The Rooster’s Call

ALLAAHUMMA INNEE AS’ALUKA MIN FADLIKA (O Allah, I ask You from Your favor). Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim have recorded a narration from Abu Huraira regarding this du’a: “When you hear the crowing of a rooster, ask Allah for His bounty, for it has seen an angel”. Recently, one of our neighbours acquired a rooster, an adult, intact male chicken - whose loud and sharp crowing pierces the serene predawn, resonating for nearly half an hour through the morning stillness. Its call serves as a natural reminder to seek the blessings of Almighty Allah. Other cultures and religions have also attributed symbolic and spiritual meanings to the crowing of roosters.

Beyond its religious significance, the crowing of a rooster revives memories of my childhood; a bygone era - when nearly every household, especially in rural settings, kept poultry in their backyard. Chickens provided a ready source of fresh, organic eggs and meat, particularly valuable for hosting unexpected guests, a situation that often led to an unspoken household emergency. Unlike today, when markets and instant communication make last-minute arrangements easy, families in earlier times relied on their livestock to meet such needs.

Since the Indus civilization (2600–1800 B.C.), roosters have served as nature’s alarm clock, their crowing marking the arrival of dawn. Before the advent of alarm clocks and mobile devices, people relied on these birds as natural timekeepers. Each household owned at least one rooster, which reliably marked the arrival of morning. In villages where houses were spread far apart, only a few affluent families owned alarm clocks, which had to be manually wound each night. They were often reserved for the male head of the family. In contrast, roosters crowed naturally and consistently with remarkable precision, making them a reliable wake-up call for entire communities. An alarm clock was thus merely a luxury.

Traditional alarm clocks typically produce sound levels around 80 decibels. In comparison, a rooster’s crow can reach up to 140 decibels at the entrance of their outer ear canal. It has been established that the exposure to sound levels exceeding 120 decibels can cause hearing damage in both humans and animals. However, nature has equipped roosters with a self-defense mechanism: their auditory canal closes during crowing, preventing them from hearing their own loud calls. Nearby hens, whose ear canals are narrow and do not close completely, instinctively maintain a safe distance of at least one meter from the rooster to avoid potential hearing damage.

The science behind a rooster’s crow is equally fascinating. Like many living creatures on earth, roosters possess an internal circadian rhythm - an innate biological clock that aligns with the earth’s 24-hour cycle. Even in complete darkness, they maintain their rhythmic crowing. They are also highly sensitive to changes in light intensity, and even a slight increase in brightness can trigger their call. Studies reveal that both anticipatory predawn crowing and stimulus-induced crowing are governed by this internal clock.

Chickens are social animals with a hierarchical ranking system influenced by multiple factors. ‘Seniority plays a key role, and a new or foreign chicken is always ranked lower than one familiar with the territory’. Crowing is more than just a morning ritual - it is also a form of communication and dominance assertion. The highest-ranking rooster, guided by his circadian clock, has the privilege of announcing dawn first. Subordinate roosters adjust their schedules accordingly, waiting for the dominant one to crow. If the leader is removed, the next in line assumes the role of dawn announcer.

Reviving backyard poultry offers numerous benefits, including access to organic, farm-fresh animal-based food and products. It also promotes natural pest control, reduces food waste, and provides companionship. It can additionally serve as a source of income, an educational experience, and a way of entertainment, especially for children. Whether regarded as a natural alarm clock or a spiritual messenger, the rooster’s crow remains a fascinating intersection of science and belief. While modern society no longer relies on roosters to wake up for work or worship, their instinctive precision in crowing continues to captivate us. The intelligently designed “clock of the cock” stands as a testament to the wonders of creation.

Prof. Mujeeb Fazili Former - Head,

Division of Veterinary Clinical Complex, SKUAST-Kashmir