Maddah ( Persian: مداح), translates as eulogist or panegyrist; ^{[1] [2]} and it is attributed to religious singer. ^[3] There is a kind of religious singer(s) in Islamic culture who are called Maddah that often participate in --anniversary-- funeral ceremonies of Muslims, particularly for the famous characters among the Islamic prophet Muhammad and twelve Imams of Shia; and they recite or sing in Islamic/sad manner for people (as a type of mourning). ^{[4] [5] [6]}

The root of the word "Maddah" is "Madh" which means expressing the excellent traits of a character or a thing. ^[7]

Maddah (or Dhakir) ^[8] is an individual who mentions/praises the great characters and religious education in (religious) gatherings; and its performance ought to be mostly full of Eulogy/ Marsiya; besides, Maddahi doesn't have special gender, age, group or elegy. ^[9]

Idiomatically, Maddah means a dhakir or panegyrist who (often) stands beside the pulpit, and praises or turns into poetry about Ahlul-Bayt ^{[10] [11] [12] [13]} (and Muhammad) ^{[14] [15]} and their tragedy, particularly regarding the disasters/tragedy of battle of Karbala, and Husayn ibn Ali's manner of martyrdom who was killed there with his companions by the enemies. ^{[16] [17]}

Notable maddahs

• Saeed Haddadian
• Mohammadreza Taheri
• Mahmoud Karimi
• Sadiq Ahangaran

See also

• Mourning of Muharram
• Banu Hashim
• Maddahi
• Dhikr
• Dua

References