Muezzin

The müezzin (the word is Turkish; in Arabic: mu'addin) is a servant at the mosque who calls to prayer (adhan) five times a day from one of the mosque's minarets (in most modern mosques, amplifiers have replaced the müezzin).

The müezzin is chosen the serve at the mosque for his good character and voice. When calling to prayer, the müezzin faces each of the four compass directions in turn and cries: "Allah is most great. I testify that there is no God but Allah. I testify that Muhammad is the prophet of Allah. Come to prayer. Come to salvation. Allah is most great. There is no God but Allah." During the prayer, the müezzin in some mosques stand on a special platform (called the müezzin mahfili in Turkish), opposite the minbar in the mosque and answer the Imam's sermons.

See also: salah, minbar