Call to prayer

If you have ever been to an Islamic Country you have probably heard it. Abu Dhabi is no different. All the minarets on Mosques have loud speakers installed and the calls can be heard almost everywhere in the city. With modern day technology, many Muslims have the Call to Prayer app installed on their iPhones. The 5 calls a day brings to mind the Islamic beliefs to both believers and non-believers alike.

My apartment is located very close to a Mosque so I've been fortunate to experience and observe the prayer times. On the other hand, I'm currently experiencing them at 5:45a, 12:28p, 3:28p, 5:48p, 7:17p. So it wakes me up from my sleep every morning and then wakes me from my noon nap, my 3:00 nap, my 5:00 nap and then my 7:00 nap. Grrr. It really is putting a damper on me being lazy! :) The calls last about 5 minutes with the exception of the big prayer on Friday at noon.

When I first arrived in the summer, the first call happenned at 4:20! It was tough to adjust (especially when jet lagged) but I've finally found myself sleeping thought the first call of the day.
Something happenned this morning though. It sounded like someone was listening to Shania Twain and accidently broadcasted to the City of Abu Dhabi. It wasn't right so it woke me and I sat up and looked around. It sounded like someone set their alarm and the radio had started blasting. It only lasted about 10 seconds before it stopped abruptly. I'm not sure who made the broadcasting error but the original call soon followed. If you are curious about what the call sounds like listen to the following...

Yusuf Islam - Call To Prayer Powered by abmp3 search engine

And this is what they are saying in Arabic followed by the translation to English

Allahu Akbar
Ash-had an la ilaha illa llah
Ash-hadu anna Muħammadan rasulullah Hayya 'ala-salahh
Hayya 'ala 'l-falah
As-salatu khayru min an-nawm
Allāhu akbar
La ilaha illallah

Allah is the greatest
I testify that there is no God except for Allah
I testify that Muhammad is a Messenger of Allah
Come to prayer
Come to worship
Prayer is better than sleep
Allah is the greatest
There is no God except for Allah

So I'm not too sure what happenned this morning but I'll take the original call over the country crap I heard this morning! ;)