Loudspeakers in mosques

Loudspeakers in mosques
A mosque minaret in Hyderabad, Pakistan fitted with loudspeakers in all directions.

Loudspeakers in mosques are generally used for Adhan or "call to prayer",[1] or sometimes for Khutbah or sermons. External loudspeakers are generally mounted on tall minarets. Mosque loudspeakers are used for a call to prayer, five times a day. Loudspeakers, other than external ones, are sometimes also used inside the mosque to deliver sermons or for Prayer.

External loudspeakers are often kept at a very high volume, so that the sound is heard as far as 5km. It can be amplified over 120 to 130 decibels. [2] In areas where more than one mosque is present, the loudspeaker sounds overlap one another,[3] especially in the early morning when sounds are more clearly heard. This noise sometimes results in people of other religions migrating away from a mosque's area in order to avoid the noise, along with other factors.[4]

Contents

Opposition

There has been opposition to outdoor loudspeakers in western countries. In Cologne Mosque project in Germany the installation of loudspeakers are opposed and stopped.[5] In Oxford, UK it was opposed saying that broadcasting using loudspeakers would turn the city into a Muslim ghetto.[6] In Al-Islah Mosque Michigan, US, the installation of outdoor loudspeakers was opposed.[7]

It is even opposed, though unsuccessfully, in India where Muslims are minority.[8] Supporters of loudspeakers argue that it is freedom of religion to use them.[9]

Misuse

Loudspeakers are often misused for political purposes which was opposed by government authorities.[10] Loudspeakers are sometimes used to guide or incite riots. Incidents involving this were reported in Acre, Israel,[11] in Indonesia,[12] near Lahore, Pakistan[13] and Nandurbar, Maharashtra state, India.[14] Pakistan even banned use of loudspeakers other than for "Call to Prayer" following a riot.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Adhan And Iqamat (Iqamah)". Hizmetbooks.org. http://www.hizmetbooks.org/Endless_Bliss_Fourth_Fascicle/Endless_Bliss_Fourth_Fascicle_Chapter_11.htm. Retrieved 2010-01-15. 
  2. ^ Riyadh (Afp) (2009-04-25). "Variety News | Saudi cracks down on blaring mosque speakers". Alarabiya.net. http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/04/25/71421.html. Retrieved 2010-01-15. 
  3. ^ "[IslamCity] Cairo's Dilemma Over Prayer Calls". Mail-archive.com. 2005-05-09. http://www.mail-archive.com/islamcity@yahoogroups.com/msg02720.html. Retrieved 2010-01-15. 
  4. ^ "Hard-liners won battle for Bridgeview mosque :: IPT in the News :: The Investigative Project on Terrorism". Investigativeproject.org. http://www.investigativeproject.org/132/hard-liners-won-battle-for-bridgeview-mosque. Retrieved 2010-01-15. 
  5. ^ Landler, Mark (2007-07-05). "Germans Split Over a Mosque and the Role of Islam". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/05/world/europe/05cologne.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all. Retrieved 2010-05-11. 
  6. ^ "Mosque's plan to broadcast call to prayer from loudspeaker 'will create Muslim ghetto' | Mail Online". Dailymail.co.uk. 2008-01-14. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-504373/Mosques-plan-broadcast-prayer-loudspeaker-create-Muslim-ghetto.html. Retrieved 2010-01-15. 
  7. ^ Leland, John (2004-05-05). "Call to Prayer in Michigan Causes Tension". NYTimes.com. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/05/national/05PRAY.html?ei=5007&en=664e9b700df4fdb9&ex=1399089600&partner=USERLAND&pagewanted=all&position=. Retrieved 2010-01-15. [dead link]
  8. ^ "Anti-noise crusader for curbs on loudspeaker use in mosques". Thaindian.com. http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/enviornment/anti-noise-crusader-for-curbs-on-loudspeaker-use-in-mosques_10071355.html. Retrieved 2010-01-15. 
  9. ^ "Michigan: Despite the outcry, mosque to proceed with loudspeaker call to prayer". Jihad Watch. http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/002037.php. Retrieved 2010-01-15. 
  10. ^ "Mosques not to be used as political platforms". Saudiembassy.net. 2002-12-07. http://www.saudiembassy.net/archive/2002/press/page3.aspx. Retrieved 2010-01-15. 
  11. ^ "Israel: Mosque loudspeakers used to rally Muslim rioters in Acre". Jihad Watch. http://www.jihadwatch.org/2008/10/israel-mosque-loudspeakers-used-to-rally-muslim-rioters-in-acre.html. Retrieved 2010-01-15. 
  12. ^ "Indonesia: Urged on over mosque loudspeakers, Muslims go on rampage against students of Christian theological school to "drive out the unwanted neighbor"". Jihad Watch. http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/022061.php. Retrieved 2010-01-15. 
  13. ^ "Muslim Mob Burns Down 100 Christian Homes in Pakistan « News of Persecution & Suffering « International Christian Concern". Persecution.org. 2009-07-01. http://www.persecution.org/suffering/newssummpopup.php?newscode=10386. Retrieved 2010-01-15. 
  14. ^ "Mosques must get permission to install loudspeakers: Dy CM". Indianexpress.com. http://www.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/19991215/ina15052.html. Retrieved 2010-01-15. 
  15. ^ "Pakistan limits mosque loudspeakers to call to prayer. 1/11/01. ABC News Online". Abc.net.au. http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200111/s406180.htm. Retrieved 2010-01-15. 

