Travel, trade and sometimes political expansion contributed to the dissemination of and often profound changes to peoples鈥 religious beliefs along the Silk Roads. Religion brought along traditions, which were then adopted and assimilated into local cultures to varying degrees. One such practice that is kept alive in the wider Islamic world from North Africa to South, Southeast and Central Asia is the chanting of Ramadan songs during Islam鈥檚 holy month of Ramadan. With simple, humorous lyrics and rhythmic melodies, Ramadan songs are typically performed by a male drummer/singer who strolls the streets of Muslim communities, drumming and chanting before sunrise to wake the worshipers for听suhoor听- the predawn meal. In the past, these drummers, or simply Ramadan singers, were assigned by local rulers with an official wage. Nowadays, amateur enthusiasts practice it either out of faith or by inheriting it within the family as a one-month profession. Awaken by the Ramadan music, it is customary for the faithful in the community to offer the singers/drummers tips or food to honour their service. Modern technology, such as alarm clocks and smartphones, has contributed to the diminishing role of these singers. In some cases, the increasing presence of the non-Muslim population in traditionally Muslim-dominant neighbourhoods has also resulted in the banning of Ramadan songs due to the 鈥榠nconvenience鈥 and noise brought to the non-believers. Regardless, this practice persists in many parts of the world.听
滨苍听Qumul, the Eastern gateway to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China, the Ramadan musical tradition was well alive and widely practiced amongst the Uyghurs until very recently.听Ramazanchi, the Ramadan singer, is conventionally a male who sings well and plays at least one musical instrument such as听dap听- the framed hand drum, or听ghijek听- the two-stringed Central Asian fiddle. Either solo or in a group, Ramadan singers promenade through the Uyghur听尘盲丑盲濒濒盲i听door by door, performing until greeted by the host with听nan, freshly prepared food for听suhoor, or in recent years, simply cash. While it is entirely acceptable for the singers to keep the offerings to themselves, some portion of the money collected is sometimes brought voluntarily to the neighbourhood mosque as听zakatii听to be distributed to the needy.听Unlike North Africa and the Arab world, a听Ramazanchi听in Qumul usually prefers to remain anonymous and, therefore, tends to visit neighbourhoods other than his own where the chances of being recognised by others are much lower.听
As an integral part of Qumul听苍盲驳丑尘盲濒颈谤颈听(a repertoire of folk songs), Ramadan lyrics are composed of four-line stanzas with the last two lines acting as refrains. These songs delineate the importance of religious piety and community spirit and capture the gender and age dynamics within the confines of traditions. While the refrains emphasise the joy and happiness that Ramadan brings, by detailing the deeds of the Prophet, his Companions and direct descendants, these songs are a keen representation of the virtues of observing Ramadan and the unfavourable consequences of failing to do so.
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Let鈥檚 begin by commemorating Xuda,iii
And elate the spirit of the Prophets;听
Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听
When Muhammad called us to be one.
卅蹠蹕蹠賱鈥ㄘж促勜з锯赌囏з嗁夆赌娯ж赌愗壻呝壶测赌
倬蹠蹛睾蹠賲亘蹠乇賱蹠乇乇賵诰賶賳賶鈥簇ж赌愗壻呝壶蔡
貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬
.賲蹏诰蹠賲賲蹠鬲鈥堎呚ㄛ曍赌愙曎嗏赌篡囏必з呝壶藏з
It was Omer Ali, who once sang Ramadan songs,听
Bequeathing us such a legacy;听
Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听
Merrily comes the Ramadan with blessings.听
貙乇丕賲賶夭丕賳鈥愘娯壻锯赌嗀冔曎嗏赌嗁呟曍扁赌愘胜壧
.卅賵賱丕乇丿賶賳鈥傌з勜贺з嗏赌壻冔曎嗏赌嗃囏池з胜壶辟壧
貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬
.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬
Assalamu Alaikum oh those rich who are still asleep,听
Those who have been blessed with the zakat of this Ramadan;听
Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听
When Muhammad called us to be one.
