Azaan (Call for Prayers): The Amazing Phenomenon
Amazing as it sounds, but fortunately for the Muslims of the world, it is
an established fact. Have a look at a map of the world and you will find
Indonesia on the eastern side of the earth. The major cities of
Indonesia are Java, Sumatra, Borneo and Saibil. As soon as
dawn breaks on the eastern side of Saibil, at approximately 5:30 am
local time, Fajar Azaan begins. Thousands of Muazzins in Indonesia
begin reciting the Azaan.
The process advances towards West Indonesia. One and a half hours
after the Azaan has been completed in Saibil, it echoes in Jakarta.
Sumatra then follows suit and before this auspicious process of calling
Azaan ends in Indonesia, it has already begun in Malaysia.
Burma is next in line, and within an hour of its beginning in
Jakarta, it reaches Dacca, the capital city of Bangladesh.
After Bangladesh, it has already prevailed in western India,
from Calcutta to Srinagar. It then advances towards Bombay
and the environment of entire India resounds with this proclamation.
Srinagar and Sialkot (a city in north Pakistan) have the
same timing for Azaan. The time difference between Sialkot, Quetta, and
Karachi is forty minutes, and within this time, Fajar Azaan is
heard throughout Pakistan. Before it ends there, it has already begun
in Afghanistan and Muscat. The time difference between Muscat
and Baghdad is one hour. Azaan resounds during this one hour in the
environments of Hijaaz-e-Muqaddas (Holy cities of Makkah and Madinah),
Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq.
The time difference between Baghdad and Alexandria in
Egypt is again one hour. Azaan continues to resound in Syria, Egypt,
Somalia and Sudan during this hour. The time difference
between eastern and western Turkey is one and a half hours, and during
this time it is echoed with the call to prayer.
Alexandria and Tripoli (capital of Libya) are located
at one hour's difference. The process of calling Azaan thus continues
throughout the whole of Africa. Therefore, the proclamation of the
Tawheed and Risaalat that had begun in Indonesia reaches the Eastern
Shore of the Atlantic Ocean after nine and half hours. Prior to the Azaan
reaching the shores of the Atlantic, the process of Zohar Azaan has
already started in east Indonesia, and before it reaches Dacca,
Asar Azaan has started. This has hardly reached Jakarta one and
half hours later, the time of Maghrib becomes due, and no sooner has
Maghrib time reached Sumatra, the time for calling Isha Azaan
has commenced in Saibil! When the Muazzins of Indonesia are calling
out Fajar Azaan, the African Muazzins are calling the Azaan for
Isha.
If we were to ponder over this phenomenon thoughtfully, we would conclude
the amazing fact that there is not even a single moment when hundreds of
thousands of Muazzins around the world are not reciting the Azaan on the
surface of this earth. Even as you read this material right now, you can be
sure there are atleast thousands of people who are hearing and reciting the
Azaan!!!
"Invite all to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful
preaching;
And consult with them in ways that are
best and most gracious."
(Al Qur'an, 16:125)