1. Sh A Nada
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The Egyptian Legacy of Quranic Recitation and Sh. Ahmad Nadā Approximately 1865 – early 1930`s
When listening to an Egyptian reciter of the Holy Qur’an, one sometimes ponders about the origin of this great legacy that has and still is inspiring listeners all over the world. How did it all begin and who were the pioneers of this remarkable empire? The surprising truth is that it is all attributed to one man. His name was sh. Ahmad Nadā and even though he passed away before the establishment of the Egyptian Broadcasting Corporation and thus, there are no available recordings of him today, his legacy lives on through his pupils who are regarded as the leaders in the field of Egyptian Quranic recitation and Inshād, which is non-instrumental religious singing. Herewith, a brief biography of Sh. Ahmad NadāSh. Ahmad ‘Abd as-Salām Ahmad, better known as Sh. Ahmad Nadā, lived for almost seventy years. He was born in the district of `Abbāsiyyah in Cairo in about 1865 and died in the early nineteen thirties before the establishment of the Broadcasting Corporation in 1934. His funeral was attended by tens of thousands including many government officials and delegates from various Islamic countries. Sh. Nadā was a student at the al-Azhar University and had completed the memorization of the Noble Qur`ān at a young age. He was later tutored in Quranic studies and excelled in the rules of recitation. It is only at the start of the twentieth century that the Sheikh began to recite in public and it was not long before his name became a household one. The honoured Sheikh was blessed with a beautiful voice as well as handsome features. With a fair complexion and tall stature, he stood out in a crowd. He took extreme care of his appearance and stressed the importance of good character, gaining repute as a man of discipline who evoked immediate admiration and respect. There was no radio in his time and reciters before him were given very little regard. When Sh. Nadā appeared on the public scene, everything changed. With his outstanding personality and manner of recital, an empire of Quranic recital was established. It became an empire of vocal talent and art of such a high standard that challenged the artists of the time. Sh. Ahmad Nadā was therefore aptly called `the founder of the empire of Quranic recitation` in Egypt. He had the strength and unique ability to recite for hours, without boring his audience, while ingeniously stimulating their feelings and minds. Sh. Nadā showed meticulous adherence to the rules of recitation. It was therefore natural for his house to be transformed to a minaret of knowledge and scholarship. It became a meeting place for scholars and artists alike. Well known Egyptian performers of the time who frequented Sh. Nadā’s house were Sh. Zakariyyā Ahmad, Sh. al-Bishrī, the later well renowned Muhammad ‘Abd al-Wahhāb, Sh. ‘Alī Mahmūd and Sh. Muhammad Rif’āt who was a close student of Sh. Nadā and like many others, was deeply impressed and influenced by the Sheikh’s manner and style.
The honourable Sheikh was appointed the official reciter of the mosque of as-Sayyidah Zainab and people from all over, laymen and intellectuals alike, came to listen to his extraordinary talent. Thousands of ardent admirers followed him wherever he was invited to recite, eagerly and patiently awaiting his presentations. Money poured in from all sides and he was showered with gold pounds. He was very soon able to buy a huge house near the as-Sayyidah Zainab square and thereafter bought himself a beautiful carriage that was drawn by six horses. The famous Egyptian author and scholar, Hafith Mahmūd, writes in the introduction to his book, ‘Melodies from heaven`: “The window of our house overlooked the mosque pf as-Sayyidah Zainab and the reciter of the mosque was Sh. Ahmad Nadā. We were able to hear his voice from a distance of 90 meters and this was at a time when there were no microphones. His recital was like a lecture in itself, for he was able to blend strength and sweetness.” Sh. ‘Abd al-‘Azīz al-Bishrī writes in his eulogy for the late Sheikh: “His, was the master of all voices and the strongest you’ve ever heard. He would be reading at the highest levels of his voice and you would expect the veins in his head to burst when unexpectedly he would ascend to an even higher level with unequalled ease and grace, effortlessly controlling his voice and sending it further to the clouds in the sky.” In 1977, Sh. Mustafa Ismail was asked if he ever recited with Sh. Ahmad Nadā. He answered: “No, but I had the honour of seeing him and listening to him once.” In 1980, the critique and journalist, Kamāl an-Nagmī, wrote in one of four articles published in the al-Kawākib magazine: “Even his contemporaries were in agreement that his voice was indescribable. It was both strong and delicate at the same time. It was a sweet voice and he was truly an expert, applying all the necessary rules as narrated from the Noble Prophet s.a.w. Before Sh. Ahmad Nadā, reciters of the Noble Qur`an were treated as paupers, reciting by the graveyard or teaching in homes and schools and doing nothing more. Sh. Ahmad was blessed with a voice like rare pearls that shone and glowed, dazzling yours eyes and filling your heart with the remembrance of Allah.” The honourable Sheikh had five children-three sons named Ahmad, Muhammad and Mahmūd and two daughters named Sakīnah and Zainab. Sh. Nadā laid the foundation for the great legends of Quranic reciters who came after him. We pray that the Almighty bless his soul and grant him a high place in Paradise. Āmīn. In the weeks following, we will look at the lives of two of his students, Sh. Muhammad Rif’at and Sh. ‘Ali Mahmud. We will be listening to some recitals of theirs and I hope that through their recitations we will be blessed with some insights into the genius of their mentor, Sh. Ahmad Nadā.
