Villagers in Erbil village build special pathway for visually impaired muezzin to safely reach mosque

ERBIL– Residents of Quba village, located in Erbil’s Harir district, have built a dedicated pathway to help their visually impaired muezzin, Jalal Ghafoor, locally known as Sayda, safely reach the village mosque where he has served for over 14 years.

Sayda, originally from the outskirts of Erbil, moved to Quba village with his family due to his responsibilities as the mosque’s muezzin.

A muezzin is the person responsible for calling Muslims to prayer from a mosque’s minaret or loudspeaker. This call is performed five times a day to remind the community of the obligatory prayers. The role of the muezzin is considered an honorable duty in Islam, requiring a clear and melodious voice, as well as strong knowledge of the prayer timings and rituals.

Approximately seven years ago, the villagers took the initiative to construct a 250-meter-long pathway using concrete blocks, with Sayda contributing to the building process as well.

“Since the pathway was built, I’ve been able to reach the mosque safely and without obstacles, allowing me to continue my duties without difficulty,” Sayda told 964media.

The pathway was designed with a slightly lowered central section and raised edges to guide Sayda along the route, preventing accidental deviation from the path.

Sayda lost his eyesight on July 27, 1970, at the age of seven, during a military explosion in the village of Dedewan in Erbil’s plains. His brother also suffered injuries, losing a hand in the same incident.

“When I was seven years old, my brother and I were in the village of Dedewan in the Erbil plains. Inside an old military base, explosives were being handled, and one of them detonated. My brother lost one of his hands, and I lost sight in both of my eyes,” he added.

Sayda remains committed to serving his community, “As long as I am in this village, I will continue to serve its people,” he concluded.