The adhan is the Islamic call to prayer sung from the minaret of a mosque, shortly before each of the 5 daily prayers. The first prayer, Fajr (before dawn), occurs before sunrise.
Here’s what I’m hearing in Antalya these days—usually at 4:30 am. While the adhan wakes me up, it’s a wonderful way to start the day.
Each adhan typically lasts 3-5 minutes and is sung by a muezzin, a man whose specific role is to call his fellow worshipers to prayer from the minaret of a mosque.
The muezzin sings several times:
God is the greatest (Allahu akbar)
I testify that there is no God but Allah (Ashhadu anna la ila ill Allah)
I testify that Mohammed is God's Prophet (Ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasul Allah)
Come to prayer (Hayya alas salah)
Over the weekend, Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-dusk fasting of Ramadan, was celebrated throughout the Muslim world.
Happy Eid to all who celebrate. 🦋
Have you ever heard an adhan? What did you experience? Any other religious songs move you (even though you don’t adhere to the faith)?
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Christened “Wander Woman” by National Geographic, Erin Michelson is a professional speaker and author of the Nomad Life™ series of travel books and guides, including the #1-ranked “Explore the World with Nomads.”