Al-Azan (Call to Prayer)

In the early days of Islam, there was no prescribed way of telling people that the time for Prayer had commenced nor was there any means to call the Muslims to the mosque for congregational Prayers. The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was however, aware of the Jewish, Christian and pagan practices in this regard. He sought counsel and asked his Companions as to what should be done to call Muslims to the mosque for congregational Prayers. One morning, Hadhrat Abdullah ibn Aziz, may Allah be pleased with him, approached the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and related to him a dream which he had had the night before. He had seen someone announcing the Prayer time and calling people to the mosque for the congregational Prayer in a loud voice. Hadhrat Abdullah then related the words of the Athan which he had heard in the dream.

Five times a day the call to prayer drifts over each Muslim village, town, and city. As far as Islam is concerned, faith without action and practice is a dead end. The act of prayer is one of the fundamental five practices, or Pillars of Islam, and is required of all devout Muslims. Thus the call to prayer plays an important role in the day and the life of every pious Muslim.