Azan is called out in a New York Church! Allahu Akbar! Praised be Allah!

This calling of the Azan in the Marble Collegiate Church located at 275, Fifth Avenue, in Manhattan, New York City, USA was made during a recent inter faith dialogue between Christians, Jews and Muslims living there.


Friends ask me about the permissibility of calling out the Azan in a Christian Church?


Is it allowed in Islam?


Well, frankly speaking, I think one has to take the prevailing circumstances into account before responding to comment on  such an action?


Why was the Azan being called out in the first instance in that church?


From what I gather from the blog reports coming concerning the calling of the Azan in the particular church on that event was that the organizers of the interfaith dialog wanted to give respect to the attending members of the Muslim congregation and asked them as to how best to accord to them the respect and recognition of their presence in the gathering?

From this blog, it states that the head of the Muslim delegation, Imam Muhammad Syamsi Ali, Chairman of the Masjid Al Hikmah at 48-1, 31st Avenue, Long Island City in New York responded by saying that the calling of the Azan would be best.


It states here that a Christopher Herbert, a baritone artist took up the task of calling out the Azan in such a beautiful manner and with his pleasant baritone voice as witnessed above in the video.

From my follow up study as to the person by that name here, it states that he is an opera singer.


I do not know if he is a Muslim or what but the way the person said to be him has called out the Azan correctly and in such a beautiful manner can only make folks like me wish that he is a Muslim or will soon become one. Insya Allah.


Now, if you ask me as to what is my opinion with regard to the calling of the Azan by one who might be not a Muslim in the true sense of the word, I can only state my opinion being that all Children of Adam Alaihis Salam @ mankind are by the state of 'Fitrah' originating from Adam and Eve who were the first Muslims. What more being our Parents for we who are Muslims believe in the Creation of Adam Alaihis Salam to be the first Man and from him henceforth came all the generations of humankind who eventually returned to their origin of where their essence were taken from Mother Earth?


So, if you were to ask me whether it's right or wrong for a Non Muslim to call out the Azan as what this Christopher Herbert is said to have done, I find no fault in such an action for the occasion was unique and was an interfaith dialog between Christians, Jews and Muslims living there in New York, a melting pot for humanity in the USA.


It all depends on one's intentions and the circumstances that led to the man volunteering to call out the Azan and in the beautiful manner that he did.


It could be a one off incident but we need to appreciate the prevailing circumstances that led to the wonderful moment where the Azan was called out in such a manner that it reverberated throughout the church interiors in a splendid acoustic environment!


I wonder as to how those gathered there at the event would have been moved by the experience?


Listening to the azan in such surroundings would surely have a profound effect in those whose hearts seek God!


I have always believed that devoted Christians would be the closest in faith and inclinations towards seeking True God Almighty just as we Muslims do!


We are the closest in faith towards the Almighty. The only thing that differentiates us Muslims and the Christians are the concept of God.


Muslims worship only One True God ~ Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala whereas Christians go on and worship their Trinitarian Concept of God, the 3 in 1 godhood they say is their god the father, god the son and god the holy ghost.


It only takes a Christian the courage and clarity that there can only be One God and that Jesus that they claim to be God's Son is but a noble messenger of God who was sent only to the Israelites as even what is said to be their bible claims as such :

<< Matthew 15:24 >>

New International Version (©1984) He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." New Living Translation (©2007) Then Jesus said to the woman, "I was sent only to help God's lost sheep--the people of Israel." English Standard Version (©2001) He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” New American Standard Bible (©1995) But He answered and said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." International Standard Version (©2008) But he replied, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel." GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995) Jesus responded, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel." King James Bible But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. American King James Version But he answered and said, I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. American Standard Version But he answered and said, I was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Bible in Basic English But he made answer and said, I was sent only to the wandering sheep of the house of Israel. Douay-Rheims Bible And he answering, said: I was not sent but to the sheep that are lost of the house of Israel. Darby Bible Translation But he answering said, I have not been sent save to the lost sheep of Israel's house. English Revised Version But he answered and said, I was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Webster's Bible Translation But he answered and said, I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Weymouth New Testament "I have only been sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel," He replied. World English Bible But he answered, "I wasn't sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Young's Literal Translation and he answering said, 'I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.' Even though it is so crystal clear in the verse above no matter as to how many versions of the Bible the Christians have come up with, the answer that Eesa Alaihis Salam is said to have given them that he the Messiah is sent by God ONLY TO THE LOST SHEEP (PEOPLE) OF ISRAEL and not to other tribes and people of the world, such a clear statement escapes those whose hearts and minds are sealed by their own volition or choice! All we can do as Muslims is to share with them what we have come to learn about the truth with regard to Isa ibnu Mariam to be but another noble messenger of Allah and not the 'son' of God as he is made out to be by the Christians. Na'uzubillah! God Forbid!  Allah clearly states His Being free of any such association here in the Surah Al Ikhlas!  So, to me, the question as to whether it is alright for a Non Muslim to have called out the Azan in as beautiful a manner as what this Christopher Herbert is said to have done, I can only wish him well and that eventually he will really believe in the Kalimah Syahadah that he has called out so perfectly and well in the Azan. As for the Catholic Church here in Malaysia wanting to be allowed to use the term 'Allah' for their Church publications to refer to their concept of Trinitarian 3 in 1 'Godhood', its entirely a different matter. It is blasphemous to claim as such for Allah the Eternal, the Absolute is truly Unique and must never be associated with what they claim Him to be! Such calling of the Azan in a Christian Church is not the first. There have been other instances. Here's one that took place in Rome: There have also been instances where Christians visit the mosque to learn about how Muslims pray to and worship Allah our True God Almighty : Have these Christian visitors become Muslims? No. They have just learned about the Islamic manner of worship. Faith is a different matter. They now know the meanings of the Muslim prayers. Its entirely up to each person to study and investigate about Islam if they so wish on their own. Here's a video showing a Swiss Artist by the name of Johannes Gees who is a Non Muslim man who so loves the Azan that he goes on a mission to set up sound bombs playing out the Azan in church steeples and valleys of Switzerland. I think he is also quite a gifted  sound engineer. So creative. :) Johannes Gees has a mission to change the Swiss's attitude against Islam. I feel that such an action isn't right for it sort of violates the sanctity of those buildings of another faith and its occupants! The fact that these actions are but the work of a Non Muslim has probably not sparked off a chain of events and caused friction between Christians and Muslims there in Switzerland but it has happened way back in 2007 and we can only watch such actions here on You Tube as to the connection that the Azan has to us human beings regardless of faith. The man simply loves the sound of the Azan and in this instance it is the Azan from Masjidil Haraam in Makkah al Mukkarramah, Arabia. Just imagine the impact it must have made on those unsuspecting people who were suddenly assailed by the broadcasting of the Azan in a country not known to have such Azans being called out loud in such a manner?  One old lady is even caught on video here saying it doesn't disturb her at all and prefers listening to the Azan instead of the Pope! :P How would we respond if the others were to pull the same stunt unto us? World War 3 would be unleashed! God Forbid! Here's another Non Muslim lady who accords due respect to the Azan :  May Allah bless her with His Guidance and Blessings. Ameen. Here's an Azan from one of my favorite Callers to Islam, the beloved Allahyarham Al Ustaz Mohd Asri bin Ibrahim, lead vocal of Malaysian Nasyeed champions Rabbani : May Allah shower him with the best of Jannahtul Firdaus. Ameen. Let's now listen to the real deal straight from the holiest spot here on Earth : May we all be blessed and guided by Allah the Most Merciful to live a life free from harm and to be showered with His Mercy and Blessings. Ameen.