Adhan

Allah commands you to seek knowledge

“My Lord, increase me in knowledge” (Surah Ta-Ha 20:114). DeenUp turns that command into a daily habit — a swipeable feed of bite-sized, scholar-approved Islamic lessons, quick quizzes, and daily streaks.

Download DeenUp on the App Store

What is Adhan?

Adhan comes from the Arabic root ʾ-dh-n, meaning "to listen," "to permit," or "to announce." As a technical term, it refers to the specific set of phrases recited aloud to declare that a prayer time has entered and to call believers to gather for salah. It begins with the takbir, "Allahu Akbar," and moves through testimonies of faith, the call to prayer and success, before closing again with the declaration of Allah's greatness and oneness.

Theologically, the Adhan is a compact declaration of Islamic belief. In a few short lines it affirms tawhid (the oneness of Allah), the prophethood of Muhammad ﷺ, and the purpose of prayer itself — turning worldly attention toward worship and "falah," or true success. Because it is recited publicly, the Adhan also functions as a communal proclamation of faith, heard by Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

Historically, the Adhan was instituted in Madinah in the early years after the hijrah, when the growing Muslim community needed a clear way to gather for prayer. According to the traditional account, a companion named Abdullah ibn Zayd described a dream in which he was taught the words of the call, which the Prophet ﷺ then approved; Bilal ibn Rabah, known for his beautiful voice, became the first muezzin in Islamic history.

Spiritually, the Adhan interrupts the rhythm of daily life to reorient the heart toward Allah. Its rising and falling cadence has become one of the most recognizable sounds across the Muslim world, marking the passage of the day not by the clock alone but by devotion.

In contemporary life, the Adhan is heard from minarets, delivered through mosque loudspeakers, and increasingly played through smartphone apps that alert Muslims to prayer times wherever they are, keeping this centuries-old practice woven into modern routines.

Examples of Adhan

• Mosque loudspeakers: The Adhan is broadcast from the minaret so the surrounding neighborhood can hear the call to prayer.
• Prayer time apps: Many Muslims use smartphone apps that play a recorded Adhan as a reminder when each prayer time begins.
• Adhan for a newborn: A parent softly recites the Adhan into a newborn baby's ear as one of the first sounds the child hears.
• Friday congregational call: A second Adhan is often added before the Friday khutbah to gather the community for Jumu'ah prayer.

References in Qur'an & Hadith

"And when you call to prayer, they take it in ridicule and amusement. That is because they are a people who do not use reason." — Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:58

"O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah, then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew." — Surah Al-Jumu'ah 62:9

The Prophet ﷺ said: "When the call for prayer is made, Satan takes to his heels and passes wind so that he may not hear the Adhan." — Sahih al-Bukhari 608