🔔 Delving into NAQUS: The Islamic Perspective on Bells
Definition
Naqus (نَاقُوس) refers to bells or the sound produced by them. Historically, it holds various connotations across different cultures and is mentioned in multiple historical Islamic sources.
Etymology
The Arabic word نَاقُوس (naqus) derives from older Semitic languages. The term naqasha in Arabic means “to ring” or “to strike,” reflecting the action involved in using a bell.
Background
The use of bells (Naqus) in Islamic history is multi-faceted. In pre-Islamic Arabia, bells were part of daily life, used in temples, during ceremonies, and by camel drivers to guide caravans with rhythm. However, with the advent of Islam, the role and perception of bells underwent a transformation.
Cultural Differences and Similarities
- Middle Eastern Islam: Bells are often absent in traditional religious contexts due to the association of their sound with pre-Islamic and non-Muslim ceremonies.
- Islam in East Asia: In Indonesia and Malaysia, bells sometimes accompany traditional arts and cultural events without necessarily signifying religious affiliation.
- Turkish and Central Asian Islam: Eastern practices often incorporate a profound tolerance for diverse customs, including the acceptable use of bells for cultural, musical purposes but largely separate from religious activities.
Overall, Islamic thought encourages prayer calls (adhan) by the human voice (muezzin) rather than mechanical or musical instruments, in contrast to Christianity’s church bells.
Synonyms
- Jaras (جَرَس): Refers to small bells or chimes typically used on animals.
- Bell (English)
Antonyms
- Adhan (أذان): The call to prayer made by a human voice in Islamic tradition.
Related Terms
- Adhan (أذان): The call to prayer.
- Muezzin (مؤذن): The person who calls Muslims to prayer.
- Iqama (إقامة): The second call to prayer indicating the immediate start of the prayer.
Exciting Facts
- Bells depict a significant cultural symbolism in Afghan karez wells to indicate groundwater levels.
- In some apocryphal tales, it is claimed that Prophet Muhammad forbade the use of bells as they resembled the sounds associated with the devil.
Quotations
- “The Naqus may echo past traditions, but the heart should resonate with the call to unity and devotion.” - Fakhr al-Din al-Razi
- “In the purity of a human’s voice, we find the closest approach to sincere reverence, untouched by idle craft.” - Ibn Taymiyyah
References
- Al-Ghazali, Hujjat al-Islam, Ihya Ulum al-Din.
- Asad, Muhammad. The Message of the Qur’an.
- Nasr, Seyyed Hossein. Islamic Art and Spirituality.
Suggested Literature for Further Studies
- “The Call to Prayer: Islamic Tradition and Modern Reformation” by Dr. Aisha Mahmud
- “Cultural Confluences: Bells Across Muslim Civilizations” by Omar ibn Bakr
- “Faith and Form: Aesthetics of Islamic Spiritual Practices” by Laila Ibn Gafar
Quizzes
📚 Keep Exploring & Reflecting! Until next time, may your pursuit of knowledge be ever enriching and illuminating.
- Ibrahim Khidr, October 2023
