Jordan: the decline of the musaharatis, these men who wake up the faithful during Ramadan

2024-03-19T03:06:15.443Z

Highlights: Jordan: the decline of the musaharatis, these men who wake up the faithful during Ramadan. In Jordan, years ago, musaharati was the only wake-up call for sahur, the time to stop eating just before sunrise during the month of Ramadan. Families would wake up to his voice, with which he would call people by name. But this profession began to decline in the country. This does not mean that musaharatis no longer exist. There are still many of them in the different Jordanian towns and villages.

In Jordan, years ago, musaharati was the only wake-up call for sahur, the time to stop eating just before sunrise during the month of Ramadan. Families were waking up…

REPORTING

Jordan: the decline of the musaharatis, these men who wake up the faithful during Ramadan

In Jordan, years ago, musaharati was the only wake-up call for sahur, the time to stop eating just before sunrise during the month of Ramadan.

Families would wake up to his voice, with which he would call people by name.

But this profession began to decline in the country.

Listen - 01:22

The profession of musaharati is in decline in Jordan.

Here, a musaharati in the old city of Jerusalem, June 5, 2018. (illustrative image) AP - Mahmoud Illean

By: RFI Follow

With our correspondent in Amman,

Mohamed Errami

This does not mean that musaharatis no longer exist.

There are still many of them in the different Jordanian towns and villages.

In this

month of Ramadan

, nearly 1.5 billion people around the world followed one of them for one night.

A drum, supplications, but above all an awakening.

Like every year, the musaharati Mohamed Tawfik tours the streets of his neighborhood to wake up its residents.

But this year, with the war in Gaza, the atmosphere is less festive in the aisles.

“

I really felt that the war in Gaza has created a lot of sadness and this is felt with the children who are less present than usual in the streets

,” he said.

Tours that start at 3 a.m.

With sunrise at 5:10 a.m., Mohamed must start his tour at 3 a.m.

For 25 years, every year, the man puts on his traditional costume and his red hat, helped by his two 17-year-old twin sons, Mahmoud and Ahmed.

“

We help our father by playing the drum together one after the other

,” said one of the children.

“

My father taught me how to talk to people, how to discuss and build relationships together

,” continues the other.

While the night is in full swing, Mohamed walks through several streets of eastern Amman, so that everyone can eat the sahur meal, before the dawn call to prayer.

The scarcity of people practicing the profession of musaharati in Jordan has made the inhabitants of these neighborhoods lucky to be able to recall the memories and smells of the Ramadans of their childhood.

Jordan: the decline of the musaharatis, these men who wake up the faithful during Ramadan

Jordan: the decline of the musaharatis, these men who wake up the faithful during Ramadan

Tours that start at 3 a.m.

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest