What Is the Difference between the Adhan and the Iqama?

Answered By Shaykh Bassem Itani

Question

What is the difference between the Adhan and the Iqama?

Answer

Dear inquirer, the Adhan, and the Iqama are two practices in Islam. They consist of exalting the word of Allah (Most High) by making the takbirat, the declaration of the two testimonies (shahada), encouragement to attend the prayer and attain success, and end with affirming the Oneness of Allah (Most High).

They are recited five times a day due to their importance in Islamic law to engrain the meanings in Muslims’ hearts – highlighting the best act of worship, the prayer.

The Adhan and the Iqama are similar in certain aspects yet differ in others. The following show some of their differences:

Legislative Purpose

The Adhan announces the entrance of the obligatory prayer time, such as the Fajr and Dhuhr prayer, using specific phrases legislated by Islamic law.

The Iqama announces the initiation of prayer using specific phrases legislated by Islamic law.

Phrases

Adhan:

Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!
Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah. Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah.
Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasool Allah. Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasool Allah.
Hayya ‘ala-s-Salah. Hayya ‘ala-s-Salah.
Hayya ‘ala-l-Falah. Hayya ‘ala-l-Falah.
Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!
La ilaha illa Allah.

The English translation of the Adhan is:

God is Great! God is Great! God is Great! God is Great!
I bear witness that there is no god except the One God.
I bear witness that there is no god except the One God.
I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
Hurry to the Prayer. Hasten to the Prayer.
Hurry to salvation. Hasten to salvation.
God is Great! God is Great!
There is no god except the One God.

The Adhan for Fajr includes “al-salatu khayrun min al-nawm (prayer is better than sleep)” twice after “Hayya ala-l-falah.”

Iqama:

The Iqama has the exact words as the Adhan with an additional phrase: “Qadh Qamat al-Salah (the prayer has been established)” twice after saying “Hayya al-l-falah.” [Fath al-Qadir]

Recitation of the Adhan and Iqama:

The Mu’adhin recites the Adhan at a slow pace; the Iqama is recited at a quicker pace.

Orientation

Adhan:

The Mu’adhin directs the Adhan towards the people who are absent, to allow them to get ready for the congregational prayer, including making wudu and arriving at the masjid.

Iqama: 

The person reciting the Iqama directs it to those present, indicating the commencement of the prayer behind the imam.

Timing: 

Adhan:

The Adhan is to be given before the Iqama.

Iqama:

The Iqama succeeds the Adhan, though not immediately performed, but a short while after.

Dear inquirer, whoever maintains the congregational prayer experiences the spiritual delight of both the Adhan and the Iqama. The hearts are refined through them. A person can discern between the two and see the unique characteristics of each one, both in terms of knowledge and personal experience.

[Shaykh] Bassem Itani

Shaykh Dr. Bassem Hussayn Itani was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1965. He earned his Ph.D. in Islamic Studies in 2005. Among his mentors were Shaykh Muhammad Taha Sukkar, Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, Shaykh Mulla Abdul ‘Alim al-Zinki, Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri, Shaykh Abdul Razzaq al-Halabi, Shaykh Dr. Mustafa Dib al-Bugha, Shaykh Dr. Wahba al-Zuhayli, Dr. Muhammad al-Zuhayli, and others, may Allah have mercy on them all. 

Shaykh Itani has a rich background in both academic and administrative fields. He has held significant positions in many governmental and non-governmental institutions in Lebanon and abroad. This includes his role as a member of the Academic Committee at SeekersGuidance and a senior teacher with the free online global seminary.

From 2020 to 2021, he served as the Dean of the College of Da‘wa – University for Islamic Studies (Lebanon) – Postgraduate Studies. He was the Director of Dar Iqra for Islamic Sciences from 1998 to 2018. Shaykh Itani is a well-versed teacher in several academic subjects, including Fiqh, Usul, Aqida, and Tafsir. He has supervised and examined numerous Master’s and Doctoral theses at various universities and colleges in Lebanon.

His contributions to Islamic sciences are also evident in his writings and research. His notable works include “The Relied-upon Statements of Imam Zufar in the Hanafi School,” “Collective Ijtihad: The Sublimity of Thought in the 21st Century,” and “Custom and its Impact in Islamic Jurisprudence.” Shaykh Itani has actively participated in numerous scientific conferences and seminars, both in Lebanon and internationally. He is linguistically adept, excelling in Arabic, proficient in French, and comfortably conversant in English.