what to say when you hear the call to prayer

 Call to prayer is called in Arabic Adhan, and it has been mentioned only twice in the Holy Quran, the first one states Adhan in general in Surat Alma'eda aya 58, where Allah, Almighty describes the reaction of disbelievers and the ones who were given the scripture when they hearing call to prayer, and He said that they take it in ridicule and amusement, and they do so because they are a people who do not use reason.

 The second one  is verse number nine in Surat Aljumu'ah which states call to prayer on Friday day in particular, where Allah addresses those who believe and said to them when the call to prayer (Adhan) is proclaimed on Friday (Jumu'ah in Arabic) hasten for remembrance of Allah, and leave off business (sale), then Allah said to them that attending to Jumu'ah prayer and remembrance of Allah is much better for them, if they but know. 

where did the Adhan form come from?.

 When Our Prophet Muhammad peace be upon Him had immigrated from Mecca to Almadinah, Muslims used to gather to figure out the time for prayers, where Adhan had not been came yet, once they discussed this problem, some of them said let us use a bell like the Christians do, others proposed a horn like Jews.

 But what happened! A man among Alansar (Almadinah inhabitants) is called Abdullah Bin Zaid had seen a dream and said that he saw a man wearing two green garments, carrying a bell, Abdullah said to him: O slave of Allah, will you sell the bell?, the man asked: what will you do with it? Abdullah answered: I will call people to prayer, the man said: Shall I not tell you of something better than that? Abdullah asked: what is it? the man said say:

 Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar   Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar.

Ash-hadu an la illaha illa Allah   Ash-hadu an la illaha illa Allah                 

Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah   Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah

Hayya ala as-salah   Hayya ala as-salah

Hayya ala alfalah   Hayya ala alfalah

Allahu Akbar  Allahu Akbar 

La illaha illa Allah

  Abdullah went to Our Prophet and had told him what he had seen, The messenger of Allah said to him Go out with Bilal to the Mosque and teach it to him, for (he) Bilal has a louder voice than you. Abdullah went with Bilal and started teaching him, and Bilal was calling them out, Umar Bin Alkhattab heard Bilal and came out saying: O Messenger of Allah! By Allah, I saw the same dream as him, but he beat me.

 Bilal added before the last two phrases of Adhan (as-salatu khairun mena an-nawm, as-salatu khairun mena an-nawm) in Alfajr prayer (morning prayer), which meaning the prayer is better than sleep. and The Messenger of Allah approved it. 

The meaning of Adhan:

 Allah is the most Great( four times)

I bear witness that there is no God but Allah (twice).

I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah ( twice).

Come to the prayer (twice).

Come to the prosperity "Success" (twice). 

Allah is the most Great( twice).

There is no God but Allah (only once)

 Bilal was ordered to repeat the wording twice, but as for Iqamah (the second Adhan which is for the actual standing for the prayer) he would pronounce the wording once only. And to be said before the last two phrases of Iqama (qad qamat as-salah qad qamat as-salah) which means: the prayer is about to begin. 

The state of Satan when he hears Adhan: 

 Our prophet peace be upon Him said in narration of Abu Hurayrah that when the Adhan is pronounced Satan takes to his heels and passes wind with noise during his flight in order not to hear the Adhan. When the Adhan is completed he comes back, then he do the same when Iqamah is pronounced, and returns after its completion till he whispers into the heart of the person (to divert his attention from his prayer) and makes he remember things which he dos not recall to his mind before the prayer and that causes him to forget how much he has prayed (Sahih Bukhari, B10,H6).

The virtue of  establishing Adhan:

  The virtue of establishing Adhan is a reward for he who establishes Adhan, and the Messenger of Allah has stated this reward many times. and it is given to the Mua'dhen (who calls to the prayer) in the hereafter where He (PBUH) said that "no Jinn, human, tree, or rock will hear Mua'dhen voice, but it will witness for him". Also he said that Muadhinin will have the longest necks of all people on the day of resurrection.  and said that he will be forgiven as far as his voice reaches.

what to say when hearing Adhan

 Our prophet Muhammad peace be upon Him commanded us to say when we hear the call to prayer what the Mua'dhen says, except when Mua'dhen says hayya ala as-salah, and hayya ala alfalah, we would say as the same as He (PBUH) used to say: la hawla wala quwwata illa billah, which means that there is neither might nor any power except with Allah. So when you hear Adhan you would say the following form:

Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar   Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar.

Ash-hadu an la illaha illa Allah   Ash-hadu an la illaha illa Allah                 

Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah   Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah

La hawla wala quwwata illa billah La hawla wala quwwata illa billah

La hawla wala quwwata illa billah La hawla wala quwwata illa billah

Allahu Akbar  Allahu Akbar 

La illaha illa Allah

 

what to say after hearing Adhan:

 Our prophet said: whoever after hearing adhan says ''Allahumma Rabba hadhihi dda'watit tammah, wa sa-salati elqa'imah atee Muhammadan alwasilata wa alfadilah, wab'thuhu maqaman mahmudan alladhi wa'ddtahu", then My intercession for him will be allowed on the day of resurrection. "O Allah, Lord of this perfect call (by not ascribing partners to you), and this prayer which going to be established, give Muhammad the right of intercession and eminence and resurrect Him to the best and the highest place in paradise that you promised Him.

 And if you said when you hear Mua'dhen "wa ana ashhadu an la Illah illa Allah wahdahu la sharika lahu, wa ashhadu ana Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu, radaitu billahi Rabban, wa bil-islami dindn, wabi Muhammadin nabyyian", your sins will be forgiven as our prophet told us in narration of Sa'd Bin Abi Waqqas.''I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, Alone with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Slave and His Messenger. I have accepted Allah as my Lord, and Islam as my religion, and Muhammad as my Prophet''.

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