Ramadan music

Travel, trade and sometimes political expansion contributed to the dissemination of and often profound changes to peoples鈥� religious beliefs along the Silk Roads. Religion brought along traditions, which were then adopted and assimilated into local cultures to varying degrees. One such practice that is kept alive in the wider Islamic world from North Africa to South, Southeast and Central Asia is the chanting of Ramadan songs during Islam鈥檚 holy month of Ramadan. With simple, humorous lyrics and rhythmic melodies, Ramadan songs are typically performed by a male drummer/singer who strolls the streets of Muslim communities, drumming and chanting before sunrise to wake the worshipers for听suhoor听- the predawn meal. In the past, these drummers, or simply Ramadan singers, were assigned by local rulers with an official wage. Nowadays, amateur enthusiasts practice it either out of faith or by inheriting it within the family as a one-month profession. Awaken by the Ramadan music, it is customary for the faithful in the community to offer the singers/drummers tips or food to honour their service. Modern technology, such as alarm clocks and smartphones, has contributed to the diminishing role of these singers. In some cases, the increasing presence of the non-Muslim population in traditionally Muslim-dominant neighbourhoods has also resulted in the banning of Ramadan songs due to the 鈥榠nconvenience鈥� and noise brought to the non-believers. Regardless, this practice persists in many parts of the world.听

滨苍听Qumul, the Eastern gateway to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China, the Ramadan musical tradition was well alive and widely practiced amongst the Uyghurs until very recently.听Ramazanchi, the Ramadan singer, is conventionally a male who sings well and plays at least one musical instrument such as听dap听- the framed hand drum, or听ghijek听- the two-stringed Central Asian fiddle. Either solo or in a group, Ramadan singers promenade through the Uyghur听尘盲丑盲濒濒盲ⁱ听door by door, performing until greeted by the host with听nan, freshly prepared food for听suhoor, or in recent years, simply cash. While it is entirely acceptable for the singers to keep the offerings to themselves, some portion of the money collected is sometimes brought voluntarily to the neighbourhood mosque as听zakatⁱⁱ听to be distributed to the needy.听Unlike North Africa and the Arab world, a听Ramazanchi听in Qumul usually prefers to remain anonymous and, therefore, tends to visit neighbourhoods other than his own where the chances of being recognised by others are much lower.听

As an integral part of Qumul听苍盲驳丑尘盲濒颈谤颈听(a repertoire of folk songs), Ramadan lyrics are composed of four-line stanzas with the last two lines acting as refrains. These songs delineate the importance of religious piety and community spirit and capture the gender and age dynamics within the confines of traditions. While the refrains emphasise the joy and happiness that Ramadan brings, by detailing the deeds of the Prophet, his Companions and direct descendants, these songs are a keen representation of the virtues of observing Ramadan and the unfavourable consequences of failing to do so.

路

Translation of selected verses of Qomul Ramadan songs

Let鈥檚 begin by commemorating Xuda,ⁱⁱⁱ

And elate the spirit of the Prophets;听

Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听

When Muhammad called us to be one.

卅蹠蹕蹠賱鈥ㄘж促勜з锯赌囏з嗁夆赌娯ж赌︑愗壻呝壶测赌�

倬蹠蹛睾蹠賲亘蹠乇賱蹠乇乇賵诰賶賳賶鈥簇ж赌︑愗壻呝壶蔡�

貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

.賲蹏诰蹠賲賲蹠鬲鈥︑堎呚ㄛ曍赌愙曎嗏赌篡囏必з呝壶藏з�

It was Omer Ali, who once sang Ramadan songs,听

Bequeathing us such a legacy;听

Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听

Merrily comes the Ramadan with blessings.听

貙乇丕賲賶夭丕賳鈥︑愘娯壻锯赌︑嗀冔曎嗏赌︑嗁呟曍扁赌︑愘胜壧�

.卅賵賱丕乇丿賶賳鈥傌з勜贺з嗏赌︐壻冔曎嗏赌嗃囏池з胜壶辟壧�

貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

Assalamu Alaikum oh those rich who are still asleep,听

Those who have been blessed with the zakat of this Ramadan;听

Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听

When Muhammad called us to be one.

