JEDDAH: A muezzin (one who recites the Adhaan) of a Riyadh mosque recently sprung a surprise in the Austrian tourist town of Zell am See by his Adhaan after taking permission from members of a musical band.

Social media is abuzz with the news and video clip of the Adhaan showing a guitarist and some Austrians quietly listening to the call for the maghreb prayer.

Through a hashtag “Saudi Tunes Musical Instruments to Call Adhaan,” a number of people appreciated the Saudi tourists and the muezzin, Nawaf Al-Lohaibi, who convinced the band members in a street to stop playing music for a while so that the Adhaan can be recited.

Sameer Al-Basheeri said on Twitter that calling the Adhaan in Austria after convincing the musicians to halt their program was a courageous act by the Saudis.

Yazid Al-Sudais, a friend of Al-Lohaibi, said on his Twitter account: “Thanks to those who appreciated the Adhaan act in Austria.”

He added: “In short, when we were in Zell am See, Al-Lohaibi politely asked a musician to allow him to recite the Adhaan. The musicians agreed and welcomed the idea.”

A member of the Saudi tourist group, Abdul Jaleel Al-Mutawwa, wrote on his Twitter account that Al-Lohaibi is a muezzin at the Princess Latifa bint Sultan Mosque in Riyadh.