貙卅蹠爻爻丕賱丕賲蹏鈥曎勠曎娰冔囐呪赌娯ж傌з嗏赌ㄘз娰勜ж碧
.乇賵夭賶賳賶诃鈥藏з冐ж壶贺р赌矩ж傌з嗏赌ㄘз娰勜ж碧
貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬
賲蹏诰蹠賲賲蹠鬲鈥堎呚ㄛ曍赌愙曎嗏赌篡囏必з呝壶藏з喬
By the age of six, Hassan, grandson of the Prophet听
Completed six journeys from Mecca to Medina;颈惫听
Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听
Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听
貙倬蹠賷睾蹠賲亘蹠乇鈥堌嘿勝 诰蹠爻蹠賳鈥ωз勜曗娯ж簇ж碧
.賲蹠賰賰賶丿賶賳鈥-鈥呟曍壻嗁壼曗赌驰曎冑冑壶测赌ㄘж池ж碧
貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬
.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬
Having fasted for fifteen days, we come to your door,听
Please offer us your zakat for Ramadan;听
Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听
Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听
貙乇賵夭賶賳賶鈥堎嗀ㄛ曍粹赌囏囐锯赌冔曎勜囐傗赌迟壶糙
.乇蹏夭賶賳賶诃鈥藏з冐ж壻嗁夆赌ㄛ愗辟壼赌ㄙ壶糙曁
貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬
.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬
Fast and pray for the sake of your being,听
Do the good deeds and offer zakat for the things you own;听
Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听
Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听
貙乇賵夭賶鈥囏屸赌嗀з呚ж测赌嗀曗赌з嗁壼赌堏嗃堎喬
.禺蹠賷乇賶鈥傎壻勨赌藏з冐ж嗁夆赌ㄛ曍扁赌呚з胜壼赌堏嗃堎喬
貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬
.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬
Sacred is the tenth day of the Ramadan, Where have those Muslims who were amongst us last year gone?听
Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听
Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听
貙乇賵夭賶賳賶诃鈥堎嗁夆赌冔堎嗁夆赌傌ж壶扁赌冔堎嗁夆赌
.亘蹏賱鬲蹏乇賯賶鈥呟囏驰囐胜呚з嗁勜ж扁赌ㄛ囐娰壻勨赌傐愘嗁壧
貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬
.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬
Another Ramadan will come following this one,听
Who will die and who will be born is known only to Allah;听
Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听
When Muhammad called us to be one. 听
貙亘蹏鈥辟堌藏р赌堌驰曗赌娵曎嗃曗赌辟堌藏р赌冑壻勠囏扁赌
.賰賶賲鈥嗁勠嗁锯赌冑壻呪赌壶辟壻勠囏扁赌ωз胜勜р赌ㄙ壻勠囏碧
貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬
賲蹏诰蹠賲賲蹠鬲鈥堎呚ㄛ曍赌愙曎嗏赌篡囏必з呝壶藏з喬
Over your gate shines the beautiful moon,听
Of all the households, yours appears the most affluent;听
Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听
Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听
貙卅賶卮賶賰賶诃賳賶诃鈥ㄘж促壶р赌ωз娾赌冔嗀辟壻嗃曍碧
.诰蹠賲賲蹠鈥嗁娯壻嗏赌呝堌篡団赌嗁娾赌ㄘй愨赌冔嗀辟壻嗃曍碧
貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬
.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬
What you slaughtered for the Ramadan was a spotted lamb,听
If you eat the meat, do leave me the breast bones;听
Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听
Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听
貙乇賵夭賶丿丕鈥嗁勜堌壁壻嗁壼赌冔嗁冣赌ωз勜р赌傎堎娞
.诏蹎卮賶賳賶鈥嗀槽嗂赌娰壶驰曏屫嗀促壻嗁夆赌傎堎娞
貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬
.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬
Your beautiful white house will become a palace,听
The son you have is destined to become a Mullah.听
Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听
When Muhammad called us to be one. 听
貙卅丕賯 卅蹎賷蹎诃鈥ωз举矩з傗嗁娵嗂堌必рㄙ堎勠囏碧