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Freedom of religion in Tajikistan — The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respected this right in practice; however, there were some areas of concern.The status of respect for religious freedom eroded during recent years. Government… …   Wikipedia

  • Muezzin — Jean Léon Gérôme. A Muezzin Calling from the Top of a Minaret the Faithful to Prayer (1879) …   Wikipedia

  • Church bell — Cutaway drawing of a church bell, showing construction. A church bell is a bell which is rung in a (especially Christian) church either to signify the hour or the time for worshippers to go to church, perhaps to attend a wedding, funeral, or… …   Wikipedia

  • 2007 al-Askari Mosque bombing — Infobox terrorist attack title=Al Askari Mosque 2007 bombing caption=The Mosque after the first bombing in 2006. location=Samarra, Iraq target=Al Askari Mosque date=June 13, 2007 time begin= time end= timezone= type=Bombing (demolition) or a… …   Wikipedia

  • Freedom of religion in Burma — Myanmar has been under the rule of repressive authoritarian military regimes since 1962. After the 1974 Socialist constitution was suspended in 1988, constitutional protection of religious freedom has not existed, after the bloody suppression of… …   Wikipedia

  • Freedom of religion in Egypt — The Constitution provides for freedom of belief and the practice of religious rites, although the Government places restrictions on these rights in practice. Islam is the official state religion and Shari a (Islamic law) is the primary source of… …   Wikipedia

  • Minaret controversy in Switzerland — Minaret at the mosque of the local Turkish cultural association in Wangen bei Olten, the initial motivation for the popular initiative. The minaret controversy in Switzerland refers to construction of minarets, which has been subject to legal and …   Wikipedia

  • Freedom of religion in Iraq — Iraq is a constitutional democracy with a republican, federal, pluralistic system of government, consisting of 18 provinces or governorates. Although the Constitution recognizes Islam as the official religion and states that no law may be enacted …   Wikipedia

  • Middlesbrough — This article is about the town in North East England. For other uses, see Middlesbrough (disambiguation). Borough of Middlesbrough   Town, Borough Unitary authority   …   Wikipedia

  • Lašva Valley ethnic cleansing — The Lašva Valley ethnic cleansing, also known as the Lašva Valley case, refers to numerous war crimes committed during the Bosnian war by the Croatian Community of Herzeg Bosnia s political and military leadership on Bosnian Muslim (Bosniak)… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”