Answered by Sidi Salman Younas
Question: What are the differences between the adhan and iqama?
Answer: assalamu `alaykum
Generally, the call to prayer (adhan) and the call to commence (iqama) are the same. However, there are a few differences between them, which include:
1. The additional wording of “the prayer has commenced” (qad qamat al-salat) in the iqama.
2. The iqama being recited in a quicker manner than the adhan.
3. The person giving the iqama does not place his fingers in his ears nor does he turn his head left or right.
[Ibn `Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
These are the major differences between the two, though there are more relating to dislikedness, repeating the recitation of each, and so forth.
Wasalam
Salman
Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani