Difference between revisions of "Call to prayer (adhan)"

From CCE wiki archived
Jump to: navigation, search
Line 3: Line 3:
 
The musical style of the adhan may index musical ability, geo-cultural region, and theological doctrine.
 
The musical style of the adhan may index musical ability, geo-cultural region, and theological doctrine.
  
Compare [https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z-wfn_gvz7BY.kVXNakF8iVO0 Adhans around the World] on this google map.
+
Compare [https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z-wfn_gvz7BY.kVXNakF8iVO0 Adhans around the World] on this google map. Click on the balloons to hear each call.
  
 
The text varies between communities of Sunna and Shi`a Muslims.
 
The text varies between communities of Sunna and Shi`a Muslims.

Revision as of 14:17, 29 October 2016

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.

Compare Adhans around the World on this google map. Click on the balloons to hear each call.

The text varies between communities of Sunna and Shi`a Muslims.

Sunna

The Sunni call

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 Shiite call

The Shiites add three additional 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)

a very beautiful Iranian Adhan performed by Moazenzadeh Ardebili who was from Azarbayejan (a Turkish-speaking province in northwest of Iran

The call to prayer in Mecca

The call to prayer in Medina, performed by Muhammad Hakiim

Turkish call

The call to prayer, with Islamic images, performed by Kuwaiti Shaykh Mashari Rashid

Examples in various maqamat