The call to prayer in Islam

The call to prayer in Islam: why it moves so many people, a cultural and emotional explanation of the Adhan. Throughout the Muslim world, the Adhan, the Islamic call to prayer, resonates from mosques five times each day. Moreover, it reminds believers to pause and turn toward worship.

The call to prayer in Islam: why it moves so many people

The call to prayer in Islam, known as the Adhan (or Azan), is one of the most powerful and emotional sounds heard across the Muslim world. I addition, it is not simply an announcement; it is a spiritual reminder that life’s true purpose is to worship Allah. In Islam, the words of the call to prayer come from mosques five times daily. It urges Muslims to pause life’s tasks and return to worship.

What is the call to prayer in Islam?

The Adhan is a short but deeply meaningful proclamation. The call to prayer words in Arabic include the famous phrase

“Allahu Akbar” (Allah is the Greatest) repeated multiple times.

The muezzin (the person who calls the prayer) also recites the testimony of faith (Shahada):

“Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadur Rasul Allah.”

These Azan in Arabic words hold immense spiritual weight. Besides, they affirm belief in the oneness of God and the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him).

The emotional power of the Adhan (the call od prayer in Islam)

Muslims and even non-Muslims often describe the Adhan as moving to the heart. Cat Stevens, who later embraced Islam as Yusuf Islam, expressed that listening to the Adhan deeply moved his heart and stirred his soul. Moreover, his reflections are sometimes remembered alongside the phrase “Cat Stevens the Adhan (call to prayer) lyrics.” The rhythm and tone of the Azan full version evoke calmness, humility.

Historical roots of the Adhan

According to Islamic tradition, the Adhan was established during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

“A companion, Abdullah ibn Zayd, had a dream about the words of the Adhan, and the Prophet approved it as the method to call people to prayer“

(Hadith, Abu Dawood)

This makes Medina in present-day Saudi Arabia the place of the first Azan in the world which country, where Bilal ibn Rabah, a freed African slave, became the first muezzin in Islam.

Spiritual and practical purpose

The Adhan is not only emotional but also functional. Through the Adhan, Muslims are reminded of their prayer times: Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (midday), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (sunset), and Isha (night).

 The Quran highlights the importance of prayer:

Surah An-Nisa (4:103)

“Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times”

Thus, the Adhan ensures that Muslims stay mindful of their daily worship.

Related post: Why do Muslims pray five times a day?

In conclusion, the Adhan is far more than a call; it is a reminder, a source of peace, and a unifying voice for over a billion Muslims worldwide. Whether one hears the Azan full in bustling Mecca, or any other country, or even recordings of the call to prayer words in Arabic, the message remains timeless: “return to Allah, for He is the Greatest”.

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