Sheikh Ibrahim bin Adel al-Madani, a senior muezzin of the Grand Mosque, has died. He died in the city of Mecca at the time of fajr on Monday (September 21). News of his death came in a post on the Haramain Sharifain account on X.
Sheikh Ibrahim al-Madani was one of the members of the mukabbiriya at the Grand Mosque. Muezzins serving in the mukabbiriya give the call to prayer and also, as required, carry the imam’s takbir to the worshippers.
There are 24 regular muezzins at the holy Grand Mosque in all. Six of them each day are responsible for the call to prayer at the five daily prayers and for the first call at fajr. Sheikh Ibrahim al-Madani was known particularly for giving the fajr call to prayer and the takbir.
His last call to prayer at the Grand Mosque was on 11 Rabi al-Awwal 1448 AH. Various recordings of his voice exist, including calls to prayer and the takbir for hajj and Eid.
Sheikh Ibrahim al-Madani was born in Medina in 1397 AH. He memorised the holy Quran within his family. His life as a muezzin began at the age of only 15, giving the call to prayer at a local mosque in Medina. In 1428 AH he served as muezzin at the Masjid al-Maddah in Medina, and in 1439 AH he was formally appointed a muezzin of the Grand Mosque.
Growing up in Medina, Sheikh Ibrahim al-Madani was deeply familiar with the Madani style and melody of the call to prayer. When his father took him to Mecca he also became familiar with the distinct Makki tradition. During his time in Mecca he met Sheikh Abdul Latif Mulla, a former muezzin of the Grand Mosque. Sheikh Ibrahim thus had the opportunity to learn the characteristics of both the Makki and Madani traditions of the call to prayer at first hand.