By Ghazali Ibrahim
Muslims who regularly perform Hajj or Umrah in Saudi Arabia may recognise the voice of Sheikh Ibrahim bin Adel Hamza Al-Madani, one of the muezzins of Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah, who has died.
Al-Madani’s death was announced early Monday by Inside the Haramain, an account that reports activities at Islam’s two holy mosques.
The muezzin reportedly raised his final Adhan at Masjid Al-Haram on Monday, 11 Rabi Al-Awwal 1448 AH.
For Nigerian pilgrims, the Grand Mosque is a major destination during the annual Hajj and throughout the year for Umrah. The Adhan from Masjid Al-Haram is also widely followed by Muslims outside Saudi Arabia through television, radio and online broadcasts.
Al-Madani was formally appointed as a muezzin of Masjid Al-Haram in 1439 AH, corresponding to 2017–2018.
His journey to the sacred mosque began in Madinah, where he was born in 1976 and raised in a religious family. He reportedly started participating in the Adhan at a neighbourhood mosque at the age of 15.
He later resumed the role at Masjid Al-Maddah in Madinah in 2007–2008 after taking a break because of teaching commitments.
Al-Madani was influenced by the traditional Madinan style of the Adhan and also learned the Makkan style during visits to Makkah with his father. He reportedly met Sheikh Abdul Latif Mulla, a former muezzin of Masjid Al-Haram and a friend of his grandfather.
He also held an academic qualification in Qur’anic Studies.
His funeral prayer is scheduled to be held after Asr prayers on Monday at Masjid Al-Haram, before his burial at Al-Mu‘alla Cemetery in Makkah.
