The Adhan

Many years ago, I had the privilege of visiting a Muslim country for a few months. One of the things I was most excited about was hearing the Adhan (the call to prayer) and it was beautiful. The hustle and bustle of everyone moving about making wudu (ablution) and getting ready to pray is so infectious. Knowing that the whole country is setting dunya aside to make time for their Creator is a very moving experience.

The rush of everyone running to do good is a huge iman booster. If you are someone who finds it difficult to pray or normally wouldn’t, you’re definitely the odd man out. Maybe even out of just this shame, you’d feel compelled to do a good deed as well.

I really cannot overstate the sweetness and necessity of the adhan. It is so precious and it is a huge loss for those of us that don’t have it available.

It so happened that Ramadan arrived during those few months I was there. Fasting in the heat of summer, often with no AC and very modest fare at the table…I still dream about those days sometimes. In the morning, before suhoor time would end, the masjid would announce:

O those who are fasting! The beloveds of Allah and his Rasool! There’s only a little time left for suhoor!

And then, when time would be up, they would announce:

O you who are fasting, the beloved of Allah and his Rasool! The time to eat has absolutely ended now.

Following this, the adhan for Fajr would start.

Thinking back now, it probably wasn’t correct for them to state "the beloved of Allah and his Rasool because it puts both on an equal footing (aouthubillah) but I really liked to hear the first part, at least.