Azan - The Call For Prayers In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful Azan is the first call to prayer. The Azan is uttered in a loud, albeit sweet melodious, voice to announce to the faithful that it is time for the Obligatory Prayer and to invite them to offer the prayers. Those who perform Azan are known as 'Muezzin.' The honour of being the first Muezzin goes to Hazrat Bilal, a black slave who converted to Islam. He had a very sweet, resonant and musical voice. He was appointed as Muezzin by the Prophet of Islam. The appointment of a black slave as the first person to call Muslims for prayers, shows that in Islam all human beings are treated as equals. Rich or poor, black or white, short or tall - all are equal in the eyes of Allah. It is the piety of each individual that makes the difference. Azan is recited in a loud voice by the Muezzin facing the direction of the Ka'ba in the following words, which are said in the order mentioned: "Allahu Akbar" - recited FOUR times. Meaning, "Allah is Most Great."(four times) "Ash-hadu an la ilaha ill-Allah" - recited TWO times. Meaning, "I bear witness that there is none worthy of being worshipped except Allah."(twice) "Ash-hadu anna Muhammad-ar-Rasoolullah" - recited TWO times. Meaning, "I bear witness that Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah."(recited twice) "Hayya 'alas-Salah" - recited TWO times. Meaning, "Come to prayer."(turning the face alone to the right and saying it twice) "Hayya 'alal-falah" - recited TWO times. Meaning, "Come to Success."(turning the face alone to the left and saying it twice) "Allahu Akbar" - recited TWO times. Meaning, "Allah is Most Great" (face back to front and saying it two times). Morning (Fajr) Prayers The following phrase is added after "Hayya 'alal-falah" in the Azan of the early morning prayers: "As-salatu khairum minannaum" - recited Two times. Meaning, "Prayer is better than sleep" (recited two times). Be ever mindful of prayers, and of praying in the most excellent way; and stand before God in devout obedience. [Qur'an 2:238] O you who believe! Seek help in patience and prayer. Truly! Allah is with the patient." [surah al Baqarah; 2:153-154] Verily, the prayer keeps one from the great sins and evil deeds" [al Ankabut 45] The Apostle of Allah was asked: Which of the actions is best? He replied: Observing prayer early in its period. [abu Dawud 2: 426] The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad." [at Tabarani] O ne of the Saliheen was asked how he kept his khushu' in prayer (concentration & humbleness etc) He said, 'I imagine that Allah is before me, that the Angel of Death is at my back, that the gardens of Jannah are to my right, that the fires of Jahannum are on my left and that I am standing on the Sirat' So why should we miss prayer???? Author: mujahidaaa Keywords: mujahidaaa watan afghanistan muslman muslim afghan pakhtana pakhton pashton peshawer kabul Added: April 21, 2008
