Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest; I testify that there is no god but Allah, I testify that there is no god but Allah; I testify that Muhammad Is the Messenger of Allah, I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and it should be again repeated: I testify that there is no god but Allah, I testify that there is no god but Allah; I testify that Muhammad Is the Messenger of Allah, I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Come to the prayer (twice). Come to success (twice). Ishaq added: Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest; there Is no god but Allah.
The Adhān: A Divine Summons
This narration from Sahih Muslim 379 details the precise formulation of the call to prayer (Adhān) as taught by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Adhān is not merely an announcement; it is a profound declaration of Islamic creed and a spiritual invitation that resonates through Muslim communities worldwide, uniting believers in the act of worship.
Scholarly Commentary on the Phrasing
The repetition of each phrase, such as "Allah is the Greatest" and the testimonies, serves to emphasize the fundamental tenets of faith—Allah's absolute supremacy (Takbīr) and the Oneness of God (Tawḥīd)—ensuring the message is clear and impactful for all who hear it.
The specific instruction to repeat the Shahādah (the testimony of faith) demonstrates its paramount importance. It is the cornerstone of belief, and its dual proclamation in the Adhān reinforces the Muslim's commitment to it with every prayer.
The call "Come to the prayer" (Ḥayya ʿalā al-Ṣalāh) and "Come to success" (Ḥayya ʿalā al-Falāḥ) is an invitation to spiritual prosperity. The "success" referred to is ultimate success in this life and the Hereafter, which is attained through obedience to Allah and the establishment of prayer.
The Addition by Ishaq ibn Abdullah
The final line, attributed to the narrator Ishaq ibn Abdullah, who added "Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest; there is no god but Allah," is noted by scholars as an example of a narrator's own addition (Tafarrud). The consensus (Ijmaʿ) of the major schools of jurisprudence is that this particular addition is not a prescribed part of the Adhān. The authentic and established practice is to conclude with the initial formulation without this addition.