Short answer
In the Hanafi school the iqamah has the same words as the adhan, each said twice as in the adhan, with "qad qamatis-salah" said twice after "hayya 'alal-falah". That makes 17 phrases. The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools say most phrases once (11 phrases), and the Maliki school says "qad qamatis-salah" only once.
The iqamah is a sunnah mu'akkadah for the fard prayers of men, said by the mu'adhdhin or another man just before the prayer. Its phrases are paired like the adhan, plus "qad qamatis-salah" twice, and it is said faster than the adhan.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Eleven phrases: Allahu akbar twice, each shahadah once, each hayya once, qad qamatis-salah twice, Allahu akbar twice, la ilaha illallah once.
- Maliki
- Ten phrases: as the Shafi'i form but with qad qamatis-salah said once.
- Hanbali
- Eleven phrases, as the Shafi'i form.
Explanation
The iqamah (the second call, given when the prayer is about to start) tells the people to stand. In the Hanafi school its words are:
- Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar
- Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah (twice)
- Ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah (twice)
- Hayya 'alas-salah (twice)
- Hayya 'alal-falah (twice)
- Qad qamatis-salah (twice): the prayer has begun
- Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar
- La ilaha illallah
Why the Hanafi iqamah is doubled: Abu Mahdhurah, whom the Prophet ﷺ appointed as mu'adhdhin in Makkah, reported that he was taught the adhan as nineteen phrases and the iqamah as seventeen. Seventeen is exactly the doubled form above. Other reports, such as Bilal being told to say the adhan in pairs and the iqamah singly, are the basis of the other schools. Both forms come from the Sunnah, and either iqamah is valid.
- Pace: the adhan is slow and drawn out; the iqamah is quicker.
- Who says it: preferably the one who gave the adhan, standing, facing the qibla.
- When the follower stands: in the Hanafi school, at "hayya 'alal-falah", though many masjids stand from the start to straighten the rows.
- Women: no adhan or iqamah for women's prayer in the Hanafi school.
- Praying alone: see adhan and iqamah when praying alone.
The words of the adhan, with meanings, are on our adhan page, and the du'a after it on du'a after adhan.
The evidence
Sunan Abi Dawud 502
Grading to be checked... علمه الأذان تسع عشرة كلمة والإقامة سبع عشرة كلمة ...
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught him the adhan as nineteen phrases and the iqamah as seventeen phrases."
The Hanafi evidence that the iqamah is doubled, with qad qamatis-salah twice.
Sahih al-Bukhari 605
Sahih... أن يشفع الأذان وأن يوتر الإقامة ...
"Bilal was told to say the adhan in pairs and the iqamah in single phrases."
The evidence of the Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali schools for the shorter iqamah.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on the adhan. The iqamah is like the adhan, with qad qamatis-salah added twice after the falah.
- Nur al-Idah with Maraqi al-Falah, Chapter on the adhan. The iqamah is said quickly, and both are sunnah mu'akkadah for the fard prayers.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.