As we have discussed in class, praying 5 times a day is one of the pillars of Islam. Friday is the most important day for prayer. At midday across the Islamic world, Muslims hear the adhan as a signal to go to their mosque. The adhan is called out by a muezzin, who bellows for all to hear from his perch on a minaret.
Hearing the call to prayer is an amazing and transporting experience. The first time I heard it was as I was walking through the medina in Rabat. The beautiful melody could be heard faintly in the distant and then blared loudly from loudspeakers attached to the ancient walls of the city. I witnessed believers unfurl their prayer rugs and drop to their knees to praise Allah.
The best part of Friday prayers is what comes after. My host teacher Brahim invited me to his home to share couscous with his sons. This is way better than the stuff you get from a box. His wife Rasheeda spent several hours preparing and cooking the dish for us. It was bneen, which means delicious in Moroccan Arabic.
Students: identify any words that are unfamiliar to you. There should be several.