Lesson No 4

AZAN

Q. What is Azan
Ans. As the time for Salat approaches one person stands up and calls these words aloud:

AL-LAHU AKBAR, AL-LAHU AKBAR, AL-LAHU-AKBAR, AL-LAHU-AKBAR .
ASH-HADU-A(N)L-LA-I-LAHA IL-LAL-LAH, ASH-HADU-A(N)L-LA-I-LAHA IL-LAL-LAH.
ASH-HADU AN-NA MUHAM-MADARRASULUL-LAH.. ASH-HADU AN-NA MUHAM-MADARRASULUL-LAH.
HAY-YA ‘AL-AS-SALAH HAY-YA ‘ALAS-SALAH. HAH-YA ‘ALAL-FALAH, HAY-YA ‘ALAL-FALAH, 
AL-LAHU AKBAR AL-LAHU AKBAR, LA ILAHA IL-LAL-LAH.

(Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. I testify that none is worthy of worship but Allah. I testify that none is worthy of worship but Allah. I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. I testify that Muhammad kis the messenger of Allah. Come for Salat, come for Salat. Come towards success, come towards success. Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. None is worthy of worship but Allah). These words are called kthe Azan. The following words:

AS-SALATU KHAIRUM-MINAN-NAUM
(Salat is better than sleep) are also called out twice after the words:

IHAY-YA ‘ALAL-FALAH in the Azan for predawn (Fajr) prayers.

Q. What is Takbir?
Ans. When people get ready for Salat, one from amongst the assembly repeats the words of the Azan. The words:

QAD QAMATIS-SALAH, are also added after

HAY-YA ‘ALAL-FALAH. These words signify that the prayer is about to begin.

Q. What do we call the man who calls out the Azan or pronounces the Takbir?
Ans. The man who calls out the Azan is known as the MU’AZZIN and the man who calls out the Takbir is called the MUKAB-BIR.

Q. What are the terms used for the Salat offered in assembly, the man leading the prayers kin assembly and the people offering prayers behind him?
Ans. The Salat in assembly is called the Salat of Jama’ah (congregational prayer.) The man who leads it is the Imam (the head) and the persons offering the Salat in the congregation behind the Imam are known as Muqatadi-s (followers.)

Q. What do we call a person who offers Salat individually?
Ans. Such a person is known as Munfarid (individual).

Q. What do we call the enclosure specially built by Muslims for offering Salat in congregation?
Ans. The enclosure or compound is called the mosque.

Q. What should a Muslim do in the mosque?
Ans. A Muslim should offer Salat, recite from the Quran, say Wadhifah (repetition of holy words) or sit quiet with due observance. It is quite undesirable to play games, make a noise or talk of worldly things in the mosque. 

Q. What are the benefits of Salat?
Ans. Many benefits accrue from Salat. A few of them are mentioned below:
(1) the body and clothes of the worshipper remain neat, clean and trim;
(2) Allah is pleased with the worshipper;
(3) The Holy Prophet is pleased with him;
(4) He is considered virtuous by Allah;
(5) Virtuous people hold him in high esteem in this world also;
(6) The worshipper escapes from various types of sin;
(7) Allah rewards the worshipper with a comfortable and blissful life after death.

Q. What matter is recited during Salat and what are the names given to its various parts.
Ans. The names and the texts of the matter recited in the Salat are as given below:
TAKBIR (glorification of Allah):