On the occasion of the Fajr days, the Razavi holy shrine was the host of Sayyedana Tawashih group from Egypt who performed Qur'an recitation and Tawashih in Dar al-Marhamah and Imam Khomeini (R.A.) porticos.
In the sideline of performing the Tawashih programs by this group in Dar al-Marhamah portico Astan Quds Razavi had an interview with the leader of this group, Abu al-Abbas Muhammad.
Q: When was the Sayyedana Tawashih group formed and in what areas does it work?
A: This group was formed by some young Egyptian Qur'an reciters and works in Zeytouneh center. Our main aim of performing religious programs is Muslims' closeness, inviting to unity, Islamic acts and religious life.
Yousef Qasem Halaveh, Mahmoud Ali Abdul-Fattah Ibrahim, Bilal Mukhtar Manduh Abdul-Mula, Muhammad Ahmad Abdul-Aziz Mansour, Imen Mustafa Muhammad, and Muhammad Lutfi are the members of this group.
Our songs are about the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) and his companions, Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.) and the Islamic ethics.
Q: Is this your first presence in the Razavi holy shrine for performing the religious programs?
A: Yes, we performed programs in different cities in Egypt, but this trip to Iran is the first foreign trip of the Sayyedana Tawashih group. It is noted that the members of the group traveled to different countries individually as Qur'an reciters.
Q: What is the history of Tawashih in Egypt and who is its founder?
A: What is performed today as Tawashih dates back to 60 years ago and its founder is Sheikh Ali Mahmoud. Taha Al-Fashanai and Muhammad Raf'at are among his students.
Q: Are there different styles in Tawashih?
A: Yes, for example there is a style called 'free' in which the group sings freely and intrinsically and is not limited to a special song or musical style. The Ibtihal of Hub ul-Hussein sang by Taha al-Fashani is one of this kind which is song according to the singer's mood.
Another method is Tawashih which is based on the music and tunes and usually a leader sings some parts of the song and other members repeat some other parts.
'Andulusi' is another method which is based on prayers. The forth method is poem reciting in which musical instruments are used but the text is religious. These are some types of song reading in Egypt.
Q: You performed Tawashih in the Razavi holy shrine for two days. How were them?
A: We were welcomed highly by the pilgrims and we were happy and satisfied for this. Also the authorities welcomed us and the conditions for preforming the programs were satisfactory. Of course most of the Tawashih groups have problems regarding the sound quality in such performances but we didn’t face such problems in our programs.
Q: As you visited the Qur'anic activities in the Razavi holy shrine and the international department, what is your view about them?
A: We saw pilgrims from different countries. The architecture is very attractive. And also this place has a high religious position and has an influential role in spreading the religious culture in the world.
Q: The Egyptian Qur'an reciters and Tawashih singers are mostly Sunni Muslims. What is their view toward Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.)?
A: We all are Ahl al-Bayt's (A.S.) lovers. Of course this doesn’t relate to a special group. All people in Egypt feel respect and love toward Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.) and they go on pilgrimage to the Hazrat Zainab (S.A.) sanctuary in Egypt and the Ra's al-Hussein (Imam Hussein's head) sanctuaty. This is a religious feeling and we all are Muslims and we have one book and one prophet and we feel special love toward the family of the prophet (S.A.W.)
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