When listening to an Egyptian reciter of the Holy Qur’an, one sometimes ponders about the origin of this great legacy that has and still is inspiring listeners all over the world. How did it all begin and who were the pioneers of this remarkable empire? The surprising truth is that it is all attributed to one man. His name was sh. Ahmad Nadā and even though he passed away before the establishment of the Egyptian Broadcasting Corporation and thus, there are no available recordings of him today, his legacy lives on through his pupils who are regarded as the leaders in the field of Egyptian Quranic recitation and Inshād, which is non-instrumental religious singing. Herewith, a brief biography of Sh. Ahmad NadāSh. Ahmad ‘Abd as-Salām Ahmad, better known as Sh. Ahmad Nadā, lived for almost seventy years. He was born in the district of `Abbāsiyyah in Cairo in about 1865 and died in the early nineteen thirties before the establishment of the Broadcasting Corporation in 1934. His funeral was attended by tens of thousands including many government officials and delegates from various Islamic countries. Sh. Nadā was a student at the al-Azhar University and had completed the memorization of the Noble Qur`ān at a young age. He was later tutored in Quranic studies and excelled in the rules of recitation. It is only at the start of the twentieth century that the Sheikh began to recite in public and it was not long before his name became a household one. The honoured Sheikh was blessed with a beautiful voice as well as handsome features. With a fair complexion and tall stature, he stood out in a crowd. He took extreme care of his appearance and stressed the importance of good character, gaining repute as a man of discipline who evoked immediate admiration and respect. There was no radio in his time and reciters before him were given very little regard. When Sh. Nadā appeared on the public scene, everything changed. With his outstanding personality and manner of recital, an empire of Quranic recital was established. It became an empire of vocal talent and art of such a high standard that challenged the artists of the time. Sh. Ahmad Nadā was therefore aptly called `the founder of the empire of Quranic recitation` in Egypt. He had the strength and unique ability to recite for hours, without boring his audience, while ingeniously stimulating their feelings and minds. Sh. Nadā showed meticulous adherence to the rules of recitation. It was therefore natural for his house to be transformed to a minaret of knowledge and scholarship. It became a meeting place for scholars and artists alike. Well known Egyptian performers of the time who frequented Sh. Nadā’s house were Sh. Zakariyyā Ahmad, Sh. al-Bishrī, the later well renowned Muhammad ‘Abd al-Wahhāb, Sh. ‘Alī Mahmūd and Sh. Muhammad Rif’āt who was a close student of Sh. Nadā and like many others, was deeply impressed and influenced by the Sheikh’s manner and style.
The honourable Sheikh was appointed the official reciter of the mosque of as-Sayyidah Zainab and people from all over, laymen and intellectuals alike, came to listen to his extraordinary talent. Thousands of ardent admirers followed him wherever he was invited to recite, eagerly and patiently awaiting his presentations. Money poured in from all sides and he was showered with gold pounds. He was very soon able to buy a huge house near the as-Sayyidah Zainab square and thereafter bought himself a beautiful carriage that was drawn by six horses. The famous Egyptian author and scholar, Hafith Mahmūd, writes in the introduction to his book, ‘Melodies from heaven`: “The window of our house overlooked the mosque pf as-Sayyidah Zainab and the reciter of the mosque was Sh. Ahmad Nadā. We were able to hear his voice from a distance of 90 meters and this was at a time when there were no microphones. His recital was like a lecture in itself, for he was able to blend strength and sweetness.” Sh. ‘Abd al-‘Azīz al-Bishrī writes in his eulogy for the late Sheikh: “His, was the master of all voices and the strongest you’ve ever heard. He would be reading at the highest levels of his voice and you would expect the veins in his head to burst when unexpectedly he would ascend to an even higher level with unequalled ease and grace, effortlessly controlling his voice and sending it further to the clouds in the sky.” In 1977, Sh. Mustafa Ismail was asked if he ever recited with Sh. Ahmad Nadā. He answered: “No, but I had the honour of seeing him and listening to him once.” In 1980, the critique and journalist, Kamāl an-Nagmī, wrote in one of four articles published in the al-Kawākib magazine: “Even his contemporaries were in agreement that his voice was indescribable. It was both strong and delicate at the same time. It was a sweet voice and he was truly an expert, applying all the necessary rules as narrated from the Noble Prophet s.a.w. Before Sh. Ahmad Nadā, reciters of the Noble Qur`an were treated as paupers, reciting by the graveyard or teaching in homes and schools and doing nothing more. Sh. Ahmad was blessed with a voice like rare pearls that shone and glowed, dazzling yours eyes and filling your heart with the remembrance of Allah.” The honourable Sheikh had five children-three sons named Ahmad, Muhammad and Mahmūd and two daughters named Sakīnah and Zainab. Sh. Nadā laid the foundation for the great legends of Quranic reciters who came after him. We pray that the Almighty bless his soul and grant him a high place in Paradise. Āmīn. In the weeks following, we will look at the lives of two of his students, Sh. Muhammad Rif’at and Sh. ‘Ali Mahmud. We will be listening to some recitals of theirs and I hope that through their recitations we will be blessed with some insights into the genius of their mentor, Sh. Ahmad Nadā.
