Adhan (أَذَان), which translates to "Call to Prayer," is a unique Islamic way of calling Muslims for prayer (Salah, صلاة). Salah or prayer is one of the five pillars of Islam; hence, it holds great religious and spiritual significance. Muslims are enjoined to pray five times a day, at prescribed times, which include Fajr, Dhur, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha Prayers. Traditionally, Adhan is recited when the prescribed time of each of these prayers approaches. The purpose of reciting Adhan is to invite the believers to offer the mandatory prayer. It is also a reminder for the general public that the time for prayer has started. This practice was started in the earlier days of Islam, during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ.
Since the call to prayer holds a special spiritual status in Islam, reciting the dua after hearing Adhan is also one of the most emphasized supplications in Islam. It is one of those supplications that was directly taught by the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, as is narrated in Hadith 614 of Sahih Al-Bukhari.
Translation - "Whoever, after listening to the Adhan says, 'Allahumma Rabba hadhihi-dda` watit-tammah, was-salatil qa'imah, ati Muhammadan al-wasilata wal-fadilah, wa b`ath-hu maqaman mahmudan-il-ladhi wa`adtahu' [O Allah! Lord of this perfect call (perfect by not ascribing partners to You) and of the regular prayer which is going to be established, give Muhammad the right of intercession and illustriousness, and resurrect him to the best and the highest place in Paradise that You promised him (of)], then my intercession for him will be allowed on the Day of Resurrection"
Hence, reciting this specific dua upon hearing the Adhan is a highly virtuous act because it also comes under the category of following the Sunnah of the Prophet. In addition to the above-mentioned Hadith, the importance of reciting a dua when hearing Adhan is mentioned in many other Hadiths. The practice of reciting the dua after azan was also particularly followed by the companions of the Prophet, which is still observed as a regular practice across the Muslim world.
The dua upon hearing the Athan is one of the Sunnahs of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّم and carries immense benefits and virtues for the one who recites it regularly. The dua was taught by the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّم himself, and he stated that the sins of the person who recites this dua upon hearing the Athan will be forgiven (Sunan an-Nasa'i Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 680). The same has been reported in (Sahih Muslim 386) and (Sunan Abi Dawud 525). The Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّم promised his intercession for the person who recites the dua upon hearing the Athan on the day of Resurrection (Sahih al-Bukhari 614). In another hadith, it is reported that the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّم used to make the dua upon hearing the Athan (Sahih al-Bukhari 613).
Prayer Duas
Laa hawla wa laa quwwata 'illaa billaah.
Repeat what the muazzin says, except for when he says: حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلاَةِ وَحَيَّ عَلَى الْفَلَاحِ.Here you should says: "There is no might and no power except by Allah".
Wa 'anaa 'ash-hadu 'an laa 'ilaaha 'illallaahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu wa 'anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa Rasooluhu, radheetu billaahi Rabban, wa bi-Muhammadin Rasoolan wa bil'islaami deenan.
After the muazzin says the words of affirmation of Faith (Shahadah) says: "I bear witness that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah alone, Who has no partner, and that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger. I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, with Muhammad as my Messenger and with Islam as my religion".
allahumma salli 'ala muhammad wa aali muhammad
One should then send prayers on the Prophet (saws) after answering the call of the muazzin.
Allaahumma Rabba haathihid-da 'watit-taammati wassalaatil-qaa'imati, 'aati Muhammadanil-waseelata walfadheelata, wab 'ath-hu maqaamam-mahmoodanil-lathee wa'adtahu, ['innaka laa tukhliful-mee'aad]
O Allah, Lord of this perfect call and established prayer. Grant Muhammad the intercession and favor, and raise him to the honored station You have promised him, verily You do not neglect promises.
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ هَذِهِ الدَّعْوَةِ التَّامَّةِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْقَائِمَةِ آتِ مُحَمَّدًا الْوَسِيلَةَ وَالْفَضِيلَةَ وَابْعَثْهُ مَقَامًا مَحْمُودًا الَّذِي وَعَدْتَهُ
O Allah! Lord of this perfect call (perfect by not ascribing partners to You) and of the regular prayer which is going to be established, give Muhammad the right of intercession and illustriousness, and resurrect him to the best and the highest place in Paradise that You promised him.
Allahumma Rabba hadhihi-dda` watit-tammah, was-salatil qa'imah, ati Muhammadan al-wasilata wal-fadilah, wa b`ath-hu maqaman mahmudan-il-ladhi wa`adtahu
Although the best and the most emphasized Islamic Dua after hearing Adhan is the one referred to above, scholars also recommend a short Dua after Adhan as follows.
Arabic - اللّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ
Transliteration - Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad
Translation - O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad.
Dua - اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ هَذِهِ الدَّعْوَةِ التَّامَّةِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْقَائِمَةِ آتِ مُحَمَّدًا الْوَسِيلَةَ وَالْفَضِيلَةَ وَابْعَثْهُ مَقَامًا مَحْمُودًا الَّذِي وَعَدْتَهُ
Meaning
According to the dictionary, this Dua is translated as follows:
“O Allah! Lord of this perfect call (perfect by not ascribing partners to You) and of the regular prayer which is going to be established, give Muhammad the right of intercession and illustriousness, and resurrect him to the best and the highest place in Paradise that You promised him.”
Spiritually, the Dua to read after Azan is a rich source of reinforcing our spiritual connection with Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, by expressing a profession of faith. It is also a reaffirmation of our true faith in the Prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. It actually diverts our focus from worldly affairs towards the fulfillment of our religious obligations. By reciting this specific Dua after hearing the call to prayer, we acknowledge the Absolute Power of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, while expressing our extreme love and affiliation with the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. It is also a reflection of our humility and gratitude to Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ that He enabled us to respond to this noble call.
Call to prayer (Adhan) is not just a reminder to come for prayer; it is a sort of a direct invitation from Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, Who invites the believers to come to the right path, which is the only way of success in life. It is also an invitation to complete submission to Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ by establishing a direct connection with Him through Salah (Prayer). That’s why it is highly significant to recite the specific dua on hearing Adhan.
The etiquette of reciting the dua upon hearing the Adhan is as follows:
Translation - When the Mu'adhdhin says: Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and one of you should make this response: Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest; (and when the Mu'adhdhin) says: I testify that there is no god but Allah, one should respond: I testify that there is no god but Allah, and when he says: I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, one should make a response: I testify that Muhammad is Allah's Messenger. When he (the Mu'adhdhin) says: Come to prayer, one should make a response: There is no might and no power except with Allah. When he (the Mu'adhdhin) says: Come to salvation, one should respond: There is no might and no power except with Allah, and when he (the Mu'adhdhin) says: Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, then make a response: Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. When he (the Mu'adhdhin) says: There is no god but Allah, and he who makes a response from the heart: There is no god but Allah, he will enter Paradise.
“اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ هَذِهِ الدَّعْوَةِ التَّامَّةِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْقَائِمَةِ آتِ مُحَمَّدًا الْوَسِيلَةَ وَالْفَضِيلَةَ وَابْعَثْهُ مَقَامًا مَحْمُودًا الَّذِي وَعَدْتَهُ”.
Reciting the dua upon hearing the Athan has numerous benefits and virtues. Firstly, the sins of the person will be forgiven. The reciter will be awarded the intercession (Shifayah) of Prophet Muhammad( ï·º) on the day of judgment. The dua of any sort made after the Athan is never rejected. It is a sunnah to recite the dua upon hearing the Athan, and thus is a great way for a person to increase his good deeds.
On hearing Adhan, the first thing to do is to repeat the words recited by Mu’azzan, as mentioned in Hadith 385 of Sahih Muslim. On completion of Adhan by Mu’azzan, the listener should recite the specific dua (اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ هَذِهِ الدَّعْوَةِ التَّامَّةِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْقَائِمَةِ آتِ مُحَمَّدًا الْوَسِيلَةَ وَالْفَضِيلَةَ وَابْعَثْهُ مَقَامًا مَحْمُودًا الَّذِي وَعَدْتَهُ).
Any dua can be recited in one's own words at any time, but some Duas are specifically mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah at a specific time. Such Duas must be recited in the words, as mentioned in the Quran and Hadith. What to recite after azan in Islam also comes under this category. This dua, specifically mentioned in Hadith 614 of Sahih Al-Bukhari, should invariably be recited in the same way. However, after reciting it, you may supplicate in your own words for whatever you need.
You can recite it later, but as soon as possible. Too much delay in reciting the dua after adhan is not recommended. So, try to recite it immediately on completion of Adhan.
Yes, women are also required and highly recommended to recite this Dua after listening to the Adhan.