Difference between revisions of "Call to prayer (adhan)"
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The adhan is the call to prayer, established in the early Medinan community, and performed prior to each prayer - live (acoustic, or amplified), and mediated (radio, TV). The first performer was the Prophet’s Ethiopian muezzin Bilal ibn Rabah, spiritual ascendent of certain Muslim orders (e.g. Gnawa). Maqamat are used effectively here - the call can be performed in nearly any maqam. | The adhan is the call to prayer, established in the early Medinan community, and performed prior to each prayer - live (acoustic, or amplified), and mediated (radio, TV). The first performer was the Prophet’s Ethiopian muezzin Bilal ibn Rabah, spiritual ascendent of certain Muslim orders (e.g. Gnawa). Maqamat are used effectively here - the call can be performed in nearly any maqam. | ||
| − | The style of the adhan | + | The musical style of the adhan may index musical ability, geo-cultural region, and theological doctrine. |
| + | |||
'''Sunna''' | '''Sunna''' | ||
Revision as of 09:24, 14 October 2010
The adhan is the call to prayer, established in the early Medinan community, and performed prior to each prayer - live (acoustic, or amplified), and mediated (radio, TV). The first performer was the Prophet’s Ethiopian muezzin Bilal ibn Rabah, spiritual ascendent of certain Muslim orders (e.g. Gnawa). Maqamat are used effectively here - the call can be performed in nearly any maqam.
The musical style of the adhan may index musical ability, geo-cultural region, and theological doctrine.
Sunna
The text:
Allahu akbar Allahu akbar
Allahu akbar Allahu akbar
Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah
Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah
Ashhadu anna Muhammad rasul Allah
Ashhadu anna Muhammad rasul Allah
Hayya ‘ala al-salah
Hayya ‘ala al-salah
Hayya ‘ala al-falah
Hayya ‘ala al-falah
al-salatu khayrun min al-nawm+
al-salatu khayrun min al-nawm+
Allahu akbar Allahu akbar
la ilaha illa Allah
The meaning:
God is greater (4x)
I testify that there is no deity but God (2x)
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God (2x)
Come to prayer! (2x)
Come to salvation! (2x)
Prayer is better than sleep. (2x) +
God is greater (2x)
There is no deity but God.
+performed at dawn prayer only
Shi`a
The Shiites add three more lines:
Ashhadu an Ali wali Allahu (I testify that Ali is close to God) Ashhadu an Ali hujjat Allah (I testify that Ali is proof of God) Hayy `ala khayr al-`amal (come to the best of works)
The call to prayer in Medina, performed by Muhammad Hakiim
The call to prayer, with Islamic images, performed by Kuwaiti Shaykh Mashari Rashid
