‘ADHĀN

‘Adhān: translation

Islamic call to prayer, one of the two forms of compulsory mosque music, instituted by the Prophet between 622 and 624. Originally a simple announcement, it can range from monotonicchantto ornate melody sung five times per day bymuezzinsfrom the minarets of mosques as a summons, then immediately again asiqamā, the beginning of prayer.

Transmitted by oral tradition, the melody varies widely by locality. Military bands ofdrummersaccompanied ‘adhānfrom the 10th to 19th centuries in some places. In modern times the ‘adhānof Egypt have become the most influential and are imitated abroad. Loudspeakers and radio broadcasts, often at great, distorted volumes, have diminished the role of the muezzin in some areas.

See alsoQīra.