When the Prayer is about to commence, Iqamah is recited. This is an indication that the Imam has taken his place facing towards the Ka‘bah and is ready to begin the Prayer. The Iqamah is a shorter version of the Adhan. Other differences between the Adhan and the Iqamah are as follows:

1. The Adhan is called aloud while the Iqamah is recited in a low tone.

2. During the recitation of Iqamah the fingers are not raised so as to touch the ears as is done in Adhan; instead the arms are left hanging straight by one’s sides.

3. The sentence, Assalatu khairum-minan-naum is not recited in the Iqamah.

4. The Iqamah is recited rapidly, though the Maliki school of thought recite both the Iqamah as well as the Adhan, with pauses between the verses. During the Iqamah the sentence Qad qamatis-Salat, i.e. Salat is ready, is repeated twice after saying, Hayya ‘alal-Falah.

5. During the Iqamah, the face is not turned towards the right or to the left when Hayya ‘alas-Salah and Hayya ‘alal-Falah are recited, as is done in the Adhan.

The text of the Iqamah is as follows:

Transliteration:

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar; Ashhadu alla Ilaha illallah; Ashhadu anna Muhammadar Rasulullah; Hayya ‘alas-Salah; Hayya ‘alal-Falah; Qad qamatis-Salatu, Qad qamatis-salah; Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar; La Ilaha Illallah

Translation:

Allah is the Greatest, Allah is Greatest; I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah; I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Come to Prayer. Come to success. Salat is ready. Allah is the Greatest; Allah is the Greatest; There is none worthy of worship except Allah.

According to the Sayings of the Holy Prophet(sa) the person who has recited the Adhan should also recite the Iqamah. (Sunan Tirmidhi, Abwabus-Salat, Bab Ma Ja‘a anna man Adhdhana fa huwa yuqim). However, in certain cases, another person may recite the Iqamah with the permission of the Mu’adhdhin or the Imam.

Niyyat (Niyyah)

Niyyah means the intention to perform a Prayer and is an essential part of it. The worshipper should make a Niyyah in his mind as to which type of Prayer, Fard, Sunnah or Nafl etc., he is going to perform and how many Rak‘at. It is not necessary to make Niyyah by saying the words aloud. The mere intention in one’s mind will suffice.