:: b o r d e r : h o p p i n g :: writing : journalesque : Adhan

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Adhan

by Eva Peskin | 2009

Allahu akhbar
Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah

Is it noon already? Abi and Finaa walk past my open door, their heads covered. No time to chat now.

Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah

The world stops now. From my window, I see familiar faces trickle into the courtyard. I sometimes wish I were going with them. At this hour, Abdou does not shout hello to the laundry lady; Mor Talla and Ali meet in the hall and proceed to the mosque with no words exchanged. The jovial greetings and chatter that normally waft into my room have been replaced with a palpable silence. All voices yield to the inhale of muezzin, drawing the initiates to their purpose.

Hayya 'alas-salah
Hayya 'alaa'l-falah

Everyone sits facing Mecca. I spot Cheikh and Bayedallaye among the mass, their faces concentrated and serene. They don’t see me as I pass. They sit in stillness and I walk by, going no place important, the Resto maybe. The whole world has stopped and I’m outside of it.

As-salatu khayru min an-nawm

Transfixed by the voice on the loudspeaker, they sit frozen in time. I have to go check my e-mail.

Allahu akbar
La ilaha illallah

Related work by Eva Peskin:
Going (Coming) Home
Centre-ville
The Resto
Ataaya
Hotel de le Jeunesse

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