the poet who composed those odes. Sometimes they added an instrument to reinforce the sound: striking the leather covering of a cushion or something similar with a rod. This is known as taghbīr.

It is well known that listening to sounds stirs the soul in a manner corresponding to the sound that moves it; it does indeed produce movement. Sounds have diverse qualities, and their effects upon the soul vary accordingly. The same applies to the words heard, whether poetry or prose. They therefore combine sounds that suit them with words that suit them.

This is practised by people who follow innovated religions, such as Christians and Sabians, as well as by those who follow no religion, using it to stir their love, longing, and ecstasy, their sorrow and regret, their zeal and anger, or other feelings. Those who succeeded the earlier practitioners began gathering a motley assortment of people for these sessions. They regarded such gatherings as a net for catching souls and drawing them—as they claimed—to repentance and attainment along the path of spiritual seekers.

Another innovation introduced after those earlier practitioners was listening to effeminate men known for singing for people of immorality and fornication. Sometimes they listened to beardless boys or beautiful women, as do those who frequent pleasure houses and brothels.

They may gather all kinds of immoral and wicked people at these listening sessions. Sometimes they seek to swell their numbers with them and boast of their attendance, particularly if they are people of influence and wealth. And often