Adhaan
/əˈðɑːn/noun
A transliteration variant of adhan, the Islamic call to prayer recited before the five daily prayers.
Did you know?The Adhaan is traditionally recited by a muezzin, and its opening declaration, Allāhu akbar, means “God is greatest.”
Etymological Timeline
Classical Arabic
Arabic
أَذَّنَ (adhdhana)
“He announced or proclaimed publicly”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
أَذَان (adhān)
“An announcement, notification, or proclamation”
7th Century
Arabic
الأذان (al-adhān)
“The formal call announcing the time for communal prayer”
Medieval Period
Persian and Urdu
اذان (azān)
“The Islamic call to prayer, used widely across Muslim societies”
Modern English
English
adhan / adhaan
“The Islamic call to prayer, with multiple transliteration spellings”