Adhan

A-Z | Adhan | Arabic | Bookstores | Clothing | Etiquette | Food | Glossary | History | Islam | Living | Newspapers | Pearls | Ramadan | Ruling Family | Sadhew

The Muslim Call to Prayer

The prayer call you are likely to hear in Qatar is the Sunni version, as Qatar is predominantly Sunni. Adhan is heard five times a day, calling the Muslims to Salat, a prayer which is compulsory and must be performed. Traditionally a Muezzin climbed a prayer tower to deliver the prayer call. However, nowadays the prayer call is often delivered by loudspeaker.

Listen to the Adhan.

The recording of the Adhan we have posted in our Sounds of Qatar is a shortened version. The full text goes:

Allahu akbar Allahu Akbar
As ha du Allah illaha illaulah x2
Ash-hadu anna Muhammadur rasūlullāh
Hayya alas-salāt
Hayya alal-falāh
As-salatu khayru min an-naum x2(fajr prayer)
Allhu akbar Allahu Akbar
Lā ilāha illallāh

Which can be translated as:

Allah is great
Allah is great
I bear witness that there is no God except Allah (x2)
I bear witness that Mohammad is the messenger of God
Make haste towards prayer
Make haste towards welfare
Prayer is better than sleep
Allah is great
Allah is great
There is no God except Allah

(We've left "Allah" as "Allah", although of course the translation of "Allah" is "God".)

The Five Prayers

Salat Ul Fajr

The morning prayer. Should be performed between dawn and dusk.

Salat Ul Zuhr

Salat Ul Asr

Begins soon after Salat Ul Zuhr, although the prayer can take place up until just before sunset.

Salat Ul Magrib

Begins just after sunset.

Salat Ul Isha

Begins an hour after sunset.

Related Articles:

The Five Pillars of Islam
Ramadan
Qatar Glossary