Ramadhan Mubarak!
Here's wishing all Muslim friends a blessed Ramadhan and a fulfilling month of fasting and prayer!
Tarawih Nightly Prayer Schedule for Ramadhan 1430H / 2009G
- Muazzin @ Al-Falah Mosque: Aug 22 & 29; Sep 5 & 12.
- Muazzin @ Mujahidin Mosque: Aug 23 & Sep 2 & 16.
- Muazzin @ Darul Makmur Mosque: Sep 4, 7 & 11.
- Imam @ Al-Falah Mosque: Sep 14 & 15.
Sounds & Melodies
2009 Monthly Schedule for Friday Prayer Muazzin Duties
- 1st Friday: Mujahidin Mosque (Queenstown)
- 2nd Friday: Al-Falah Mosque (Orchard)
- 4th Friday: Al-Falah Mosque (Orchard)
- 5th Friday (Jan, May, Jul & Oct): An-Nur Mosque (Woodlands)
What is a Muazzin?
A muazzin is a person who gives the azan, the call to prayer for Muslims, 5 times a day. These are done at dawn, high noon, late afternoon, sunset and night, with the exact times based on the solar orbit.
To draw a parallel, when Christian church bells ring, the Muslim muazzin is like the designated member of the church parish who pulls the bell ropes, except that a muazzin uses his voice.
For a simpler way to know the prayer times in Singapore today, just check out the widget below!
To draw a parallel, when Christian church bells ring, the Muslim muazzin is like the designated member of the church parish who pulls the bell ropes, except that a muazzin uses his voice.
For a simpler way to know the prayer times in Singapore today, just check out the widget below!
The Sound of the Azan
In multi-religious and cosmopolitan Singapore, one may only typically hear the azan at mosques and on the radio at prayer times.
As mentioned earlier, the azan signals that it is time for prayers. Thus, Muslims must perform that prayer before the start of the next prayer time.
The exception is the congregational prayers on Friday afternoons, when Muslim men have to assemble on time, listen to a sermon and perform prayers together. See below for "What does the Azan sound like?"
The azan can be given anywhere and it is performed by men. However, muazzins are normally designated persons who perform their duties at mosques, primarily because they have to sound like, well, see below and you'll get the idea. :)
As mentioned earlier, the azan signals that it is time for prayers. Thus, Muslims must perform that prayer before the start of the next prayer time.
The exception is the congregational prayers on Friday afternoons, when Muslim men have to assemble on time, listen to a sermon and perform prayers together. See below for "What does the Azan sound like?"
The azan can be given anywhere and it is performed by men. However, muazzins are normally designated persons who perform their duties at mosques, primarily because they have to sound like, well, see below and you'll get the idea. :)
Meaning of the Azan
The azan is delivered in Arabic. Line by line, it roughly means:
God is the Greatest, God is the Greatest
I bear witness that there is no other God besides the One God
I bear witness that Muhammad is a Messenger of the One God
Come to Prayer
Come to Success
God is the Greatest, God is the Greatest
There is no other God besides the One God
Do note that everyone line is called out twice except for the last two.
God is the Greatest, God is the Greatest
I bear witness that there is no other God besides the One God
I bear witness that Muhammad is a Messenger of the One God
Come to Prayer
Come to Success
God is the Greatest, God is the Greatest
There is no other God besides the One God
Do note that everyone line is called out twice except for the last two.
How Muslims Pray
Muslims are commanded to perform their compulsory prayers 5 times everyday.
Prayers take between 5-10 minutes, as a Muslim has to wash his or her face, arms, forehead and feet before praying. Prayers include repetitive standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting. They can be done quietly, anywhere as long as the area is clean, without much interruption to others or the surrounding environment.
Prayers are performed facing the direction of the Ka'abah, a structure built by Abraham and his son, Ishmael (peace be upon them), to unify the direction of prayer, which is located in Mecca, modern day Saudi Arabia. To find out a prayer direction from any location on Earth, do check out the link on the right!
Prayers take between 5-10 minutes, as a Muslim has to wash his or her face, arms, forehead and feet before praying. Prayers include repetitive standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting. They can be done quietly, anywhere as long as the area is clean, without much interruption to others or the surrounding environment.
Prayers are performed facing the direction of the Ka'abah, a structure built by Abraham and his son, Ishmael (peace be upon them), to unify the direction of prayer, which is located in Mecca, modern day Saudi Arabia. To find out a prayer direction from any location on Earth, do check out the link on the right!
Example of Muslims Doing Prayers
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Eid at Ust Afandi's House. Photo Courtesy of Huzaifah.
Demo for Kids - Jenazah Prayers. Photo Courtesy of Ustazah Rokiah.
On Duty, Nightly Prayers during the Ramadhan Fasting Month 2007 @ An-Nur Mosque. Photo Courtesy of Hj Taib
Friday Prayers at An-Nur, Feb 08
Clockwise from Left: Hj Idris Tauri (Muazzin of An-Nur, Darussalam & Imam of Mujahidin), Ustaz Husin Adam (Imam Exec, Mujahidin), Abu Sufian, Hj Atbi (Muazzin of An-Nur) & Hj Taib (ex-official photographer, An-Nur). Photo Courtesy of Hj Taib.
Eidul Fitri 1429 @ Al-Falah Mosque
Photo Courtesy of Al-Falah FDU
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