Ottoman-era miniature depicting Bilal ibn Rabah (c. 580–640 CE), the first muezzin in the Islamic tradition, who is seen standing on top of the Kaaba while reciting the adhan.A United States Navy muezzin performing the adhan indoor with a microphone.
The English word muezzin is borrowed from Arabic: مُؤَذِّن, muʾadh·dhin[mu.ʔað.ðin], simplified mu'azzin,[3] the active participle of Arabic: أَذَّنَ "to call". Thus, it means "the calling one".
Roles and responsibilitiesedit
The professional muezzin is chosen for his good character, voice and skills to serve at the mosque. Muezzins are typically men.[4] The muezzin is not considered a cleric, but in a position comparable to a Christianverger. He is responsible for keeping the mosque clean, for rolling the carpets, for cleaning the toilets and the place where people wash their hands, face and feet when they perform the Wuḍu' (Arabic: wuḍū’ وُضُوء, the "purification" of ablution) before offering the prayer.[5] When calling to prayer, the muezzin faces the qiblah, the direction of the Ka'bah in Makkah, while reciting the adhan.[6][dubious – discuss]
From the fourteenth century, initially in Mamluk Egypt but then spread into other parts of the Islamic world, major mosques might employ a related officer, the muwaqqit, who determined the prayer times using mathematical astronomy. Unlike the muezzin who were typically chosen for their piety and beautiful voice, the qualification of the muwaqqit required special knowledge in astronomy.[7][8] Historian Sonja Brentjes speculates that the muwaqqit might have evolved from a specialised muezzin,[9] and that there might not have been a clear delineation between the two offices.[10] Some celebrated muwaqqits, including Shams al-Din al-Khalili and ibn al-Shatir, were known to have once been muezzins, and many individuals held both offices simultaneously.[11] Today, with the production of electronic devices and authoritative timetables, a muezzin in a mosque can broadcast the call to prayer by consulting a table or a clock without requiring the specialised skill of a muwaqqit.[12]
Call of the muezzinedit
The call of the muezzin is considered an art form, reflected in the melodious chanting of the adhan. In Turkey there is an annual competition to find the country's best muezzin.[13]
Historically, a muezzin would have recited the call to prayer atop the minarets in order to be heard by those around the mosque. Now, mosques often have loudspeakers mounted on the top of the minaret and the muezzin will use a microphone, or a recording is played, allowing the call to prayer to be heard at great distances without climbing the minaret.
Originsedit
The institution of the muezzin has existed since the time of Muhammad. The first muezzin was a former slave Bilal ibn Rabah, one of the most trusted and loyal sahabah (companions) of the Islamic prophetMuhammad. He was born in Mecca and is considered to have been the first mu'azzin, chosen by Muhammad himself.[14][15][16][17]
After minarets became customary at mosques, the office of muezzin in cities was sometimes given to a blind man, who could not see down into the inner courtyards of the citizens' houses and thus could not violate privacy.[18]
^Muhammad Usman, Shakir (20 July 2021). "The Idea of Female Muezzins and Imams in Islam a Challenge to the Pakistani Patriarchal Forces". PJSEL. 7: 9. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
^Robinson, David. Muslim Societies in African History. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2004. Print.
^Levtzion, Nehemia, and Randall Lee Pouwels. The History of Islam in Africa. South Africa: Ohio UP, 2000. Print.
^Saramago, Jose (1998). The History of the Siege of Lisbon. Harcourt Brace. p. 20.
Bibliographyedit
Brentjes, Sonja (2008). "Shams al-Din al-Sakhawi on Muwaqqits, Mu'adhdhins, and the Teachers of Various Astronomical Disciplines in Mamluk Cities in the Fifteenth Century". In Emilia Calvo; Mercè Comes; Roser Puig; Mònica Rius (eds.). A Shared Legacy: Islamic Science East and West. Edicions Universitat Barcelona. ISBN978-84-475-3285-8.
King, David A. (1996). "On the role of the muezzin and the muwaqqit in medieval Islamic society". In E. Jamil Ragep; Sally P. Ragep (eds.). Tradition, Transmission, Transformation. E.J. Brill. pp. 285–345. ISBN90-04-10119-5.