貙卅蹠爻爻丕賱丕賲蹏鈥︑曎勠曎娰冔囐呪赌娯ж傌з嗏赌ㄘз娰勜ж碧�

.乇賵夭賶賳賶诃鈥藏з冐ж壶贺р赌矩ж傌з嗏赌ㄘз娰勜ж碧�

貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

賲蹏诰蹠賲賲蹠鬲鈥︑堎呚ㄛ曍赌愙曎嗏赌篡囏必з呝壶藏з喬�

By the age of six, Hassan, grandson of the Prophet听

Completed six journeys from Mecca to Medina;^颈惫听

Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听

Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听

貙倬蹠賷睾蹠賲亘蹠乇鈥︐堌嘿勝� 诰蹠爻蹠賳鈥ωз勜曗€娯ж簇ж碧�

.賲蹠賰賰賶丿賶賳鈥�-鈥呟曍壻嗁壼曗赌驰曎冑冑壶测赌ㄘж池ж碧�

貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

Having fasted for fifteen days, we come to your door,听

Please offer us your zakat for Ramadan;听

Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听

Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听

貙乇賵夭賶賳賶鈥︐堎嗀ㄛ曍粹赌囏囐锯赌冔曎勜囐傗赌迟壶糙�

.乇蹏夭賶賳賶诃鈥藏з冐ж壻嗁夆赌ㄛ愗辟壼赌ㄙ壶糙曁�

貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

Fast and pray for the sake of your being,听

Do the good deeds and offer zakat for the things you own;听

Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听

Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听

貙乇賵夭賶鈥囏屸赌嗀з呚ж测赌︑嗀曗赌з嗁壼赌︑堏嗃堎喬�

.禺蹠賷乇賶鈥傎壻勨赌藏з冐ж嗁夆赌ㄛ曍扁赌呚з胜壼赌︑堏嗃堎喬�

貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

Sacred is the tenth day of the Ramadan, Where have those Muslims who were amongst us last year gone?听

Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听

Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听

貙乇賵夭賶賳賶诃鈥︐堎嗁夆赌冔堎嗁夆赌傌ж壶扁赌冔堎嗁夆赌�

.亘蹏賱鬲蹏乇賯賶鈥呟囏驰囐胜呚з嗁勜ж扁赌ㄛ囐娰壻勨赌傐愘嗁壧�

貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

Another Ramadan will come following this one,听

Who will die and who will be born is known only to Allah;听

Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听

When Muhammad called us to be one. 听

貙亘蹏鈥辟堌藏р赌︑堌驰曗赌娵曎嗃曗赌辟堌藏р赌冑壻勠囏扁赌�

.賰賶賲鈥︑嗁勠嗁锯赌冑壻呪赌壶辟壻勠囏扁赌ωз胜勜р赌ㄙ壻勠囏碧�

貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

賲蹏诰蹠賲賲蹠鬲鈥︑堎呚ㄛ曍赌愙曎嗏赌篡囏必з呝壶藏з喬�

Over your gate shines the beautiful moon,听

Of all the households, yours appears the most affluent;听

Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听

Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听

貙卅賶卮賶賰賶诃賳賶诃鈥ㄘж促壶р赌ωз娾赌冔嗀辟壻嗃曍碧�

.诰蹠賲賲蹠鈥︑嗁娯壻嗏赌呝堌篡団赌︑嗁娾赌ㄘй愨赌冔嗀辟壻嗃曍碧�

貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

What you slaughtered for the Ramadan was a spotted lamb,听

If you eat the meat, do leave me the breast bones;听

Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听

Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听

貙乇賵夭賶丿丕鈥︑嗁勜堌壁壻嗁壼赌冔嗁冣赌ωз勜р赌傎堎娞�

.诏蹎卮賶賳賶鈥︑嗀槽嗂赌娰壶驰曏屫嗀促壻嗁夆赌傎堎娞�

貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

Your beautiful white house will become a palace,听

The son you have is destined to become a Mullah.听

Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听

When Muhammad called us to be one. 听

貙卅丕賯卅蹎賷蹎诃鈥ωз举矩з傗€︑嗁娵嗂€︐堌必р€ㄙ堎勠囏碧�

.卅蹎賷蹐诃丿蹠鈥ㄙ壶扁赌︐堌嘿勠嘱赌ㄘж扁赌呝堎胜勜р赌ㄙ堎勠囏碧�

貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

賲蹏诰蹠賲賲蹠鬲鈥︑堎呚ㄛ曍赌愙曎嗏赌篡囏必з呝壶藏з喬�

Your backyard is covered with sheep hoofprints,听

Come out quickly and give us听nan听oh the daughter of the well-to-do.^v

Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听

Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听

貙卅蹎賷賱賶乇賶賳賶诃鈥ωж� 賯賶爻賶鈥傎堎娰嗁壼€︐壺操夆€�

.倬丕鬲鈥嗁壻傎壻锯赌嗀з嗏赌ㄛ曍必迟壻勠曗赌嗀з娰嗁壼赌傎壶操夆赌�

貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

Hammer your pegs there, hammer your pegs here,听

Shake your听supra听if there is no flour left in your flour sack;^vi

Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听

Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听

貙賯賵夭蹏賯賳賶鈥︑囐娵曍壁曗赌傌з傌屸赌ㄛ囐娵曍壁曗赌傌з偺�

.禺丕賱鬲丕诃丿丕鈥︑囐嗏赌傌з胜呝壶池р赌驰囐矩必и嗁夆赌傌з傗赌�

貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

This Ramadan is a guest of thirty days,听

Those who do not fast are indeed like some animals;听

Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听

When Muhammad called us to be one. 听

貙亘蹏鈥辟堌藏р赌︐堌囏测赌冔堎嗏赌呟愙举呚з嗁壶囏碧�

.乇賵夭賶賳賶鬲蹏鬲賲賶睾丕賳賱丕乇鈥矩з娵嬝з嗁壺囏碧�

貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

賲蹏诰蹠賲賲蹠鬲鈥︑堎呚ㄛ曍赌愙曎嗏赌篡囏必з呝壶藏з喬�

It will soon be late, if we sing so much at every place, 听

Whatever you have offered will become unacceptable. 听

Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听

Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听

貙诰蹠乇鈥娵曍必曗赌篡囐嗂嗃曗赌︑愘娯池з傗赌冔曏嗏赌ㄙ堎胜壶団赌�

.亘蹠乇诏賶賳賶诃鈥ㄛ曍辟呝壼壻嗁壼赌聚曍粹赌ㄙ堎胜壶団赌�

貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

The firewood, this white firewood, this dry firewood, 听

A woman who refuses to offer听nan听to the Ramadan singer is indeed ugly.听

Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听

Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听

貙亘蹏鈥︐堌囐嗏赌ωз举矩з傗赌︐堌囐嗀屸赌傌ж簇з勨赌︐堌囐喬�

.乇丕賲賶夭丕賳趩賶睾丕鈥嗀з嗏赌ㄛ曍辟呝壼曎嗏赌呚з娰呚з傗赌堌囐�

貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

This world is like a pigeon coop, 听

One flies away, while another comes to land;听

Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听

When Muhammad called us to be one.听

貙亘蹏鈥ωз勠曎呪赌ㄛ曗赌з娰夆赌冔曎矩曍扁赌з嗁壶囏碧�

.亘賶乇賶鈥︑嘱嗀池р赌ㄙ壶辟夆赌冑壻胜壻锯赌傎堎嗀ж囏碧�

貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

賲蹏诰蹠賲賲蹠鬲鈥︑堎呚ㄛ曍赌愙曎嗏赌篡囏必з呝壶藏з喬�

Grandmother got up to fetch flour,听

The container tipped over and knocked her down.听

Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听

Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听

貙賲賵賲丕賷鈥傎堎矩夆赌冔嗁嗀堎冐壻嗏赌︑囐嗏赌ωз勜嘿壻胜夆赌�

.賰蹎賳丿蹐賰鈥︑嗀臂堎勜夆赌呝堎呚з娰嗁夆赌ㄘж迟傎壻胜壧�

貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

Grandfather got up to catch a lamb from the sheds,听

The door slammed 听and knocked him down;听

Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听

When Muhammad called us to be one.听

貙亘賵蹕丕賷鈥傎堎矩夆赌冔嗁嗀堎冐壻嗏赌傎堎娾赌囏傎壻胜夆赌�

.賯賵睾賶鈥︑囏臂囐勜夆赌ㄙ堐嬝з娰嗁夆赌ㄘж迟傎壻胜壧�

貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

賲蹏诰蹠賲賲蹠鬲鈥︑堎呚ㄛ曍赌愙曎嗏赌篡囏必з呝壶藏з喬�

Your house is filled with beans inside-out,听

And you have a son at home who is not so bright;听

Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听

When Muhammad called us to be one.听

貙卅蹎賷蹐诃賳賶诃鈥︐壼嗁夆赌�-鈥愗促夆赌з嗀堚赌聚囏壁嗀з偺�

.卅蹎賷賶诃丿蹠鈥ㄙ壶扁赌︐堌嘿勠嘱赌ㄘж扁赌з呪赌傌з矩з傗赌�

貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

賲蹏诰蹠賲賲蹠鬲鈥︑堎呚ㄛ曍赌愙曎嗏赌篡囏必з呝壶藏з喬�

Your house is filled with camelthorn firewood,听

But you, clumsy woman, did not even come out to greet us.听

Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听

Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听

貙卅蹎賷賶诃賳賶诃鈥︐壼嗁夆赌愗促夆赌娯з嗀з傗赌︐堌囐喬�

.卅蹎賷賶诃丿賶賳鈥ㄙ壶扁赌嗁壻傎呝壶壼赌呚з娰呚з傗赌堌囐喬�

貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

The Prophet rode the white stallion,听

Cracked the whip and embarked on journey of struggle;听

Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听

When Muhammad called us to be one.听

貙倬蹠賷睾蹠賲亘蹠乇鈥呝壻嗀夆赌ωз傌ㄙ堌测赌ωж嗁壼赌娯з胜壶贺�

.爻丕賱丿賶鈥傌з呞嗀р赌冑壶必夆赌曏嗁壼赌娰堎胜壶贺�

貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

賲蹏诰蹠賲賲蹠鬲鈥︑堎呚ㄛ曍赌愙曎嗏赌篡囏必з呝壶藏з喬�

We came to your doorstep to sing you Ramadan songs,听

惭补测听Xuda听present you a baby boy for your cradle.听

Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听

Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听

貙乇丕賲賶夭丕賳鈥︑愘娯壻锯赌冔曎勜囐傗赌︐壶促壻冑壼曁�

.禺蹏丿丕賷賶賲鈥︐堌痕囐勨赌ㄛ曍必驰囐嗏赌ㄛ嗀篡堎冔堏曗赌�

貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

We shall not be tired of singing Ramadan songs,听

Nor shall we return until you give us six听nans.听

Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听

Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听

貙乇丕賲賶夭丕賳鈥︑愘娯壻锯赌︑愘娯壻锯赌矩ж辟呚з娯壻呝壶蔡�

.卅丕賱鬲蹠鈥嗀з嗏赌ㄛ曍辟呝壼壼嗃曗赌娯з嗁呚з娯壻呝壶测赌�

貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬�

Endnotes:

^颈听In Central Asia and parts of the Indian subcontinent, a 尘盲丑盲濒濒盲 refers to a neighbourhood or local community.

^i颈听One of the five pillars of Islam, Zakat is the obligatory almsgiving in Islam.

^ii颈听Xuda, or Khuda, a Uyghur loanword from Persian, meaning God or Lord.听

^iv听Here it refers to Hajj, the Pilgrimage.听

^v听As in naan bread.听

^vi听Supra is a flat cotton sheet that functions as a pastry board, usually used when preparing nan.听

Harris, R. (2008). The making of a musical canon in Chinese Central Asia: the Uyghur Twelve Muqam. Aldershot: Ashgate.鈥�

Nathan, L. (2008). Intimate Heritage: Creating Uyghur Muqam Song in Xinjiang. Berlin: Lit Verlag.听

Wong, C.-F. (2012). Reinventing the Central Asian Rawap in Modern China: Musical Stereotypes, Minority Modernity, and Uyghur Instrumental Music.鈥疉sian Music,鈥�43(1), 34鈥�63.听

Wong, C.-F. (2013). Singing Muqam in Uyghur Pop: Minority Modernity and Popular Music in China.鈥疨opular Music & Society,鈥�36(1), 98鈥�118.听

A neighbourhood mosque in Qumul, Xinjiang

Two folk musicians visiting a Uyghur 尘盲丑盲濒濒盲 in an auto-rickshaw in the early hours of a Ramadan morning (Instruments: Dap and Ghijek). July 2013. Listen here to their music.

榴莲官网

Follow