.卅蹎賷蹐诃丿蹠鈥ㄙ壶扁赌堌嘿勠嘱赌ㄘж扁赌呝堎胜勜р赌ㄙ堎勠囏碧
貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬
賲蹏诰蹠賲賲蹠鬲鈥堎呚ㄛ曍赌愙曎嗏赌篡囏必з呝壶藏з喬
Your backyard is covered with sheep hoofprints,听
Come out quickly and give us听nan听oh the daughter of the well-to-do.v
Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听
Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听
貙卅蹎賷賱賶乇賶賳賶诃鈥ωж 賯賶爻賶鈥傎堎娰嗁壼壺操夆
.倬丕鬲鈥嗁壻傎壻锯赌嗀з嗏赌ㄛ曍必迟壻勠曗赌嗀з娰嗁壼赌傎壶操夆赌
貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬
.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬
Hammer your pegs there, hammer your pegs here,听
Shake your听supra听if there is no flour left in your flour sack;vi
Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听
Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听
貙賯賵夭蹏賯賳賶鈥囐娵曍壁曗赌傌з傌屸赌ㄛ囐娵曍壁曗赌傌з偺
.禺丕賱鬲丕诃丿丕鈥囐嗏赌傌з胜呝壶池р赌驰囐矩必и嗁夆赌傌з傗赌
貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬
.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬
This Ramadan is a guest of thirty days,听
Those who do not fast are indeed like some animals;听
Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听
When Muhammad called us to be one. 听
貙亘蹏鈥辟堌藏р赌堌囏测赌冔堎嗏赌呟愙举呚з嗁壶囏碧
.乇賵夭賶賳賶 鬲蹏鬲賲賶睾丕賳賱丕乇鈥矩з娵嬝з嗁壺囏碧
貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬
賲蹏诰蹠賲賲蹠鬲鈥堎呚ㄛ曍赌愙曎嗏赌篡囏必з呝壶藏з喬
It will soon be late, if we sing so much at every place, 听
Whatever you have offered will become unacceptable. 听
Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听
Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听
貙诰蹠乇鈥娵曍必曗赌篡囐嗂嗃曗赌愘娯池з傗赌冔曏嗏赌ㄙ堎胜壶団赌
.亘蹠乇诏賶賳賶诃鈥ㄛ曍辟呝壼壻嗁壼赌聚曍粹赌ㄙ堎胜壶団赌
貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬
.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬
The firewood, this white firewood, this dry firewood, 听
A woman who refuses to offer听nan听to the Ramadan singer is indeed ugly.听
Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听
Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听
貙亘蹏鈥堌囐嗏赌ωз举矩з傗赌堌囐嗀屸赌傌ж簇з勨赌堌囐喬
.乇丕賲賶夭丕賳趩賶睾丕鈥嗀з嗏赌ㄛ曍辟呝壼曎嗏赌呚з娰呚з傗赌堌囐
貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬
.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬
This world is like a pigeon coop, 听
One flies away, while another comes to land;听
Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听
When Muhammad called us to be one.听
貙亘蹏鈥ωз勠曎呪赌ㄛ曗赌з娰夆赌冔曎矩曍扁赌з嗁壶囏碧
.亘賶乇賶鈥嘱嗀池р赌ㄙ壶辟夆赌冑壻胜壻锯赌傎堎嗀ж囏碧
貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬
賲蹏诰蹠賲賲蹠鬲鈥堎呚ㄛ曍赌愙曎嗏赌篡囏必з呝壶藏з喬
Grandmother got up to fetch flour,听
The container tipped over and knocked her down.听
Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听
Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听
貙賲賵賲丕賷鈥傎堎矩夆赌冔嗁嗀堎冐壻嗏赌囐嗏赌ωз勜嘿壻胜夆赌
.賰蹎賳丿蹐賰鈥嗀臂堎勜夆赌呝堎呚з娰嗁夆赌ㄘж迟傎壻胜壧
貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬
.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬
Grandfather got up to catch a lamb from the sheds,听
The door slammed 听and knocked him down;听
Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听
When Muhammad called us to be one.听
貙亘賵蹕丕賷鈥傎堎矩夆赌冔嗁嗀堎冐壻嗏赌傎堎娾赌囏傎壻胜夆赌
.賯賵睾賶鈥囏臂囐勜夆赌ㄙ堐嬝з娰嗁夆赌ㄘж迟傎壻胜壧
貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬
