MAKKAH — Sheikh Ibrahim bin Adel Al-Madani, a longtime muezzin of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, has died on Monday at the age of 51.
Sheikh Al-Madani was one of the 24 principal muezzins at the Grand Mosque and a member of the mosque’s Makbariyah (call to prayer system). Six of these 24 muezzins rotate each day to deliver the calls for the five daily prayers as well as the first Fajr adhan, with Al-Madani becoming particularly associated with the early morning call to prayer.
Alongside delivering the adhan, Al-Madani was known for relaying the takbirs behind the imam from the Makbariyah, helping transmit the prayer to worshippers throughout the Grand Mosque.
Born in Madinah, Sheikh Al-Madani was renowned for his melodious voice in reciting the adhan. He began his career as a muezzin at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah before moving to the Grand Mosque, where he continued to perform the adhan (the call to prayer) until his death.
His life was synonymous with adhan and the takbeer (Allahu Akbar) at the Grand Mosque, particularly the Fajr (dawn) prayer, in addition to his role in relaying the imam’s takbeer from the loudspeaker.
Social media platforms witnessed the widespread sharing of audio and video clips featuring Sheikh Al-Madani’s call to prayer and takbeers at the Grand Mosque, while a hashtag bearing his name trended following news of his death.
During an episode of the Ashraqat podcast, Sheikh Al-Madani recalled his first call to prayer at the Grand Mosque explaining that he wept when he saw worshippers circumambulating the Holy Kaaba while listening to his voice. He humbly asked, “Who am I that my voice should rise in this sacred place?”
During the episode, Sheikh Al-Madani also discussed the differences between the Makkah and Madinah schools of thought regarding the performance of the call to prayer.
Source: Saudi Gazette