Musical Soundscape of the Islamic Call to Prayer

Objectives
To understand the social significance of adhan
To examine the socio-religious importance in the musical processes of
adhan recitation
To explore the intersection of social structure & musical/peformance
structure
To look at one approach in the study of music & culture
History of adhan (azan)
Legislated in the first year after Prophet Muhammed and his followers
migrated to Medina in 622AD
Related to Abdullah ibnAbd Rabbih in his dreams, probably between
632-749AD
Prophet Muhammed instructed Abdullah ibnAbd Rabbih to go to
Bilal and tell him to make the call to prayer, for he has the best
voice among you
Bilal became the title of the person who recites the azan (now also
known as the muezzin or muadhdhin)
Functions & Contexts
5 times a day to mark prayer times
Celebrations of special events such as births, moving to a new home
Unfamiliar territories
Text of the azan
Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar
Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar

God is the greatest God is the greatest

God is the greatest God is the greatest

Ashhadu alla ilaha illal-lah

Ashhadu alla ilaha illal-lah

I testify that there is no God but Allah

I testify that there is no God but Allah

I testify that Mohammed is the

Ashhadu anna Muhammad ar-Rasool-lal-lah
messenger of Allah
Ashhadu anna Muhammad ar-Rasool-lal-lah
I testify that Mohammed is the
messenger of Allah
Hayya alas-salah
Hayya alas-salah
Come to prayers
Come to prayers
Hayya alal-falah
Hayya alal-falah
Come to success
Come to success
Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar
La ilaha illal-lah
God is the greatest God is the greatest
There is no God but Allah

Purpose of the azan

The adhan is a call to inform others in specific words that the time for a
prayer has begun. It is a call to the congregation, and is an expression of
the Islamic practices. It is obligatory or highly preferredalthough it has
very few words, [it] covers all essentials of the faith. It begins by
proclaiming the greatness of Allah, pointing to its existence and perfection.
It mentions His oneness and the denial of polytheism, and it confers the
messengership of Muhammad, upon whom be peace. It calls to specific acts
of obedience after testifying to Muhammads messengership, and it calls to
a prosperity which is everlasting, point to the return to Allah. Then in a
manner of emphasis, it repeats some of what was already mentioned
Reciting & Listening
Reciter stands and face direction of the kabah
Reciter places finger in both ears
Listener responds to the call
Listener prepares for prayer
Azan and Jawab
God is the greatest God is the greatest
God is the greatest God is the greatest

God is the greatest God is the greatest

God is the greatest God is the greatest

I testify that there is no God but Allah

I testify that there is no God but Allah

I testify that there is no God but Allah

I testify that there is no God but Allah

I testify
I testify that Mohammed is the messenger of
Allah that Mohammed is the
messenger
of Allah
I testify that Mohammed is the messenger of
Allah
I testify that Mohammed is the
messenger of Allah
Come to prayers
Come to prayers
I have no strength except with the
of Allah
Come to success
I have no strength except with the
Come to success
of Allah
God is the greatest God is the greatest
I have no strength except with the
There is no God but Allah
of Allah
I have no strength except with the
of Allah

help
help
help
help

God is the greatest God is the greatest

There is no God but Allah

Characteristics of azan recitation

Every call must be recited differently
Can be recited in monotone
Employs Arabic musical modes
Macro-structure
o Textual grouping
o Modal characteristics
Micro-structure
o Melodic shape
o Narrow ambitus (pitch intervals)
o Opening anacrusis
o Stock motifs
Recitation as a Recreative Process
Basic identity of azan must be maintained
Recreative processes
o Pitch level
o Ornamention (akin to Islamic art forms in general)
o Modulation (use of different modes)
Concluding thoughts
How do musical processes in the azan portray Islamic values?
o Sound
Structure
Recreative process
o Concept
The challenge of attaining zaud (inner feeling)
o Behavior