Athan
The athan (الأَذَان) is the call announcing that the time of a fard prayer has entered. It is called out by the mu’adhdhin, usually from the masjid, and signals every Muslim within hearing that they should prepare for prayer.
The wording
Each line is called out clearly and unhurried, with a pause between lines. The first phrases are repeated twice; the closing tahlil is said once.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.
Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. (×2)
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Allah. (×2)
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah.
أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ
Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah. (×2)
I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ، حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ
Hayya 'ala s-salah. (×2)
Come to the prayer.
حَيَّ عَلَى الْفَلَاحِ، حَيَّ عَلَى الْفَلَاحِ
Hayya 'ala l-falah. (×2)
Come to success.
For Fajr only, the following is added after “Hayya ‘ala l-falah” — this is at-tathwib:
As-salatu khayrun min an-nawm. As-salatu khayrun min an-nawm. “Prayer is better than sleep.” (×2)
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.
Allah is the Greatest.
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
La ilaha illa Allah.
There is no god but Allah.
How to respond when you hear it
The Prophet ﷺ said: “When you hear the mu’adhdhin, say the same as he says, then send blessings upon me, for whoever sends one blessing upon me, Allah sends ten upon him.” (Sahih Muslim)
So when you hear the athan:
- Repeat each phrase silently to yourself, exactly as the mu’adhdhin says it.
- Two exceptions: when he says “Hayya ‘ala s-salah” and “Hayya ‘ala l-falah”, you instead say:
لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.
There is no might or power except with Allah.
- Send salawat on the Prophet ﷺ after the athan finishes.
- Say the du’a after the athan:
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ هَذِهِ الدَّعْوَةِ التَّامَّةِ، وَالصَّلَاةِ الْقَائِمَةِ، آتِ مُحَمَّدًا الْوَسِيلَةَ وَالْفَضِيلَةَ، وَابْعَثْهُ مَقَامًا مَحْمُودًا الَّذِي وَعَدْتَهُ
Allahumma rabba hadhihi d-da'wati t-tammah, wa s-salati l-qa'imah, ati Muhammadan il-wasilata wa l-fadilah, wa b'ath-hu maqaman mahmudan illadhi wa'adtah.
O Allah, Lord of this perfect call and established prayer, grant Muhammad the means and the eminence, and raise him to the praised station which You have promised him.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever says this when he hears the athan, my intercession will be permitted for him on the Day of Judgement.” (Bukhari)
Between the athan and the iqama
This is one of the special times when du’a is not refused. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Du’a between the athan and the iqama is not refused.” (Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi — sahih). Use the gap to make personal supplication.
If you are at home, this is also when you pray any sunnah rawatib that come before the fard (for example, the 2 sunnah of Fajr, the 4 before Dhuhr).