "Hayya 'ala al-falah" (حي على الفلاح) twice. According to Wahid, you say this phrase, which means "Come to success," because prayer leads to success. Pronounce it as "hey-ah-alal -fa-lah."
6. 
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   Say a sect-specific line if you are Sunni or Shia (optional). There is some disagreement about what comes after "Hayya'ala al-falah" and before the final repetitions of "Allahu Akbar." Sunnis and Shias have their own specific lines, but most schools omit these. If you aren't sure what to do, consider skipping this line and moving on to the next phrase.

   • If you are a Sunni, say "Assalatu khayru min an-naum" here. This means "Prayer is better than sleep." Only use this line when calling Fajr, the dawn prayer.
   • If you are a Shia, say "Hayya- al Khair al amal." This encourages worshipers to "Hasten toward the best thing."
7. 
   7
   Repeat "Allahu Akbar" (الله أكبر) twice, followed by "La ilaha illallah" (لا إله إلا الله). The last line translates to, "There is none worthy of worship except God," according to Wahid. Most mu'adhdhins only say this once, according to the 4 schools, although the Imamis say it twice. The Malikis and Shafi’is permit repetition of the last line, considering it sunnah: the adhan, according to them, is not invalid if it is recited only once, as the Imamis hold.
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Part 3

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Reciting a Du'a and the Iqama

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1. 
   1
   Recite a du’a to yourself after the adhan. A du'a is a personal prayer or meditation, said in a lower voice than the adhan. Say, "Allahumma Rabba Hathihil Da'awati Taamma Wa Salatil-qaa’ima, Aati Sayyedana Muhammada nil-Waseelata Wal-Fadeelata Wal-Darajatal-'aleyata Al Rafî‘a, Wab‘ath-hu Maqaman Mahmudanilathee Wa‘adtahu, Innaka La Tukhliful-Mee'ad."

   • This translates to, "O Allah! Lord of this perfect call (perfect by not ascribing partners to You) and of the regular prayer which is going to be established, give Muhammad the right of intercession and illustriousness, and resurrect him to the best and the highest place in Paradise that You promised him, then my intercession for him will be allowed on the Day of Resurrection."
   • You do not need to fill this space with a du'a, but it is mustahabb (preferred) to do so.
2. 
   2
   Recite the iqama once the community has assembled. This is the second call to prayer before the beginning of salah, once everyone has gathered. According to Wahid, it's more or less a repeat of the adhan. The exact words and the number of repetitions vary from school to school, so consider asking a respected member of your community exactly what to say. Once you recite the iqama, the prayer session can begin.

   • The difference between iqama and adhan is that during iqama, after saying "haya 'alal falaah," you say, "qad qaama tis-salaah" ("the prayer has begun"). Some people say this once, others say this twice. This depends on the school of jurisprudence (madhab) followed. Saying it twice is sunnah according to a saheeh hadith.
   • Say the iqama with a lower voice than you called the adhan, but so that those in the prayer space can still hear you. Recite the iqama quicker, as the prayer will start straight after you finish.
3. 
   3
   Follow the prayer with the congregation. Join your community in praying the salah, following your imam or prayer leader in the recitation. Reflect on your role in calling the adhan, and set your intention now on the prayer at hand.
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• Question

  Why is the adhan said twice before prayer?

  

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  This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

  

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  The first call is to congregate the community for prayer, and the second call, or "iqama," is said just before prayer to ensure that everyone is present and ready to pray.

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  Can women say the adhan?

  

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  This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

  

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  Calling the adhan is typically performed by men, even when a woman is praying alone.

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  Can anyone recite the azan?

  

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  This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

  

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  The azan is usually called by a designated person, called the "mu'adhdhin." However, if you're praying alone, you call the azan yourself.

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Tips

• Practice the words of the adhan before you say them for prayer.
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• Listen to various recitations of the adhan to familiarize yourself with the tone and voice.
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• The adhan is normally called around 15 minutes before the prayer. The iqama is called just before the prayer starts.
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Warnings

• The Fajr Adhan is only for the Fajr prayer.
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