New Rules For The Use Of Loudspeakers Introduced By Saudi Government Should Serve As A Lesson For Muslims Of Indian Sub-Continent
Indian
Muslims Should Adopt The Saudi Policy On The Use Of Loudspeakers
Main
Points:
1. Mosques have been asked to use loudspeakers
only for Azan and Iqamat
2. Mosques have been directed to forego use of
external amplifiers
3. The volume of loudspeakers will be lowered
to one third
---
New
Age Islam Special Correspondent
29 May 2021
Photo courtesy Op India: Use of
loudspeakers restricted in Saudi Arabia mosques
----
The use of
loudspeakers in mosques has remained an issue of debate and sometimes creates
controversy in India. Non-Muslims often complain that the high volume of azan
disturbs their sleep and peace of mind while Muslims consider the use of
loudspeakers their religious right. Azan is called with the help of external
amplifiers so that the sound of azan reaches every household in the area. In
some cities, the prayer of Taraweeh or Friday prayers are also conducted with the
help of external loudspeakers. This sometimes becomes a cause of communal
confrontation.
On the
other hand, the liberal section of Muslims advocate limited use of loudspeakers
in mosques especially during Ramadan. But the mainstream Muslims and the section
of religious scholars denounce such liberal views.
But the new
rules introduced by the Saudi Arabia government regarding the use of
loudspeakers in the mosques and external amplifiers should open the eyes of the
advocates of external amplifiers and unregulated use of loudspeakers in
mosques.
The
Ministry of Islamic Affairs of Saudi Arabia has issued new directives on the
use of loudspeakers and external amplifiers in all the mosques of the kingdom.
According
to the notification issued by the ministry, now the loudspeakers in the mosques
will only be used for two purposes: one for calling the Azan and, two, calling
the Iqamat ( second call for prayer indicating that the imam is ready to lead
the prayer). The loudspeaker of the mosque cannot be used for any purpose other
than this.
Another
directive issued by the ministry says that the prayers conducted by the imam
should be specific to the devotees within the mosque with no legitimate need to
convey it to those at home.
The
notification also ruled that external amplifiers will not be used to recite the
Quran because it is disrespectful to Quran as no one is listening and pondering
over the verses.
The
circular has been issued by the Minister of Islamic Affairs Abdul Latif al
Sheikh. The circular is based on the hadith which says, "One should not
trouble the others and one should not raise the voice in recitation or in
prayer over the voice of the other."
The
circular is based on the fatwas issued by senior Islamic scholars Sheikh
Mohammad bin Saleh al Uthaimin and Sheikh Saleh al Fawzan.
The
ministry acted on a report which said that external amplifiers and loudspeakers
used for any purpose other than azan harm patients, old people and children in
the houses in the vicinity of mosques.
Moreover,
the ministry had also asked the mosques to lower the volume of loudspeakers for
azan and Iqamat to a third. The ministry has warned that any violation of the
rules will invite heavy penalty.
This
directive of the Saudi Arabia which is a role model for Muslim community of the
world including Indian Muslims should bring about a change in the religious
behaviour of the Indian Muslims where loudspeakers are used not only for
calling Azan and Iqamat but also external loudspeakers are used for conducting
Friday prayers and the prayers of Taraweeh in some towns and cities causing
inconvenience not only to non-Muslims but also to Muslims who are sick or
children or elderly persons.
The
loudspeakers are played at a high volume which also causes violent reaction
from non-Muslims as happened in some places in India during the month of
Ramadan last year.
In some
towns of India, loudspeakers of the mosques are also used to recite
Salat-o-Salam after the morning prayers and Friday prayers. External amplifiers
are used for it causing inconvenience to the people in the vicinity.
Since India
is a Hindu majority country and Hindus also reside in the vicinity of mosques,
the directives issued by the Saudi government is relevant to India as well and
Indian Muslims should adopt the Saudi policy on the use of loudspeakers to
ensure peaceful and harmonious co-existence of different religious communities
in India.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-society/loudspeaker-saudi-government-indian-muslim/d/124904