We may hear this call 5 times a day, but have you ever genuinely listened to the adhan? Have you ever felt it as a call from Allah, The Mighty and Majestic, addressed to you specially as a Muslim? Indeed it is calling us to the noblest of worship, our salah, which brings barakah into our lives. This article will examine how the adhan holds wisdom and many keys to productivity that we may have overlooked.
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greater/Greatest)
In His Call, Allah is telling you that He (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) is Greater than your work, your problems, and whatever else you’re preoccupied with. It is a reminder to leave what you’re doing and come worship your Lord. Let’s say your boss at work called you – would you say: “Wait, I will come when I finish later” or would you get up and respond immediately by going to his/her office? What about your Lord? And to Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) belongs the highest example. Allah is calling us to success, to fulfill our life’s purpose of worshipping Him – so why then do we choose the insignificant dunya matters whilst the success lies in truly in salah?
Ash-hadu an la ilaha ill Allah (I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped there is no other deity except Allah)_
Do you know what will happen if the shahadah are your last words before you die? You will get Jannah bi’ithnillah! The shahadah is really a gift, it is the statement that will eventually qualify us to leave the Hell Fire bi’ithnillah. When you genuinely and sincerely say this and undersand it, you realize Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is the Disposer of your affairs, your Master, your Lord, the One whom we should obey and please.
Ash-hadu anna Muhammad rasulAllah (I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah)
Think of the blessing of recognizing and following Allah’s Messenger (sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). He (sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is our teacher and highest example, a manifestation of The Qur’an and beautiful characteristics. Witnessing that Muhammad (sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is Allah’s Messenger includes obeying his orders, following his Sunnah, and striving to emulate his manners as best we can.
Hayya ‘ala as-salah Hayya ala as-salah (Come to prayer)
Do you do it? Do you live on prayers? Is prayer what charges your energy? Is it what gives you motive to go on? If not you have to stop and think. Prayer is a link to your Creator. When you pray, you are communicating with Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. Prayer is a great gift, a privilege. Taste the coolness of prayer, the sweetness of sujood.
Hayya ala al-fallah Hayya ala al-fallah (Come to Success)
Prayer is success, Islam is success. The key to Jannah is emaan and righteous deeds, and salaah embodies both of these. Those who pray are successful in this life and the next. If our prayers are in good order on the Day of Judgment, the rest that will follow will also be in good order bi’ithnillah. This is how important prayer is, salaat is the way to success.
The Sunnah of Repeating after the Adhan
It’s a sunnah to re-say the azan and to say the duaa’ (can be found in the Fortress of a Muslim supplication book or online).
When we pray for peace upon the Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), our salaams are conveyed to him and Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) also grants us blessings.
So the next time we hear adhan in its glorious call, let’s listen, reflect and act in response to it.
To join an e-mail series on how to improve and cherish your prayer, sign up by emailing: zakiausmani@believerspath.com
About the Author:
Maha Samir is an undergraduate student the Faculty of Engineering, Computer Department, at Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt. Maha generally spends her time studying, playing squash, working on projects related to Resala (a charity organization) to help local children. Her goal is to raise Muslim kids in an Islamic way, to be a role model for the revival of the ummah.
