Madeeh Explained

Madeeh (Arabic: مديح madīḥ) is a song-like recitation of Islamic poetry praising Allah and the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Ethnomusicologist Artur Simon described madeeh as "praise, praise poem, glorification and, in this context, praise hymn in honour of Allah and Muhammad.^{[1] [2]} It is usually recited by one male performer or a small group of men and may be accompanied by hand clapping or traditional hand drums.

Religious practice in Islamic societies

The poetic lyrics of madeeh typically express emotional religiosity akin to Sufi rituals or moral religious concepts. Usually they are performed in private celebrations or public festivities, such as the mawlid-an-Nabi, but may also be heard in the alleys of traditional markets.

Similar in religious expression, madeeh is different from the communal performance of dhikr recitations. Other forms of group performances in the musical culture of Sudan, Egypt and other communities in East Africa or the Middle East are called zār or tambura and are performed by women only.^[3]

See also

• Sufism
• Music of Sudan

Further reading

• Simon, Artur (ed.) (1998). Ḏikr und Madīḥ: islamische Gesänge und Zeremonien im Sudan, Museum Collection Berlin 22 and 23, [2 CDs, incl. notes by A. Simon]
• Zenkovsky, S. (1950). ‘Zar and Tambura as practised by the women of Omdurman’, Sudan Notes and Records, 31, pp. 65–85

Notes and References

1. Book: Simon, Artur. Sudan, Republic of. Grove Music Online. 2001. 978-1-56159-263-0. 10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.27077.
2. "Madīḥ means praise, praise poem, glorification and, in this context, praise hymn in honour of Allah and the Prophet Muhammad. One of the most famous madīḥ traditions in northern Sudan can be traced back to its founder Hajj El-Mahi, who lived in Kassinger near Kareima from c1780 to 1870. He is said to have composed about 330 religious poems that continue to be sung with an accompaniment of two ṭar. His descendants still cultivate this tradition. The song texts often reveal rapturous religiosity or moral intent. Their performance is part of private celebrations or public festivities, and can also be heard in the streets of the markets." Source: Artur Simon, 2001.
3. Web site: The Egyptian "zar" ritual. 2021-08-17. Qantara.de - Dialogue with the Islamic World. en.