Muezzin Islamic religious official, in Encyclopædia Britannica Online, by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Gloria Lotha, Deepti Mahajan and Amy Tikkanen
"Cairo to use computerised call to prayer after complaints over tuneless muezzin", 13 Aug 2010
"Muslim preachers given call-to-prayer singing lessons", 11 May 2010
April 09, 2024
muezzin, 2009, turkish, film, müezzin, hockey, player, jake, muzzin, muezzin, arabic, person, proclaims, call, daily, prayer, ṣalāt, five, times, fajr, prayer, zuhr, prayer, prayer, maghrib, prayer, isha, prayer, mosque, from, minaret, muezzin, plays, importan. For the 2009 Turkish film see Muezzin For the ice hockey player see Jake Muzzin The muezzin Arabic م ؤ ذ ن is the person who proclaims the call to the daily prayer ṣalat five times a day Fajr prayer Zuhr prayer Asr prayer Maghrib prayer and Isha prayer at a mosque from the minaret 1 2 The muezzin plays an important role in ensuring an accurate prayer schedule for the Muslim community Ottoman era miniature depicting Bilal ibn Rabah c 580 640 CE the first muezzin in the Islamic tradition who is seen standing on top of the Kaaba while reciting the adhan A United States Navy muezzin performing the adhan indoor with a microphone Contents 1 Etymology 2 Roles and responsibilities 3 Call of the muezzin 4 Origins 5 Notable muezzins 6 See also 7 References 8 Bibliography 9 Further reading 9 1 Online 10 External linksEtymology editThe English word muezzin is borrowed from Arabic م ؤ ذ ن muʾadh dhin mu ʔad din simplified mu azzin 3 the active participle of Arabic أ ذ ن to call Thus it means the calling one Roles and responsibilities editThe professional muezzin is chosen for his good character voice and skills to serve at the mosque Muezzins are typically men 4 The muezzin is not considered a cleric but in a position comparable to a Christian verger He is responsible for keeping the mosque clean for rolling the carpets for cleaning the toilets and the place where people wash their hands face and feet when they perform the Wuḍu Arabic wuḍu و ض وء the purification of ablution before offering the prayer 5 When calling to prayer the muezzin faces the qiblah the direction of the Ka bah in Makkah while reciting the adhan 6 dubious discuss From the fourteenth century initially in Mamluk Egypt but then spread into other parts of the Islamic world major mosques might employ a related officer the muwaqqit who determined the prayer times using mathematical astronomy Unlike the muezzin who were typically chosen for their piety and beautiful voice the qualification of the muwaqqit required special knowledge in astronomy 7 8 Historian Sonja Brentjes speculates that the muwaqqit might have evolved from a specialised muezzin 9 and that there might not have been a clear delineation between the two offices 10 Some celebrated muwaqqits including Shams al Din al Khalili and ibn al Shatir were known to have once been muezzins and many individuals held both offices simultaneously 11 Today with the production of electronic devices and authoritative timetables a muezzin in a mosque can broadcast the call to prayer by consulting a table or a clock without requiring the specialised skill of a muwaqqit 12 Call of the muezzin editThe call of the muezzin is considered an art form reflected in the melodious chanting of the adhan In Turkey there is an annual competition to find the country s best muezzin 13 Historically a muezzin would have recited the call to prayer atop the minarets in order to be heard by those around the mosque Now mosques often have loudspeakers mounted on the top of the minaret and the muezzin will use a microphone or a recording is played allowing the call to prayer to be heard at great distances without climbing the minaret Origins editThe institution of the muezzin has existed since the time of Muhammad The first muezzin was a former slave Bilal ibn Rabah one of the most trusted and loyal sahabah companions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad He was born in Mecca and is considered to have been the first mu azzin chosen by Muhammad himself 14 15 16 17 After minarets became customary at mosques the office of muezzin in cities was sometimes given to a blind man who could not see down into the inner courtyards of the citizens houses and thus could not violate privacy 18 Notable muezzins editBilal ibn Ribah al Habashi Rahim Moazzen Zadeh Ardabili Ali Ahmed MullaSee also editSalah Muslim daily prayer Adhan the Islamic call to prayer recited by the muezzin Schulklopfer the Jewish equivalent of the muezzin Loudspeakers in mosquesReferences edit Mohammad Taqi al Modarresi 26 March 2016 The Laws of Islam PDF Enlight Press p 470 ISBN 978 0994240989 Retrieved 8 August 2018 Definition of Muezzin www merriam webster com Retrieved 2021 09 13 muezzin Dictionary com Muhammad Usman Shakir 20 July 2021 The Idea of Female Muezzins and Imams in Islam a Challenge to the Pakistani Patriarchal Forces PJSEL 7 9 Retrieved 27 June 2023 Muezzin Definition amp Facts Britannica www britannica com Retrieved 2023 08 22 A Muazzin calling for prayer in Saudi Arabia King 1996 p 286 Pedersen 1991 p 677 Brentjes 2008 p 139 Brentjes 2008 p 141 Brentjes 2008 pp 139 140 King 1996 p 322 Muezzin Aljazeera 13 March 2013 Retrieved 21 March 2015 Slavery in Islam BBC News BBC 2009 Web 2013 Ludwig W Adamec 2009 Historical Dictionary of Islam p 68 Scarecrow Press ISBN 0810861615 Robinson David Muslim Societies in African History Cambridge UK Cambridge University Press 2004 Print Levtzion Nehemia and Randall Lee Pouwels The History of Islam in Africa South Africa Ohio UP 2000 Print Saramago Jose 1998 The History of the Siege of Lisbon Harcourt Brace p 20 Bibliography editBrentjes Sonja 2008 Shams al Din al Sakhawi on Muwaqqits Mu adhdhins and the Teachers of Various Astronomical Disciplines in Mamluk Cities in the Fifteenth Century In Emilia Calvo Merce Comes Roser Puig Monica Rius eds A Shared Legacy Islamic Science East and West Edicions Universitat Barcelona ISBN 978 84 475 3285 8 King David A 1996 On the role of the muezzin and the muwaqqit in medieval Islamic society In E Jamil Ragep Sally P Ragep eds Tradition Transmission Transformation E J Brill pp 285 345 ISBN 90 04 10119 5 Pedersen Johannes 1991 Masdjid The personnel of the mosque In Bosworth C E van Donzel E amp Pellat Ch eds The Encyclopaedia of Islam Second Edition Volume VI Mahk Mid Leiden E J Brill pp 674 677 ISBN 978 90 04 08112 3 Further reading editOnline edit Muezzin Islamic religious official in Encyclopaedia Britannica Online by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Gloria Lotha Deepti Mahajan and Amy TikkanenExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Muezzins nbsp Wikisource has the text of the 1905 New International Encyclopedia article Muezzin Cairo to use computerised call to prayer after complaints over tuneless muezzin 13 Aug 2010 Muslim preachers given call to prayer singing lessons 11 May 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Muezzin amp oldid 1213887329, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
