Meaning of the Azaan (Call for prayer)

Most of us have heard the sound of ‘Azaan’ or the Call for prayeremanating from mosques at some time or the other. The call for prayer is given 5 times a day as it is required of a practicing Muslim to pray 5 times a day. The actual prayers start within a short time after the call for prayer is given. There is a dedicated person usually to give the Azaan at a mosque and is called the ‘Mu’azzin’. This method of calling people was formulated during the time of the Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) after other methods like blowing of horns, ringing of bells etc were rejected. The amazing part about the Azaan is that Azaan will be given every moment somewhere in the world.Given below is the text of the Azaan with English translation:

Allahu Akbar (recited 4 times)
Ash-hadu al La ilaha illallah (recited 2 times)
Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar rasoolullah (recited 2 times)
Hayya’ala-salaah (recited 2 times)
Hayya’alal-falaah (recited 2 times)
Allahu Akbar (recited 2 times)
La ilaha illallah (recited once)
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“God is great” (recited 4 times)
"I bear witness that there is none worthy of being worshipped except Allah(God)”(recited 2 times)
"I bear witness that Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah(God)." (recited 2 times)
"Come to prayer." (recited 2 times)
"Come to Success." (recited 2 times)
“God is great” (recited 2 times)
"There is no other object of worship except Allah(God)." (recited once)


The following phrase is added after "Hayya 'alal-falah" in the Azaan of the early morning prayers:
"As-salatu khairum minannaum" ( recited two times)
"Prayer is better than sleep" (recited two times)