Pakistani-Canadian Woman Breaks Stereotypes With A Rendition Of Azaan
Pakistan born Canadian woman whose rendition of Azaan kicked up a storm social media. In a viral Instagram post, a woman named Urvah Khan, dressed in jeans and top and her arms tattooed, seems to have broken many stereotypes. The brief clip is from her album ¡®Muhaajir (the Immigrant Songs)¡¯.
The Azaan or the Muslim prayer call is given out from the mosques
five times a day by a Muazzin. The call of the Muazzin is considered an
art form, reflected in the melodious chanting of the adha and it¡¯s
conventionally a man who recites a prayer. Islamic tradition does not allow
women to perform many religious roles, however, in this day and age many are breaking tradition.
Instagram/Urvah Khan
Like this Pakistan born Canadian woman whose rendition of Azaan kicked up a storm social media. In a viral Instagram post, a woman named Urvah Khan, dressed in jeans and top and her arms tattooed, seems to have broken multiple stereotypes. The brief clip is from her album ¡®Muhaajir (the Immigrant Songs)¡¯.
Khan uploaded the video on April 24 and said, ¡°Ramadan Mubarak! As a Karachi born Canadian Pakistani, my memory of the Azaan is ingrained in early childhood experience. The crackling loud speakers, the daily rituals, all part of a youth gone, but not forgotten. It dawned on me this Ramadan that I had never heard the Azaan sung with a woman's voice, and likely never would.¡±
The video soon went viral and also faced the wrath of hateful comments. Many of them condemned her act of saying the Azaan and some commented saying her attire, her tattoos and cropped hair was an insult to Islam.
¡®Ur head is not covered.. and u r giving azan, as if it is no big deal.! Sorry but u don¡¯t know Islam¡¯, reads one comment.
¡®Wth. Shut up ur caption and ur act doesn't make sense. Only male person can call "Azan" . U are a true fitna¡¯, read another distasteful comment.
After a barrage of online hate, Urvah Khan took to Instagram with another post which read, 'Me while reading the comments on my last post.'
'Religion is a horror movie. Should be Rated 19+,' she added in another post.
Instagram/Urvah Khan
After the follow-up post an Instagram user commented saying, 'We don't wnna spread hate but plzz try to understand that there are some guidelines for islam nd I won't object uh for what uh do but that thing about azzan is wrong plzz Don't do that it would only bring uh near jahnam I hope uh will undrstnd bcuz if uh follow a religion plzz try to respect it hope Allah gives uh hidayat soon.'
The Azaan rendered by a woman has been a controversial issue. According to News18, in November 2018, religious scholars in Kerala staged protests after a school enacted a play where a girl gave out the muslim call for prayer. It was dubbed as an insult to the religion.
