OUR CALL

As I started writing this it was clear to me that almost every group of identity has its own peculiar sound of some sort. School bells, circus trumpets, referee whistles, the siren, chirping crickets and so much more. Indeed there is harmony in having a common mode of contact with each other in a crowd of people from different backgrounds. I admire the army. I was passing by a military check point recently and to my already worked up self I was thrown into fright by simultaneous gunshots fired in the air. Then there were voices hailing and feet stamping on the ground. Apparently it was a high ranking officer that came passing by and that display of military affection was in respect to his passage. Interestingly the sounds of the siren caused all vehicles to make way, no words communicated but the message was passed anyway. Cool. The organization and allegiance demonstrated a lot of regard and was quite inspiring.
I believe in expressions, in this context being the very essence of an inner belief or an overwhelming obedience to a testimony like we show at times designated for Salat. As muslims, we are distinguished by the five daily prayers with due times announced by the ‘Adhan’ so beautiful in meaning and graceful to the listening ear. That is our own assertion as respondents to this inherited practice. The richness is unbeatable as mass movement towards places of prayer is displayed when the Adhan is said. Apart from giving us a chance to clean ourselves it heals us. Reminds us about our Lord and that He is waiting to forgive us. How wonderful to have a Lord that is so approachable and ever willing to accept our repentance.

Meaning of the Adhan:
God is great x4
I bear witness that there is no god except the one God (Allaah) x2
I bear witness that Muhammad (SAW) is the messenger of Allaah x2
Hurry to the prayer (raise up to the prayer) x2
Hurry to success (raise up for salvation) x2
God is great x2
There is no god except the one God (Allaah)

Jabir (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported: The messenger of Allaah (SAW) said, “He who says upon hearing the Adhan : Allahumma Rabba hadhihid- da’watittammati,was-salati-qaimati, ati Muhammadanil-wasilata wal-fadhilata,wab’athu maqamanmahmuda nilladhi wa ‘adtahu –O Allaah, Rabb of this perfect call (Da’wah) and of the established prayer (salat), grant Muhammad the Wasila and superiority, and raise him up to a praiseworthy position which You have promised him.”, it becomes incumbent upon me to intercede for him on the Day of Resurrection” (Al-Bukhari)

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: When Adhan for salat is pronounced, the devil takes to his heels and breaks wind with noise so as not to hear the call. When the Adhan is finished, he returns. When the iqamah is announced he turns his back and after it is finished he returns again to distract the attention of one and makes him remember things which he does not recall in his mind before salat, and says ‘remember this and this’ and thus causes one to forget how many Raka’at he performed. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported: “The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “The supplication made between the Adhan and the iqamah is never rejected” (Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi)

Tell me about a call you know and I will tell you that our call is the greatest. Look at our privilege. La ilaha illAllah Muhammadan rasul Allah (S.A.W).

POEM TITLE: OUR CALL
I hear you from a distance
Dear Muadhan as you take stance
Reciting words infinite in worth
An echo I recognize
With a prestigious declaration of truth
Slowly spreading and calmly uplifting
You are a voice reassuring
Conveying words glorifying
Constant in composition
And unrivaled in magnetism
At dawn you awaken me
Replace my blanket with my mat.
You have become an intrinsic part of me
A native rite of my deen
No calling as responsive as I have seen.
In between the day you remind me
To respond to this priority
And cleanse through this opportunity
Given by Allaah the All-Mighty.
Your presence rules over
Every other resonance
How dare we relent to another?
When our Lord rewards our surrender
The Adhan we have
Is unison for our sacred badge
Calling us to the direction
Where our foreheads serve
O caller of the faithful
Seeker of searching hearts
Dispel my worries with this Holy magnificence
As I defer what I do
To react so spontaneously
Thank you Allaah for such reviving vocabulary