UAE | Heritage and Culture
Sufi chants bring Ramadan evening to life in Abu Dhabi
Hamza Shakour, the Syrian religious chanter, opened the "blessings of Ramadan" programme in the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi on Thursday night with a spellbinding performance.
- By Eman Mohammed, Abu Dhabi Deputy Editor
- Published: 23:12 September 5, 2008
Abu Dhabi: Hamza Shakour, the Syrian religious chanter, opened the "blessings of Ramadan" programme in the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi on Thursday night with a spellbinding performance.
Shakour, known as the shaikh of religious chanters in Syria, and the founder of the Association of Prominent Religious Chanters, chanted for about an hour and a half, recalling an authentic Sufi art, known in the Islamic world for a thousand years.
He started with Adan (call to prayer), followed by a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, during which he talked about the merits of Ramadan, followed by Dua'a (forgiveness prayers).
His voice and the rhythms of oriental Takht (traditional band) enthralled the audience as Shakour sang popular Muwashahat (terza rima) and poems praising Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and the holiness of the month of Ramadan.
The oriental Takht is based on traditional instruments: Nay (Fife), Qanoun (Dulcimer) Oud (Lute), Base and Duff (Tabor).
"Blessings of Ramadan" is organised by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) to celebrate Ramadan by recalling a rich Islamic chant art founded thousands of years ago.
Abdullah Al Ameri, Director of Culture and Arts Department in ADACH, told Gulf News: "For the first time, we introduced this form of Islamic art in order to render a touch of spirituality during the holy nights of Ramadan."
The programme contained five concepts for five different chanters and groups from different countries in addition to five religious lectures by Islamic scholars along with a fine arts exhibition.
The Islamic chant intends to portray the holy love for Allah, Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and the values of Islam. "ADACH has been working on this event for two months" Al Ameri said, adding that it will be an annual event from now on.
On Sunday, Ibn Arabi band from Morocco will be performing Sufi and Andalusian songs.
Share this article
More from UAE Heritage & Culture
More from UAE
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
The best reader pictures from around the emirates this week
Latest news
- Burj Al Arab celebrates its 10th birthday
- Policewoman charged with stealing Dh12,000
- Discipline those reserving parking slots
- Media, employers can do more to help disabled
- Support colleagues with arthritis, doctors advise
- Residents raise a stink over garbage collection
- Well-wishers welcome Haj pilgrims back
- Lifesavers to pit skills during Dubai event
- Music to get into the patriotic mood
- Saif: December 2 stands out in history
- Lebanese singer May Hariri dedicates song to people of the UAE
- Majida El Roumi's concert a big hit
- Top movie stars likely to grace DIFF
- National Day decorations
- Girl dies in fire started by stepbrother
Community Reports
-
Discipline those reserving parking slots
Some residents in Hor Al Anz are using unauthorised methods to hold parking spaces to ransom even when they have no use for them
-
A road that is best avoided
Thoroughfare connecting capital's Hamdan Street and Electra Street poses safety and health hazards
-
Please don't use two parking spaces
Thoughtless drivers means other motorists are losing out in a city where places to leave cars are often hard to find
-
School buses must do safe drop-offs
Some bus drivers let students off at the wrong side of the road
