Iqamah

Iqama according to Shia fiqh

Recital	Arabic	Transliteration	Translation
2x	اللّٰهُ أكبَر	Allāh-u ʾakbar	Allah is the greatest
2x	أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لا إلهَ إلّااللّٰهُ	ashhad-u ʾan lā ilāh-a ʾillā Allāh	I bear witness there is no deity but Allah
2x	أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللّٰه	ashhad-u ʾanna Muḥammad-an rasūl-u Allāh	I bear witness Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah
2x	أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ عَليّاً وَلِيُّ اللّٰه	ashhad-u ʾanna 'Ali-yyan wali-u Allah	I bear witness Ali (a) is the vicegerent of Allah
2x	حَيَّ على الصَّلاةِ	ḥayya ʿala ṣ-ṣalāh	Hurry toward prayer
2x	حَيَّ على الفَلاحِ	ḥayya ʿala l-falāḥ	Hurry toward salvation
2x	حَيَّ على خَيْرِ العَمَلِ	ḥayya ʿala khayr al-ʾamal	Hurry toward the best deed
2x	قَدْ قامَتِ الصّلاة	qad qāmat-i ṣ-ṣalāh	The prayer has certainly been established
2x	اللّٰهُ أكبَر	Allāh-u ʾakbar	Allah is the greatest
1x	لا إلهَ إلّااللّٰهُ	lā ilāh-a ʾillā Allāh	There is no deity but Allah

Iqāmah (Arabic: الإقامة ) is a set of phrases recited after Adhan as an introduction for prayer. Reciting Iqamah is not compulsory before daily prayers, rather it is highly recommended and is one of the traditions of the Prophet (s).

Parts and Phrases

The phrases in Iqamah are the same as those of Adhan except for two:

• The phrase "Qad qamat al-salat" (the prayer has certainly been established) is recited twice after "Hayya 'ala khayr al-'amal" (Hurry toward the best of deeds) and before the last two "Allah-u Akbar" (Allah is the greatest).

• Iqamah starts with two "Allah-u Akbar" and ends with one "La ilaha illallah" (There is no deity but Allah) unlike Adhan which starts with four, and ends with two.

Third Testimony

Main article: Third Testimony

Reciting the phrase "Ashhad-u anna 'aliayyan waliullah" (I bear witness Ali is the vicegerent of Allah) is prevalent in Shi'a from the early times. However, according to Shi'a hadith and jurisprudential sources, it is not a part of Adhan nor Iqamah.

Among Sunnies

• Hanafis recite every phrase of Iqamah twice.
• Malikis recite every phrase of Iqamah once.
• Hanbalis and majority of Shafi'is recite every phrase of Iqamah once except for "Qad qamat al-salat" which they recite it twice.

Related Rulings

• Reciting Iqamah before prayers is a highly recommended Sunna (the Prophet's traditions).
• The follower (Ma'mum) in congregational prayer must not recite Adhan or Iqamah for the prayer.

See Also

• Adhan
• Third Testimony
• Hayy-a 'ala khayr al-'amal