The Fajr Adhan is the beautiful call to the early morning prayer in Islam, marking the start of a new day. It includes specific phrases that remind Muslims of Allah’s greatness and invite them to prayer. Understanding its meaning helps deepen spiritual awareness and connection.
The Complete Fajr Adhan Arabic, Transliteration, and Meaning
Below is every phrase of the Fajr adhan in order. The phrase exclusive to Fajr is marked clearly.
| # | Arabic | Transliteration | English Meaning | Times Said |
| 1 | اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ | Allahu Akbar | Allah is the Greatest | 4× |
| 2 | أَشْهَدُ أَن لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ | Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah | I bear witness there is no god but Allah | 2× |
| 3 | أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَّسُولُ ٱللَّهِ | Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah | I bear witness Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah | 2× |
| 4 | حَيَّ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَاةِ | Hayya ‘alas-salah | Come to prayer | 2× |
| 5 | حَيَّ عَلَى ٱلْفَلَاحِ | Hayya ‘alal-falah | Come to success | 2× |
| ★ 6 | ٱلصَّلَاةُ خَيْرٌ مِّنَ ٱلنَّوْمِ | As-salatu khayrun minan-nawm | Prayer is better than sleep | 2× (Fajr only) |
| 7 | اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ | Allahu Akbar | Allah is the Greatest | 2× |
| 8 | لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ | La ilaha illallah | There is no god but Allah | 1× |
★ = exclusive to Fajr adhan
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Regular Adhan | Fajr Adhan |
| Best for | All five daily prayers | Dawn prayer only |
| Key difference | Ends after “Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illallah” | Adds “As-salatu khayrun minan-nawm” ×2 before the final phrases |
| Scholarly basis | Agreed upon | Narrated by Abu Mahdhura in Sunan an-Nasa’i 647 |
| Listener’s response | Repeat each phrase | Repeat, including the unique phrase |
Why Is As-Salatu Khayrun Minan-Nawm Only in Fajr?
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ approved it for the dawn call specifically and the story behind it is worth knowing.
According to the hadith narrated by Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) and recorded in Sunan ad-Daraqutni (1/243, Hadith 933) and authenticated by Imam al-Bayhaqi, the Prophet ﷺ instructed that after “Hayya ‘alal-falah” in the Fajr adhan, the muezzin should say “As-salatu khayrun minan-nawm” twice. This is classified as Sunnah not a later addition.
There’s also a well-known account in which Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) came to wake the Prophet ﷺ for Fajr prayer and was told he was sleeping. He said “As-salatu khayrun minan-nawm” and the Prophet ﷺ approved those words for the morning adhan. The hadith is recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah and related collections.
The phrase wasn’t invented. It was witnessed, approved, and then standardized. That distinction matters.
Where exactly does it go? After the second “Hayya ‘alal-falah” and before the final “Allahu Akbar.” Said twice. Not once.
The Meaning of As-Salatu Khayrun Minan-Nawm Why This Phrase Hits Different
الصَّلاةُ خَيْرٌ مِنَ النَّوْم
Break it down:
- As-salatu (الصَّلاة) — the prayer
- khayrun (خَيْرٌ) — better (this word is an irregular Arabic comparative form; it comes from the root خ-ي-ر, “good,” but carries the meaning of “better than” a grammatical quirk noted by Arabic scholars)
- minan-nawm (مِنَ النَّوْم) than sleep
“Prayer is better than sleep.”
Seven Arabic words that reframe the hardest moment of the day the moment your alarm goes off before sunrise into a choice between two things, with a clear answer given.
According to Pew Research Center (2017), approximately 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide observe the five daily prayers. The Fajr prayer is widely considered the most difficult to maintain consistently because of its pre-sunrise timing. This phrase addresses that difficulty directly not by removing it, but by naming it honestly.
How to Respond When You Hear the Fajr Adhan
Look if you’ve been saying “Sadaqta wa bararta” when the muezzin says “As-salatu khayrun minan-nawm,” this section matters.
The correct response: Repeat the same phrase “As-salatu khayrun minan-nawm.”
This follows the Prophet’s ﷺ general instruction: “When you hear the muezzin, say what he says.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari, no. 611; Muslim, no. 318.)
The two exceptions to the repeat rule
When the muezzin says “Hayya ‘alas-salah” and “Hayya ‘alal-falah,” the listener does NOT repeat those phrases. Instead, say: “La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah” “There is no power or strength except through Allah.”
What about “Sadaqta wa bararta”?
Some scholars and traditions say to respond with “Sadaqta wa bararta wa bil-haqqi nataqta” (“You have spoken the truth and done well”). I’ve seen conflicting data on this some classical Hanafi sources cite it; IslamQA.info (citing al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar and Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim) states there is no authentic hadith specifically supporting this response, and that repeating the phrase is stronger. The majority scholarly view based on evidence is to say “As-salatu khayrun minan-nawm” in response.
Full Listener’s Response Guide Fajr Adhan
To respond correctly to the Fajr adhan, follow these steps:
- When you hear “Allahu Akbar” repeat: “Allahu Akbar”
- When you hear the Shahadah phrases repeat each one
- When you hear “Hayya ‘alas-salah” say: “La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah”
- When you hear “Hayya ‘alal-falah” say: “La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah”
- When you hear “As-salatu khayrun minan-nawm” repeat: “As-salatu khayrun minan-nawm”
- After the adhan send salah upon the Prophet ﷺ, then make du’a
Quick Note One Common Mistake New Practitioners Make
Many people who’ve recently started praying or who grew up hearing the adhan but never studying it assume the extra Fajr phrase is just a local custom. It isn’t. It’s Sunnah, narrated authentically, and practiced in Mecca and Madinah.
If you use the Muslim Pro app for adhan alerts, it plays the full Fajr adhan with the correct phrase included useful for familiarizing yourself with the sound before you memorize the text. Sunnah.com remains the most reliable free resource for verifying any hadith citation related to the adhan. Both are worth bookmarking.
Conclusion
The Fajr Adhan is more than just a call to prayer; it is a powerful reminder of faith, discipline, and devotion. It marks the beginning of a new day with spiritual purpose. Understanding its meaning helps Muslims connect more deeply with their worship. It encourages mindfulness and sincerity in responding to the call. Each morning, it strengthens faith and brings peace to the heart.
FAQs
What’s the unique phrase in Fajr adhan?
“As-salatu khayrun minan-nawm” meaning “Prayer is better than sleep.” Said twice after “Hayya ‘alal-falah.” This phrase appears only in the Fajr adhan and is established by authentic hadith.
How do I respond to the Fajr adhan when I hear it?
Repeat each phrase after the muezzin. For “Hayya ‘alas-salah” and “Hayya ‘alal-falah,” say “La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah” instead. For the Fajr-only phrase, repeat: “As-salatu khayrun minan-nawm.”
Why does the Fajr adhan have an extra phrase?
The Prophet ﷺ approved “As-salatu khayrun minan-nawm” specifically for the dawn call after Bilal said it when waking him for prayer. It’s Sunnah, not an innovation, and authenticated in Sunan an-Nasa’i and Sunan ad-Daraqutni.
Should I say “Sadaqta wa bararta” in response to the Fajr adhan?
Scholarly opinion is divided, but the stronger evidenced view citing Bukhari no. 611 and Ibn Hajar’s commentary is to repeat “As-salatu khayrun minan-nawm” rather than “Sadaqta wa bararta,” as no authentic hadith specifically supports the latter as a response.
When should I say the du’a after Fajr adhan?
Immediately after the muezzin finishes send salah upon the Prophet ﷺ first, then recite the du’a: “Allahumma Rabba hadhihid-da’watit-tammah…” This is from Bukhari, Kitabul-Adhan, and applies after every adhan including Fajr.