In Tareem, Ramadhan begins two months prior, in Rajab. Tonight is the first of the month of Rajab.
Prior to Rajab, for about three months (month of Rabi ul Thani and both Jumadas) it’s chilled out, generally speaking. It is said that this is the best time for dedicated studying as there’s little going on. No big events, not the visiting season.
Immediately after Isya’ prayers, in mosques they collectively seek forgiveness from God. In meaning, they recite the line My Lord, forgive me, and be merciful towards me, and I repent to you. Seventy times.
When poems are recited in any gathering, the ones connected to Rajab or its theme are the ones heard. The closer it gets to the end of Rajab, you’ll also begin hearing poems connected to the annual visitation to the tomb of Prophet Hud, which takes place in the subsequent month of Sya’baan.
It is said Rajab is the month seeds are planted, Sya’baan is when the plant is watered, and Ramadhan is when the fruits are harvested. So those conscious, those intelligent begin in Rajab to taste an even sweeter Ramadhan.
This recording is one of three poems read after Terawih prayers in all mosques in Tareem, regardless of whatever time of the night they begin Terawih. Each night they move on to the next poem of the same book, but read in the same style.
They are often known as the madaa’ih المدائح or at times the gawaafir القوافر. I know some people who travel to Tareem only in Ramadhan for this.
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*This particular style of recitation is the slowest of the three, whereas the other two are quicker, more upbeat and has more parts where everyone joins in on top of the solo portions.
This particular recording is of Sayyid Ahmad bin Abu Bakr bin Aydarus Bin-Semait. Also the most feared discipline teacher of Dar al Mustafa. Didn’t expect him to have such a voice.
This is from the Annual Khatam al-Qur’an of one of the al-Saqqaaf mosque in the souq, but traditionally the Bin-Semait family (that do not root from the al-Saqqaaf family), were the ones that maintained the imam position of the mosque.
