TheNass al-Houdhour (Arabic:ناس الحضور) are second rankHezzabine reciting theHizb Rateb andSalka inmosques andzawiyas in Algeria according to theAlgerian Islamic reference under the supervision of theMinistry of Religious Affairs and Endowments.[1][2]
Themosques in Algeria employ many supportingHezzabine calledNass al-Houdhour supervised by theHezzabine and theBash Hezzab along with other employees who take care of these buildings ofMuslimibadah.[3][4]
Historically, the mosque ofDjamaa el Kebir in theCasbah of Algiers was served by themufti of Algiers assisted by twoImams, under their authority are placed aMoudaris, explicator of the Quran, aBash Hezzab, head of the readers, sixHezzabine of first class, twelveHezzabine of second class and fourNass al-Houdhour.[5][6]
During theFrench colonization of Algeria, the annual salary of each one of theHafiz belonging toNass al-Houdhour was around 5,000 oldFrench francs.[7][8]
But this annual salary varied in value according to the competence of theHafiz, the importance of the mosque in which he practiced his recitation (tilawa), as well as the importance of the city where he worked.[9][10]
The reciters of theNass al-Houdhour were considered asTalibes students paid for their sound performances and attendance in the large well-organized and structured mosques.[11][12]
According to the circular of 17 May 1851 relating to the organization of Muslim worship (Ibadah) in Algeria, theNass al-Houdhour were defined as trainee students designated asTolba intended for the functions of Muslim worship, and who regularly attend public courses open in mosques.[13]
While the salary payments attributed to senior staff of the Muslim religion, such as muftis and imams, were charged to the budget of the then colonized Algeria, salaries for lower staff, such asNass al-Houdhour, and general mosque maintenance costs were borne by the local budget and municipalities.[14]
For qualifiedTolbas likeNass al-Houdhour, the term “Houdhour” literally means “Assistance and Presence”, and this title applies to the meeting of tolba who assiduously follow the lessons of the mouderris in first-class Algerian mosques.[15][16]
TheNass al-Houdhour are theHoufaz andQaris who are part of this studious assembly, and who attend the reading and the explanations of the books most in honor amongMuslims, likeSahih Bukhari.[17][18]
The function ofNass al-Houdhour was an integral part of a clerical organization imposed onAlgerian mosques and composed ofmuftis,imams,hezzabines,muezzins and other posts.[19]
This structuring of the tasks of the Muslim cult was part of an institutional tendency opting for uniformity and hierarchy.[20]
.jpg)
| Zawiyas |
|  |
|---|---|---|
| Tariqas | ||
| Algiers | |
|---|---|
| Constantine | |
| Oran | |
| Tlemcen | |
| Other provinces | |
| Former | |
