Adhan is the Arabic word for the Islamic call to prayer heard before salat.
The adhan announces that the time for one of the five obligatory daily prayers has begun. Traditionally, a muezzin recites it from a mosque, although recordings and digital systems are also used in modern settings. Its words proclaim God’s greatness, affirm faith, and invite worshippers to prayer and success.
The call is normally given before the congregational prayer. A shorter call, the iqama, is recited immediately before the prayer begins and signals that the rows should stand and the service is starting.
Bilal ibn Rabah is traditionally remembered as the first muezzin in Islam. The adhan is recited in Arabic worldwide, even where worshippers speak other languages. Local customs can affect melody and delivery, but the core wording remains recognizable across Muslim communities.