賲蹏诰蹠賲賲蹠鬲鈥堎呚ㄛ曍赌愙曎嗏赌篡囏必з呝壶藏з喬
Your house is filled with beans inside-out,听
And you have a son at home who is not so bright;听
Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听
When Muhammad called us to be one.听
貙卅蹎賷蹐诃賳賶诃鈥壼嗁夆赌-鈥愗促夆赌з嗀堚赌聚囏壁嗀з偺
.卅蹎賷賶诃丿蹠鈥ㄙ壶扁赌堌嘿勠嘱赌ㄘж扁赌з呪赌傌з矩з傗赌
貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬
賲蹏诰蹠賲賲蹠鬲鈥堎呚ㄛ曍赌愙曎嗏赌篡囏必з呝壶藏з喬
Your house is filled with camelthorn firewood,听
But you, clumsy woman, did not even come out to greet us.听
Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听
Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听
貙卅蹎賷賶诃賳賶诃鈥壼嗁夆赌愗促夆赌娯з嗀з傗赌堌囐喬
.卅蹎賷賶诃丿賶賳鈥ㄙ壶扁赌嗁壻傎呝壶壼赌呚з娰呚з傗赌堌囐喬
貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬
.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬
The Prophet rode the white stallion,听
Cracked the whip and embarked on journey of struggle;听
Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听
When Muhammad called us to be one.听
貙倬蹠賷睾蹠賲亘蹠乇鈥呝壻嗀夆赌ωз傌ㄙ堌测赌ωж嗁壼赌娯з胜壶贺
.爻丕賱丿賶鈥傌з呞嗀р赌冑壶必夆赌曏嗁壼赌娰堎胜壶贺
貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬
賲蹏诰蹠賲賲蹠鬲鈥堎呚ㄛ曍赌愙曎嗏赌篡囏必з呝壶藏з喬
We came to your doorstep to sing you Ramadan songs,听
惭补测听Xuda听present you a baby boy for your cradle.听
Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听
Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听
貙乇丕賲賶夭丕賳鈥愘娯壻锯赌冔曎勜囐傗赌壶促壻冑壼曁
.禺蹏丿丕賷賶賲鈥堌痕囐勨赌ㄛ曍必驰囐嗏赌ㄛ嗀篡堎冔堏曗赌
貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬
.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬
We shall not be tired of singing Ramadan songs,听
Nor shall we return until you give us six听nans.听
Oh our Lord, Allah the Creator, oh this Ramadan,听
Merrily comes with blessings this Ramadan.听
貙乇丕賲賶夭丕賳鈥愘娯壻锯赌愘娯壻锯赌矩ж辟呚з娯壻呝壶蔡
.卅丕賱鬲蹠鈥嗀з嗏赌ㄛ曍辟呝壼壼嗃曗赌娯з嗁呚з娯壻呝壶测赌
貙乇蹠亘亘賶賲鈥ωз胜勜ж屸赌臂曍ㄘㄙ壻呪赌ωз胜勜р赌必з呝壶藏з喬
.禺賵卮鈥呟囏ㄘж臂曎冣赌冑壻胜壶団赌篡団赌必з呝壶藏з喬
Endnotes:颈听In Central Asia and parts of the Indian subcontinent, a 尘盲丑盲濒濒盲 refers to a neighbourhood or local community.
i颈听One of the five pillars of Islam, Zakat is the obligatory almsgiving in Islam.
ii颈听Xuda, or Khuda, a Uyghur loanword from Persian, meaning God or Lord.听
iv听Here it refers to Hajj, the Pilgrimage.听
v听As in naan bread.听
vi听Supra is a flat cotton sheet that functions as a pastry board, usually used when preparing nan.听
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Harris, R. (2008). The making of a musical canon in Chinese Central Asia: the Uyghur Twelve Muqam. Aldershot: Ashgate.鈥
Nathan, L. (2008). Intimate Heritage: Creating Uyghur Muqam Song in Xinjiang. Berlin: Lit Verlag.听
Wong, C.-F. (2012). Reinventing the Central Asian Rawap in Modern China: Musical Stereotypes, Minority Modernity, and Uyghur Instrumental Music.鈥疉sian Music,鈥43(1), 34鈥63.听
Wong, C.-F. (2013). Singing Muqam in Uyghur Pop: Minority Modernity and Popular Music in China.鈥疨opular Music & Society,鈥36(1), 98鈥118.听
A neighbourhood mosque in Qumul, Xinjiang
Two folk musicians visiting a Uyghur 尘盲丑盲濒濒盲 in an auto-rickshaw in the early hours of a Ramadan morning (Instruments: Dap and Ghijek). July 2013. Listen here to their music.