Adhan Workshop

Join award-winning Turkish imam and muezzin Dursun Şahin as he explores the history, meaning, and maqams of the adhan (call to prayer).

For over 1,400 years, the adhan has been recited five times a day, its melodic modes developing into a rich tradition of vocal artistry. In this workshop, Imam Şahin will explore the history of the comes, its meaning, and how the maqams give it its distinctive sound, followed by a live demonstration. You'll will then be invited to learn how to call the adhan yourself.

Open to all (including women). No prior knowledge or experience needed.

Please note that doors will close shortly before the advertised time so we request that you arrive 15 minutes before the start time.

About Dursun Şahin

Dursun Şahin was born in Trabzon in 1980. He holds degrees in Theology and Public Administration from Istanbul, and completed a master's degree in Turkish music at the Turkish Conservatory. He currently serves as an imam at the Leicester Diyanet Mosque. Şahin has performed concerts in various countries around the world, and continues to do so.

About The Cambridge Festival of Islamic Arts

The Cambridge Festival of Islamic Arts runs from 19 to 29 November 2026, bringing performances, exhibitions, lectures, and workshops to Cambridge's historic colleges, museums, and cultural spaces. Open to everyone, the festival celebrates the beauty and diversity of Islamic arts, and, fifty years on from the landmark 1976 World of Islam Festival, carries that spirit into our own time. Find out more at cfia.co.uk .