Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Last night, or should I say, this morning, as I was awake, I "timed" the length of the first Call to Prayer.

It lasted five minutes and twenty seconds. If there was a quiz question I would have bet it lasted no more than two minutes, max. Do different Imams recite it at different speeds?

I have lived here for over nine years and never thought of how long it lasted. Has it got longer for any reason?

Please do not reply with any nonsense about this is a Muslim country, etc. I am not complaining. I am only asking a few simple questions.

Below is the translation of The Call to Prayer.

God is the greatest (Allahu akbar); intoned four times.
I testify that there is no God but Allah (Ashhadu anna la ila ill Allah); intoned twice.
I testify that Mohammed is God’s Prophet (Ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasul Allah); intoned twice.
Come to prayer (Hayya alas salah); intoned twice.
Come to security/salvation (Hayya alal falah); intoned twice.
God is the greatest (Allahu akbar); intoned twice.
There is no God but Allah (La ilah ill Allah); intoned once.

Another line is sometimes added to the first prayer of the morning (pre-sunrise):
Prayer is better than sleep (Assalatu khayrum minan naum); intoned twice.

To listen, please click the link below:

http://resources.approachguides.com/ima ... Aqsa-1.mp3

The one above was timed at about three minutes but was not the first one of the day.

I don't think each mosque has it's own caller here.

As I understand it, most if not all are linked to Nicosia, and what you here goes to each mosque via a mobile phone connection.

On more than one occasion we have been at No14 and at the end of a call you hear the phone disconnecting.

So, they should all be the same length, at least here.

Definitely got louder over the last few months though.

I sometimes think the singer is auditioning for Imam's Got Talent.

Some of them hang on to a note forever!

A few years ago the call to prayer was centralised, and almost all the mosque's have radio receivers, only the Mosques who are unable to receive the signal use their Imam.
The call comes from Lefcosia, the Imams all over Cyprus take it in turns to make the call to prayer each day.

I love to here it.

karmels wrote:A few years ago the call to prayer was centralised, and almost all the mosque's have radio receivers, only the Mosques who are unable to receive the signal use their Imam.
The call comes from Lefcosia, the Imams all over Cyprus take it in turns to make the call to prayer each day.

And I always thought it was the muezzin....

Well, I suppose that is one old custom taken over by technology that the expats can't be blamed for. (Joke!)

A shame because we used to boast that the Ozanköy muezzin had the best voice in the Island, but I suppose they are not usually young men and it is a hard climb and to have breathe left for the call at the end of it!

Are you sure it was the Call to Prayer you heard Butterflyaway? Sometimes they make announcements from the Mosque - usually a death and funeral, but sometimes prosaic like a road closure.

Or they don't always synchronise: sometimes one can hear two - one after the other from different Mosques.

They would also use the speaker system in the event of an invasion. Catalkoy residents are supposed to go the the cellar of the Malpas which I think houses the casino


lol.

Ragged Robin wrote: we used to boast that the Ozanköy muezzin had the best voice in the Island

Blimey - I remember the Ozankoy muezzin making all the local dogs howl.... just goes to show how the contestants on on Britain's Got Talent and The Voice sound good to some...

Actually I think the reasons dogs howl is that they hear a note that is inaudible to most human ears!

I love the sound of it - it means part of home to me now- but I have to admit it is a bit like bagpipes (which I also love) - best heard floating on the air, out of doors and at a slight distance