Tarassul (measured pace in the call to prayer)

Tarassul is a measured, unhurried pace in the call to prayer, with a pause between each two sentences long enough for a listener to answer, and without drawn-out elongation. It is a sunna in the call; hadr, speeding up, is a sunna in the iqama and disliked in the call. ^{1 2}

In the language, tarassul is taking one's time and not hurrying; Umar is reported to have said, "when you call, take your time". Its opposite is hadr, speeding up in reading, calling or the iqama. ¹ Hadr is a sunna in the iqama and disliked in the call, on the hadith of Jabir: "Bilal, when you call, take your time; when you give the iqama, speed up". ¹

The measured pace is a sunna in the call: a pause between sentences long enough for a hearer to answer, without drawling, excessive elongation or melody. Ibn Umar is reported to have told a man who loved him for God's sake that he sang in his call. ² Measured pace in the iqama is disliked, since the sunna there is speed. ²

The call is to announce the time and summon those who are absent to prayer, so measured pace makes it more effective. The iqama is to tell those present to stand ready, so measure is not needed there. This is why the call is said in pairs and the iqama once, with the two phrases of the iqama repeated. ²