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Iqama (the call to stand for prayer)

إقامة

In the law, iqama is the call that tells those present and ready for prayer to stand, in set words. The word also means staying in one place, the opposite of travel. Its words follow the adhan with qad qamati al-salat added; the Hanafis repeat most phrases while the other three schools say most once. Most jurists hold it a confirmed sunna, and the Hanbalis hold it a communal obligation. It is said quickly and not before the prayer time. It is called for the five daily prayers, Friday, missed prayers and the solo worshipper, but not for other prayers. 1 2 3 4

Depth

At a glance

Era
The Prophetic Era
Region
Global / Diaspora
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Worship and the pillars

Definition

In the law, iqama is the call that tells those present and ready for prayer to stand, in set words. The word also means staying in one place, the opposite of travel. 1

Wording and repetition

Its words follow the adhan, with qad qamati al-salat added after hayya ala al-falah. The Hanafis differ from the other three schools by repeating most phrases. 2

Ruling

The Hanbalis hold it a communal obligation; the Malikis, the preferred Shafi'i view and the more correct Hanafi view hold it a confirmed sunna. 1 2

Conditions and manner

It is recited standing, not before the prayer time, and quickly; singing it is disliked. 5 6 7

When it is called

It is called for the five daily prayers, Friday, missed prayers and the solo worshipper, but not for funeral, witr, voluntary or festival prayers. 8 4

Interval with the adhan

A pause, by prayer, sitting or a short time, is recommended between adhan and iqama, except at maghrib when the iqama is hastened. 9

Payment

The jurists agree that no one may be hired for the adhan and iqama when a qualified volunteer is available; they differ otherwise. 10

People and things also explored

The ruling on one who abandons prayer· Ada' (performance of an obligation within its time)· Adhan (the call to prayer: its ruling, wording, conditions, recommended features and the muezzin)· Bone (adhm): purity, use and retaliation· The adornment of desires and the goods of this world· The people of the bench (ahl al-suffa)· The earth made a place of prayer and purity· Spending in the way of God (infaq)

Sources

  1. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.3144
  2. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.3146
  3. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.3150
  4. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.3153
  5. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.3147
  6. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.3149
  7. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.3151
  8. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.3152
  9. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.3154
  10. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.3155
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Iqama (the call to stand for prayer)”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/iqama/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-23.

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Ideas

Beliefs, concepts, sciences and schools, explained in plain words. Related

The ruling on one who abandons prayer

Al-Sallabi quotes Ali: whoever does not pray is an unbeliever. He then reports from al-Nawawi the dispute over one who neglects prayer while believing it obligatory: the majority (Malik, al-Shafi'i) hold him a sinner to be asked to repent, others hold him an unbeliever, a view ascribed to Ali; Abu Hanifa and the Kufans hold him not an unbeliever but to be disciplined.