The Words of Adhan (Call to Prayer) in Islam

Hadith on the Revelation of Adhan​

Narrated by Abdullah bin Zaid (رضي الله عنه):
When the Prophet (ﷺ) ordered that a bell (naqus) be made to call people for prayer, I had a dream in which a man carrying a bell came to me. I asked him:

"O servant of Allah, will you sell this bell?"
He replied: "What will you do with it?"
I said: "We will use it to call people for prayer."
He said: "Shall I not guide you to something better than this?"
I said: "Yes, please do."

Then he taught me the words of Adhan:

The Words of Adhan​

"Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah, Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah
Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah, Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah
Hayya ‘ala as-Salah, Hayya ‘ala as-Salah
Hayya ‘ala al-Falah, Hayya ‘ala al-Falah
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
La ilaha illa Allah."

Then he continued:
"When you establish the prayer (Iqamah), say:

The Words of Iqamah​

"Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah
Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah
Hayya ‘ala as-Salah
Hayya ‘ala al-Falah
Qad qamatis-Salah, Qad qamatis-Salah
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
La ilaha illa Allah."

Narration Continues:
The next morning, I went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and told him what I had seen in my dream. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Indeed, this is a true vision, In Sha Allah. Stand with Bilal and teach him what you have seen, so he may call the Adhan, for he has a louder voice than you."

So, I stood with Bilal (رضي الله عنه), and he repeated the words after me and gave the Adhan.

At that moment, Umar bin Khattab (رضي الله عنه) heard the Adhan from his house and rushed out, saying:
"O Messenger of Allah! By the One Who sent you with the truth, I saw the same dream as he did!"
The Prophet (ﷺ) replied: "All praise is due to Allah!"

(Reported by Abu Dawood, authenticated by Ibn Khuzaymah.)

Authentication and Verification of the Hadith​

This Hadith is classified as Hasan (sound).

• Musnad Imam Ahmad: 4/43
• Abu Dawood: 499
• Tirmidhi: 189 (Tirmidhi called it Hasan Sahih)
• Ibn Majah: 706
• Ibn Khuzaymah: 371
• Ibn Hibban: 287
• Bayhaqi: 1/390-391
• This Hadith is mentioned in Abu Dawood under "Chapter on How the Adhan Was Revealed."

Key Lessons from the Hadith​

➊ Meaning and Origin of Adhan​

• The word "Adhan" means "calling or announcing" and refers to the call to prayer.
• The Adhan was established through the dreams of Abdullah bin Zaid and Umar bin Khattab (رضي الله عنهما), along with the consultation of the Companions.
• Adhan was introduced in the first year after the Hijrah in Madinah.

➋ The Words of Adhan Are Fixed and Cannot Be Altered​

• Only the words mentioned in the Hadith are part of the Adhan.
• Adding extra words before, during, or after the Adhan (other than the Sunnah supplication after Adhan and Salawat Ibrahimiyah) is not established from the Prophet (ﷺ) or his Companions.

➌ The Message of Adhan​

• Adhan is a declaration of Tawheed (Oneness of Allah) and the Prophethood of Muhammad (ﷺ).
• It calls people towards Salah (prayer), which is the key to success in both worlds.
• The person giving the Adhan should be a Muslim with a strong, clear, and melodious voice.

➍ The Role of Dreams in Islamic Guidance​

• True dreams are a great blessing from Allah and are considered one-fortieth of Prophethood.
• A person should only share their dreams with a wise, knowledgeable, and sincere person for interpretation.
• The Prophet (ﷺ) confirmed that some dreams are truthful and can guide the Ummah.

➎ Establishing the Concept of Consultation in Islam​

• The Prophet (ﷺ) consulted his Companions regarding the best way to call people to prayer.
• Some suggested blowing a trumpet, lighting a fire, or using a bell.
• However, through collective wisdom and divine guidance, Adhan was chosen as the distinguished and honorable call to prayer.

Conclusion: What Are the Authentic Words of Adhan?​

The Adhan consists of the exact words revealed through the dream of Abdullah bin Zaid (رضي الله عنه), which were confirmed by the Prophet (ﷺ).
Adhan is an invitation to Tawheed, the Prophethood of Muhammad (ﷺ), and Salah.
It is the official call to prayer and must not be altered with additional words.

[This content is derived from the book Diya-ul-Islam Fi Sharh al-Ilmam Bi Ahadith al-Ahkam by Sheikh Taqi al-Din Abi al-Fath, translated by Maulana Mahmood Ahmad Ghaznfar.]