Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I would like to ask you to send me literature containing the difference between adhan and Iqamat ,and let us know why the difference came and when.

Most of our people in th esub continent pronounce the Iqamat same as Adhan , but I think there must be some defference kept in both of them. I heard iqmat in Haram , Makkah and Madina in different way, thats why I am asking you to guide us.

I shall be thankful for your kind help.

Jazakallah Khair.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Difference between iqama and adhan

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.579         Narrated by Anas ibn Malik

Bilal was ordered by the Prophet (saws) to repeat the wording of the ‘Adhaan’ for prayers twice, and to pronounce the wording of the ‘Iqama’ once except "Qad-qamat-is-Salat".

Although the wordings of the ‘adhaan’ and the ‘iqama’ are quite similar, there is a distinct difference in their declaration.  The Messenger of Allah (saws) ordered Hadrat Bilaal (r.a.) to repeat the phrases of the ‘adhaan’ twice and in a slow-paced rhythm; and the declare the phrases of the ‘iqama’ only once in a faster-paced rhythm.

The main reason and wisdom behind the repetition of the phrases of the ‘adhaan’ twice and in a slow-paced rhythm is to make aware to the believers that the time of offering the prayer has begun, and the wisdom behind the declaration of the ‘iqama’ is only to signal to the believers present that the prayer is about to start and they should thus stand themselves in rows and make themselves available for congregational prayer.  

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan