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Shia Azan: English translation

Explore an English rendering of the Ja'fari Adhan phrase by phrase, alongside the Arabic and transliteration.

Awaiting scholarly reviewBy ShiaAzan editorial·Updated 2026-09-27

Editorial draft — text being checked against printed references

  1. اللهُ أَكْبَر

    Allahu akbar× 4

    God is greater

  2. أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لا إِلهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰه

    Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah× 2

    I testify that there is no god but God

  3. أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰه

    Ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasul Allah× 2

    I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God

  4. أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ عَلِيًّا وَلِيُّ ٱللَّٰهِ

    Ashhadu anna Aliyyan Waliyyullah× 1

    I testify that Ali is the wali of Allah

  5. أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ عَلِيًّا حُجَّةُ ٱللَّٰهِ

    Ashhadu anna Aliyyan Hujjatullah× 1

    I testify that Ali is the proof of Allah

  6. حَيَّ عَلَى ٱلصَّلاة

    Hayya 'ala al-salah× 2

    Come to prayer

  7. حَيَّ عَلَى ٱلْفَلاح

    Hayya 'ala al-falah× 2

    Come to success

  8. حَيَّ عَلَى خَيْرِ ٱلْعَمَل

    Hayya 'ala khayr al-'amal× 2

    Come to the best of deeds

  9. اللهُ أَكْبَر

    Allahu akbar× 2

    God is greater

  10. لا إِلهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰه

    La ilaha illa Allah× 2

    There is no god but God

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This is an educational summary, not a personal religious ruling. Where practice differs, follow the guidance of your marja or local religious authority.

Translation table

Every line is presented three ways: Arabic, transliteration and English. Reading across the row keeps the meaning attached to the sound.

Key terms

A few words carry most of the weight. 'Takbir' is the declaration that God is greater; 'shahada' is a testimony; 'wali' can mean guardian, patron or one vested with authority; 'hujjah' means proof; and 'falah' is usually rendered as success or prosperity but carries a sense of flourishing that a single English word does not hold.

Translation choices

Where translators reasonably differ, we note the alternatives instead of presenting one rendering as definitive. This matters most for 'khayr al-'amal', usually given as 'the best of deeds'.

Marked for scholarly review before this claim is presented as verified.

Review status

This page was drafted editorially and is awaiting review by a qualified Ja'fari scholar. Treat it as an educational summary, not a personal religious ruling. Where practice varies, follow the guidance of your marja.

Marked for scholarly review before this claim is presented as verified.

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