Iqama

The word iqama or ikamet (Arabic: إقامة‎) refers to the second call to Islamic Prayer, given immediately before the prayer begins. Generally speaking, the iqamah is given more quickly and in a more monotonous fashion, compared to the adhan, as it is addressed to those already in the mosque rather than a reminder for those outside it to go to the mosque. Aside from a difference in the number of times each line is said, the iqama differs from the first call to prayer, the adhan in only one place (line 6, below):

Recital Arabic Transliteration Translation
1x الله اكبر الله اكبر allāhu ʾakbar, allāhu ʾakbar Allah is Greatest, Allah is Greatest,
1x اشهد ان لا اله الا الله ashhadu ʾan lā ilāha ʾillā-llāh I assert that there is no God but Allah,
1x اشهد ان محمدًا رسول الله ashhadu ʾanna muḥammadan rasūlu-llāh I assert that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,
1x حي على الصلاة ḥayya ʿala -ṣ-ṣalāh Come to prayer
1x حي على الفلاح ḥayya ʿala -l-falāḥ Come to success,
2x قد قامت الصلاة qad qāmat aṣ-ṣalāh Prayer has started,
1x الله اكبر الله اكبر allāhu ʾakbar, allāhu ʾakbar Allah is Great, Allah is Great,
1x لا اله الا الله lā ʾilāha ʾillā-llāh There is no God but Allah

According to the Hanafi school of thought, the content of the Iqama is the same as the Adhan i.e. the number of times the lines are recited are the same ( Allahu akbar four times, and the other parts twice each) except for 'Prayer has started' it is read the same as other scholars, twice.

Also, in the Maliki school of thought, the phrase 'Prayer has started' is only recited once.

Other uses of the term iqama

Iqāmah is not the maṣdar form of the fourth (causative) stem (stem 'af`ala) from the triliteral root Q-W-M, which relates to setting things up, carrying things out, existence, and assorted other meanings. The word iqāmah itself is multivalent, but its most common meaning outside the inauguration of prayer is in the context of immigration law, referring to a long-term visa for a foreign national. In some cases, as in Egypt, it is a stamp on the foreigner's passport; in others (as in Morocco and Saudi Arabia) it is a separate identity document in the form of a plastic card.

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