Quick facts about the iqamah:
• Meaning: "establishment" or "setting up" the prayer
• Position: right before the congregational salah, after the adhan
• Length: 11 phrases (majority), 17 phrases (Hanafi); about 20 to 30 seconds spoken
• Who calls it: the muezzin, or anyone present if there is no appointed muezzin
• Key phrase: "qad qamatis-salah" (the prayer is about to begin) × 2
• For praying alone: recommended, not strictly required
If the adhan is the invitation, the iqamah is the announcement that the meal is on the table. In the mosque, after the adhan ends and the worshippers have done their sunnah prayers or settled in their rows, the muezzin stands and gives the iqamah. The imam takes his place. The straight lines form. The takbir is moments away. This second call is shorter than the adhan, recited faster, but is just as much a part of the sunnah of the congregational prayer.
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What is the iqamah?
The iqamah is the second call to prayer, given immediately before the congregational salah begins. It comes from the Arabic root q-w-m (to stand, to establish), and the name literally means "the establishing", because this call establishes the prayer. The Prophet ﷺ told Bilal (RA) to "make the adhan even, and the iqamah odd" (Sahih al-Bukhari 605), meaning the adhan repeats most phrases twice while the iqamah recites them once.
The iqamah was revealed in the same dream as the adhan. After Abdullah ibn Zaid (RA) was taught the adhan, the same person in the dream taught him the iqamah, in the form of the abbreviated call (Sunan Abi Dawud 499). So both the adhan and the iqamah come from the same revelation.
The full text of the iqamah
The most widely followed form is that of the majority (Shafi'i, Maliki, Hanbali), where most phrases are recited once. Here it is in full:
| Arabic | Transliteration | Translation | × |
|---|---|---|---|
| اللّهُ أَكْبَر | Allahu Akbar | Allah is the greatest | 2 |
| أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللّه | Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Allah | I bear witness there is no god but Allah | 1 |
| أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللّه | Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasoolullah | I bear witness Muhammad is the messenger of Allah | 1 |
| حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلَاة | Hayya 'ala s-salah | Come to the prayer | 1 |
| حَيَّ عَلَى الْفَلَاح | Hayya 'alal-falah | Come to success | 1 |
| قَدْ قَامَتِ الصَّلَاة | Qad qamatis-salah | The prayer is about to begin | 2 |
| اللّهُ أَكْبَر | Allahu Akbar | Allah is the greatest | 2 |
| لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللّه | La ilaha illa Allah | There is no god but Allah | 1 |
That is 11 phrases total. The key new phrase, not in the adhan, is "qad qamatis-salah", which announces that the prayer is now starting. It is said twice for emphasis (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 192, Sunan Abi Dawud 510).
Madhhab variations
There are two main authenticated forms of the iqamah, both established by sunnah:
Majority form (Shafi'i, Maliki, Hanbali): 11 phrases
This is the form given above. It is based on the hadith of Anas (RA): "Bilal was ordered to make the adhan even and the iqamah odd, except for the iqamah." (Sahih al-Bukhari 605) The "except for the iqamah" clause is interpreted as meaning "qad qamatis-salah" is doubled.
Hanafi form: 17 phrases
The Hanafi madhhab follows the form taught by Abdullah ibn Zaid (RA) in the original dream, where the iqamah text matches the adhan text but adds "qad qamatis-salah" twice. So:
- Allahu Akbar × 4
- Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Allah × 2
- Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasoolullah × 2
- Hayya 'ala s-salah × 2
- Hayya 'alal-falah × 2
- Qad qamatis-salah × 2
- Allahu Akbar × 2
- La ilaha illa Allah × 1
The Hanafi source for this is the hadith of Abdullah ibn Zaid (RA) recorded in Sunan Abi Dawud 499.
Maliki form (a slight variation)
The Maliki madhhab follows the majority form but with one phrase difference: "qad qamatis-salah" is said only once, not twice. They base this on the report of Anas (RA) where the iqamah is described as "odd". Despite the slight difference, the practical effect is small.
All three forms are valid. Communities follow the practice of their imam or local masjid. There is no need to debate which is correct, all are within the sunnah.
When the iqamah is required
The iqamah is sunnah muakkadah (strongly emphasized sunnah) in the majority view, and wajib (necessary) in the Hanafi view, for the five daily congregational prayers.
It is also recommended for:
- Friday prayer (jumu'ah), called immediately before the imam stands for the salah.
- Eid prayers, by some scholars (others say no iqamah for Eid).
- Funeral prayer (janazah), no iqamah is given.
- Voluntary congregational prayers (tarawih, witr in Ramadan), no iqamah, just an announcement.
