On Nov. 2 at around 4:15 p.m., the Chapel carillon played a portion of Adhan. It was a small excerpt, but students emphasized the joy that it brought.. The Adhan was briefly broadcast to ensure that it functioned for the broadcast on Friday, where it will be played in full before the weekly Jummah prayers.
The Adhan is an essential part of Islamic culture. It is the call to prayer that unites Muslims and invites them to the mosque to pray. The Adhan is recited before each of the five daily prayers by someone designated as the mu’addhin, whose voice is broadcast on a speaker for all nearby to hear. The contents of the Adhan reaffirm the oneness of Allah and the final prophet, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The Adhan is not only used for daily prayer — it is also recited to affirm one’s faith, especially during the period of childbirth.
Fatima Basharat, the chaplain of for Muslim and Interfaith Life, explained the importance of the Adhan:
“It’s a spiritual reset. It is a reminder to silence the chaos and return to my inner self, to tend to what truly nourishes my soul. It’s also deeply emotional. Growing up in Pakistan, I’d hear multiple Adhans echoing from different minarets, five times a day. It takes me to the memories of my own childhood and evokes a deep sense of belonging and familiarity,” she said..
At Carleton, the Adhan will be used before Jummah, the Friday congregational prayer. Jummah is an important weekly practice for Muslims, and is accompanied by the iqamah, a second call to prayer. To further involve the community, the Muslim Student Association (MSA) is accepting applications for anyone interested in serving as mu’addhin.
The idea for the broadcast came from Carleton’s Muslim community MSA President Adam Paul explained, “ [College Chaplain Schuyler Vogel] and I have been having conversations about bringing the Adhan to campus since the summer. Every Muslim student I spoke with about it was excited to hear the possibilities we were exploring. Many, especially international students, described how much they miss hearing the Adhan regularly like they did back home.”
Some students noted that, given the Adhan’s importance, they wished the practice had been implemented earlier.
Paul said, “We have more Muslim students at Carleton than ever before, and it felt like the right time to explore new ways to support Muslim identity, faith, and practice at Carleton… I am grateful to see continued efforts by Carleton to both normalize and embrace Muslim identity and practice on campus.”
Basharat echoed this sentiment: “Given the response from our students, I do believe it should have arrived earlier. That said, I’m immensely grateful that it’s happening now at Carleton, which makes it all the more special,” she said.
When the Adhan was first heard across campus, it elicited a powerful response from several students.
“Hearing the Adhan on campus gives me hope in our struggle against misrepresentations of Islam, particularly around words like ‘Allahu akbar,’ which, to many ears, are removed from its original meaning (‘God is greatest’) and the communal function it serves to bring Muslims together and guide our prayers. Manipulated perceptions of Islam are designed to marginalize Muslims and repress our identities and practices, and introducing the Adhan to Carleton both supports Muslims’ sense of belonging and invites our campus to reflect on and challenge deep-seated assumptions about Islam,” said Paul.
“It will contribute to Carleton’s rich religious and cultural landscape,” said Vogel.“For Carleton to broadcast the Adhan is a profound act of solidarity and support for our Muslim community, to ensure everyone feels at home on campus, especially in a time when religious minorities are feeling increasingly threatened.”
The implementation of this religious tradition has generated hope among students seeking stronger representation.
Basharat said “Broadcasting the Adhan is a meaningful step that shows the college truly cares about supporting Muslim students. Moving forward, I hope Carleton continues accommodating Muslim students during religious observances like Ramadan, Eid, Muharram, Arbaeen, etc. Small gestures like flexibility during fasting periods or being mindful when scheduling major events around religious holidays make a real difference in helping students feel seen and valued. I also hope we can maintain and improve Muslim prayer spaces and halal food options.”
On how Carleton can continue building this support, Basharate said “The best path forward is keeping lines of communication open with students, learning what’s most meaningful to them, and working collaboratively to ensure that they feel they belong here.”