Ouch...

So today feels like the day I arrived here in Cairo for the first time. It was so hot, I felt as if the sun was following me right above my head wherever I went. The heat of Cairo is intense, but the fruits of this beautiful city are immense. There is nothing better than to hear the Athan (call to prayer) five times everyday and to see the answerers to the call hurrying to the masajid in a hustle...all to answer the call of their Lord. A wise person once told me, if you had a meeting with your boss, or with the president, would you ever be late? "No!" Of course not, as any human with a right mind would reply...so answering the call of your Lord is far more important.
That is why there are two calls to each prayer, not one. The first one is called the Athan, and the second, the Iqamah. In the Arabic language, the word 'Iqamah' is taken from a root meaning "to stand up قيام " and this call encourages the answerers to the prayer to form their lines and humble themselves before the Almighty.
Allah swt commands us in the Quran : وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ
Allah swt says in the Quran in Surat Ghafir, verse 60: And your Lord says: "Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer)"
What better call to we have to answer ?

May Allah swt keep our hearts steadfast on his deen and to answer our prayers

أسأل الله أن يثبت قلوبنا على الدين و يتقبل منا
آمين