What do the words in the adhan mean?

Answer 1

Adhân is to recite certain Arabic phrases in prescribed order. It is not adhân to say its translation. There are seven words in the adhân.

1- Allahu akbar:

Allahu ta'âlâ is great. He needs nothing. He is so great that He does not need the worships of His slaves. Worships are of no benefit to Him.

In order to settle this well in minds, this word is repeated four times.

2- Ash'hadu an lâ ilâha ill-Allah:

Though on account of His greatness, He does not need anyone's worship. I bear witness and certainly believe that none besides Him is worthy of being worshipped. Nothing is like Him.

3- Ash'hadu Anna Muhammadan rasûlullah:

I bear witness and believe that Hadrat Muhammad "alaihi WA alâ âlihissalâtu WA sallam" is the Prophet sent by Him, that he is the communicant of the way of the worships liked by Him, that only those worships communicated and shown by him are worthy of Allahu ta'âlâ.

4- and 5- Hayya'alassalâh-hayya'alalfalâh:

These are the two words inviting Believers to the namâz which brings happiness and salvation.

6- Allahu akbar:

No one could manage the worship worthy of Him. He is so great, so far from anybody's worship being worthy of Him or suitable for Him.

7- Lâ ilâha ill-Allah:

He, alone, has the right to be worshipped, for us to humiliate ourselves before. Along with the fact that no one can do the worship worthy of Him, no one besides Him is worthy of being worshipped.