Haram Muezzin Shares the Past
By Hani Al-Lehyani
MUHAMMAD YOUSUF is one of the oldest Muezzins at the Holy Mosque in Makkah. He has been calling the faithfuls for prayers for the last 50 years with a starting salary of SR240.
Yousuf almost always reminisces the narrow alleys of Ajyad District in Makkah, where he was born, leading to the Holy Mosque.
He has spent several years inside the loudspeaker room on the second floor of the Holy Mosque.
Years have passed and he is still holding on to his job as a Muezzin in the holiest mosque, because he is a direct descendant of a family which is known for being Muezzins in the Holy Mosques for more than 200 years. He has been working as a Muezzin in the Holy Haram from the days when the loudspeaker room was adjacent to Bab Zyada near the Zamzam Well. As a young boy, he used to accompany his father to the Holy Haram so as to listen to him calling for prayers.
Yousuf's father passed away in 1968 and that made him start his career as a Muezzin. By nature he was trained to be a Muezzin and thus he was not hesitant. Hestill relishes his first call made from the Holy Haram.
Among the famous Imams he has worked with are Sheikh Abdullah Khayyat, Abdullah Al-Shalan, Sheikh Abdullah Taher, Sheikh Abu Al-Samah, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Khulayfi and Sheikh Muhammed Al-Subayyil.
Recalling the old days before loudspeakers came to be used in the Holy Haram, he said five Muezzins used to climb up to the second floor of the Holy Mosque and stay near the minarets to call for each prayer.
Sheikh Muhammad Yousuf also calls for prayers from Namirah Mosque during Haj.
Source: Saudi Gazette
By Hani Al-Lehyani
MUHAMMAD YOUSUF is one of the oldest Muezzins at the Holy Mosque in Makkah. He has been calling the faithfuls for prayers for the last 50 years with a starting salary of SR240.
Yousuf almost always reminisces the narrow alleys of Ajyad District in Makkah, where he was born, leading to the Holy Mosque.
He has spent several years inside the loudspeaker room on the second floor of the Holy Mosque.
Years have passed and he is still holding on to his job as a Muezzin in the holiest mosque, because he is a direct descendant of a family which is known for being Muezzins in the Holy Mosques for more than 200 years. He has been working as a Muezzin in the Holy Haram from the days when the loudspeaker room was adjacent to Bab Zyada near the Zamzam Well. As a young boy, he used to accompany his father to the Holy Haram so as to listen to him calling for prayers.
Yousuf's father passed away in 1968 and that made him start his career as a Muezzin. By nature he was trained to be a Muezzin and thus he was not hesitant. Hestill relishes his first call made from the Holy Haram.
Among the famous Imams he has worked with are Sheikh Abdullah Khayyat, Abdullah Al-Shalan, Sheikh Abdullah Taher, Sheikh Abu Al-Samah, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Khulayfi and Sheikh Muhammed Al-Subayyil.
Recalling the old days before loudspeakers came to be used in the Holy Haram, he said five Muezzins used to climb up to the second floor of the Holy Mosque and stay near the minarets to call for each prayer.
Sheikh Muhammad Yousuf also calls for prayers from Namirah Mosque during Haj.
Source: Saudi Gazette