Hada’ (or calling the camels) is considered one of the traditional folk arts that is distinctive among camel herders. It is a form of communication with camels, a type of oral expression in the heritage. It can be defined as a collection of sounds made by camel herders to communicate with their herds, to deliver a specific message during various occasions. The camels react to these sounds based on the melody and the way the herder has trained them.

Hada’ is one of the folk arts that is particularly associated with camel herders. It is said that the first person to establish the practice of hada’ was Mudar bin Nizar, the grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad. When he dismounted his camel, his hand was broken, and in pain, he cried out in a melodious voice, saying, “Wa’idah… Wa’idah,” whereupon the camels gathered around him and were pleased to walk with him. From this moment, the idea of using chanting to communicate with the camels emerged.

The early Arabs divided hada’ into two types: Hada’ al-‘Ubb, which is said during the return journey to the homes and water sources, and Hada’ al-Ward, which occurs around the well when the watering process begins, creating joy as the community gathers around the water source.