Hezzab Explained

The Hezzab (Arabic: حَزَّاب) is the hafiz or qāriʾ supervising or participating in the Hizb Rateb in mosques and zawiyas in Algeria according to the Algerian Islamic reference under the supervision of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments.^[1]

History

Mosques in Algeria recruit several hezzabine as salaried employees responsible for reciting the Hizb Rateb on a daily basis, as well as the Salka periodically, under the supervision of a Bash Hezzab.^{[2] [3]}

As an example, the had its employees such as Wakil, Imam and Hezzab among others.^{[4] [5]}

Characteristics

The hezzab should be a hafiz of the Quran as a whole, with the narration of Warsh recitation.^{[6] [7]}

When accomplishing the Tilawa, the condition of memorizing the entire Quran is due to the fact that it is not suitable and acceptable for him to read from the Mus'haf while he leads the group of readers (Arabic: ناس الحضور) and directing them at the same time.^[8]

It is good for him to obtain a Quran Idjaza from an accredited body such as a zawiya or an Islamic institute to prove his merit for the position and religious responsibility.^[9]

And he must possess a strong vocal layer that allows him to dominate the voice over the entirety of the qāriʾs during the Hizb Rateb recitation.^[10]

This is because the reading stations of the hezzab make its circle attractive, and dozens or even hundreds of worshipers visit the mosque for the daily participation in this collective recitation.^[11]

According to the degree of skill, discipline, attractiveness of voice and performance, the hezzab can rise to the rank of Bash Hezzab in the large mosques that contain many hezzabine.^[12]

After that, he can be promoted to the rank of a muezzin and then imam, as was done in the past in the Algerian mosques and zawiyas.^{[13] [14]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: وزارة الشؤون الدينية والأوقاف. www.marw.dz.
2. Web site: ص32 - كتاب تاريخ الجزائر الثقافي - مساجد العاصمة - المكتبة الشاملة الحديثة. al-maktaba.org.
3. Web site: Les édifices religieux de l'ancien Alger. Albert. Devoulx. January 6, 1870. Bastide. Google Books.
4. Book: النخب الجزائرية: 1892–1942. خالد. بوهند. المركز العربي للأبحاث ودراسة. السياسات. August 1, 2020. المركز العربي للأبحاث ودراسة السياسات. 9786144453506. Google Books.
5. Web site: Revue africaine. Société historique. algérienne. January 6, 1875. La Société. Google Books.
6. Web site: الجامع ليس للصلاة فقط. جزايرس.
7. Web site: Revue des sociétés savantes des departements. January 6, 1882. Imprimerie nationale.. Google Books.
8. Book: المختار/السوسي, محمد. مدارس سوس العتيقة - نظامها - أساتذتها: و يليه رجالات العلم العربي في سوس من القرن الخامس الهجري الى منتصف القرن الرابع عشر. January 1, 2015. Dar Al Kotob Al Ilmiyah دار الكتب العلمية. 9782745100733. Google Books.
9. Book: النخب الجزائرية: 1892–1942. خالد. بوهند. المركز العربي للأبحاث ودراسة. السياسات. August 1, 2020. المركز العربي للأبحاث ودراسة السياسات. 9786144453506. Google Books.
10. Web site: ص81 - كتاب تاريخ الجزائر الثقافي - بعض أعيان المدرسين في العاصمة - المكتبة الشاملة الحديثة. al-maktaba.org.
11. Book: النخب الجزائرية: 1892–1942. خالد. بوهند. المركز العربي للأبحاث ودراسة. السياسات. August 1, 2020. المركز العربي للأبحاث ودراسة السياسات. 9786144453506. Google Books.
12. Book: النخب الجزائرية: 1892–1942. خالد. بوهند. المركز العربي للأبحاث ودراسة. السياسات. August 1, 2020. المركز العربي للأبحاث ودراسة السياسات. 9786144453506. Google Books.
13. Web site: ص367 - كتاب تاريخ الجزائر الثقافي - الهيئة الدينية - المكتبة الشاملة الحديثة. al-maktaba.org.
14. Web site: Code de l'Algérie annoté: recueil chronologique des lois, ordonnances, décrets, arrêtés, circulaires, etc., formant la législation algérienne actuellement en vigeur, avec les travaux préparatoires et l'indication de la jurisprudence, suivi d'une table alphabétique de concordance. January 6, 1896. A. Jourdan. Google Books.