When the iqamah is given but missed for some reason, the prayer is still valid. The iqamah is an act of sunnah, not a condition for the salah itself.
Iqamah for praying alone
If you are praying by yourself at home or while traveling, scholars differ on whether you should call the iqamah:
| Madhhab | Position for one person |
|---|---|
| Hanafi | Recommended but optional |
| Maliki | Recommended |
| Shafi'i | Recommended (sunnah) |
| Hanbali | Sunnah; some say wajib for makeup prayers |
In practice: even if you are alone, calling a quiet iqamah before your prayer at home brings reward, focuses the heart, and follows the practice of the Prophet ﷺ who said: "When the prayer time comes, let one of you call the adhan and let the oldest of you lead." (Sahih al-Bukhari 685) The adhan and iqamah are tied to prayer, not to congregation.
A quiet iqamah, said softly to yourself, is enough. You do not need to raise your voice the way the muezzin does in the masjid.
Standing up at "qad qamatis-salah"
The general rule in mosques: stand for the prayer when "qad qamatis-salah" is called. This is the announcement that the salah is now starting, so the rows should form and the imam should be ready.
Some scholars (Shafi'i, Hanbali) say to stand when the iqamah begins, others (Hanafi) when "hayya 'alal-falah" is reached, others (Maliki) only at "qad qamatis-salah". All are valid. In a mosque, follow the practice of the local imam.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Do not stand for the prayer until you see me come out." (Sahih al-Bukhari 638) This shows that the timing depends on the imam's arrival, not just the iqamah.
Iqamah for missed prayers
If you are making up a missed prayer (qadha), it is recommended to call the iqamah for it, just as you would for an on-time prayer. The Prophet ﷺ called both the adhan and the iqamah for the missed Fajr after the famous valley incident in the Battle of Khaybar, where the entire army overslept (Sahih Muslim 680).
For multiple missed prayers prayed back to back, one adhan suffices for all, but a separate iqamah is recommended for each prayer.
How to respond to the iqamah
The sunnah response to the iqamah is the same as to the adhan: repeat after the muezzin word for word, except after "hayya 'ala s-salah" and "hayya 'alal-falah", where you say "la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah".
For "qad qamatis-salah", scholars differ. Many say to repeat it as-is. Others recommend responding with: "aqamaha llahu wa adamaha" (may Allah establish it and make it last). Both are reported in classical fiqh, though the chain for the second is weak. The safest is to either repeat or stay silent in attentiveness.
Common mistakes
Rushing the iqamah. The iqamah is faster than the adhan, but it is not a race. Each phrase should be pronounced clearly. Mumbling or running phrases together changes the meaning. Take your time.
Mispronouncing "qad qamatis-salah". The "qaf" (ق) is a guttural sound from the back of the throat, not a "k". Saying "kad kamatis-salah" changes the Arabic completely. Listen to a known muezzin recording and match.
Forgetting the final "Allahu Akbar × 2 and La ilaha illa Allah". Some people end the iqamah at "qad qamatis-salah". The iqamah is not finished until the final La ilaha illa Allah.
Standing before "qad qamatis-salah" in a mosque that follows the majority practice. Be patient. Wait for the imam, then form the lines properly.
Praying without an iqamah for a congregational prayer at home with family. Whenever you pray in congregation, even at home with two or three family members, the iqamah is sunnah. Don't skip it.
FAQ
Can the same person call both adhan and iqamah?
Yes. The same muezzin typically calls both. There is a sunnah preference that the one who calls the adhan also calls the iqamah, though anyone present may do it. The Prophet ﷺ said to a man who called the adhan: "Whoever calls the adhan, let him call the iqamah." (Sunan Abi Dawud 514, hasan)
How long should the gap be between adhan and iqamah?
Long enough for people to do their sunnah prayers and to take their places. Traditionally, this is about 10 to 20 minutes after the adhan ends, depending on the prayer. For Maghrib, the gap is shorter (often only a few minutes, since Maghrib's window is short). For other prayers, allow more time. The Prophet ﷺ told Bilal: "Between every adhan and iqamah there is a prayer." (Sahih al-Bukhari 624)
Does the iqamah have to be in Arabic?
Yes, by unanimous consensus, just like the adhan. It is a fixed revealed text and must be in Arabic.
Is there a fajr addition in the iqamah?
No. "As-salatu khayrun minan-nawm" is only in the Fajr adhan, not the iqamah. The iqamah text is the same for all five prayers.
What if I missed the iqamah and the prayer has already started?
Just join the congregation. You do not need to call your own iqamah. The imam's iqamah covers everyone in the prayer, including latecomers.
FivePrayer: hear the full call, the way it was meant to be heard.
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