Beautiful call to prayer -- ADHAN ( ATHAN / AZAN )

In the early days of Islam, there was no prescribed way of telling people that the time for Prayer had commenced nor was there any means to call the Muslims to the mosque for congregational Prayers. The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was however, aware of the Jewish, Christian and pagan practices in this regard. He sought counsel and asked his Companions as to what should be done to call Muslims to the mosque for congregational Prayers. One morning, Hadhrat Abdullah ibn Aziz, may Allah be pleased with him, approached the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and related to him a dream which he had had the night before. He had seen someone announcing the Prayer time and calling people to the mosque for the congregational Prayer in a loud voice. Hadhrat Abdullah then related the words of the Athan which he had heard in the dream. They were as follows:



Transliteration:
Allahu Akbar (four times)

Translation:
Allah is the Greatest (Recited four times)



Transliteration:
Ash-hadu alla ilaha illallah (twice)

Translation
I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah (Recited twice)



Transliteration:
Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar Rasulullah (twice)

Translation:
I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. (Recited twice)


Transliteration:
Hayya alassalah (twice)

Translation:
Come to Prayer (Recited twice)


Transliteration:
Hayya alal-Falah (twice)

Translation:
Come to success. (Recited twice)


Transliteration:
Allahu Akbar (twice)

Translation:
Allah is the Greatest. (Recited twice)


Transliteration:
La ilaha illallah

Translation:
There is none worthy of worship except Allah.

Hadhrat Umar, May Allah be pleased with him, who later became the second Khalifa was also sitting in the company of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. He said that he had also had a dream and had heard the same words. The Holy Prophet, on whom be peace and blessings of Allah, was therefore in no doubt that this was a message from Allah, so he adopted the method of Athan to call worshippers to the mosque. Athan is thus widely recognised as the call to Prayer all over the world.......


During the Athan for Fajr Prayer, the Mu'athin should also recite the words given below twice after saying, Hayya 'alal falah:




Transliteration:

AsSalatu khairum-minan-naum (twice)

Translation:

Prayer is better than sleep.