What Is Adhan And Iqamat? When And How Were They Established?

What is adhan and iqamat? When and how were they established?

Adhan and iqamat are two of the sunnahs of fardh prayers. The basis for the adhan which is recited in order to call for fardh prayers is the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah. It is stated in the Holy Qur’an, “And when you call to prayer, they take it in ridicule and amusement.” (Ma’idah, 5/58); “O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu’ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. ...” (Jumu’ah, 62/9) The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “When it is the time for the prayer, one of you should pronounce the adhan...” (Bukhari, Adhan 17, 18, 49, Muslim, Masajid, 292).

Although prayer was rendered fardh in the period of Mecca, the practice of adhan started after migration (hijrah) to Medina. When the construction of Masjid al-Nabawi was completed after migration to Medina and people started to establish prayer in congregation regularly, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) exchanged views with his friends on what could be done to inform people of the beginning of prayer times, then the adhan was taught to the Prophet (saw) by revelation, and some companions including Umar and Abdullah ibn Zayd in their dreams (Abdurrazzaq, al-Musannaf, I, 456; Abu Dawud, Marasil, p. 81; Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, II, 48).

Adhan is the sign (symbol) of Islam and a sunnah mu’akkadah. Not only people are informed of the prayer time’s beginning through the adhan, but also the uniqueness and greatness of Allah, the fact that Prophet Muhammad is his messenger and servant, and that salah is the way to salvation are declared. Imam Muhammad said, “I will fight with the community of a city if they stop reciting adhan completely.” (Kasani, Bada’i, I, 146).

Iqamat, on the other hand, is the words similar to the words of adhan, and it is recited before fardh prayers and informs people of the actual start of prayer. Unlike adhan, the sentence of “qad qamat as-salat” is added to it after the sentence of “hayya ala’l-falah”. According to narratives, iqamat was taught to the above-mentioned companions in the same dream (Abu Dawud, Salat, 28).

Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWAS