Ye naġhma fasl-e-gul-o-lala ka nahii paband
Bahaar ho ki ḳhizaan la-ilaha-illallah
Agarche buut hain jamaat ki aastinon main
Mujhe hai hukm-e-azaan la-ilaha-illallah
After Prophet Muhammad migrated to Medina (in 622), and built a mosque there, he established the practice of
azaan. Some of his companions suggested blowing a horn, some ringing a bell, and some lighting a fire as the method of calling people to the mosque for the prayers. But, under divine inspiration, the Prophet decided on the human voice, and chose Bilal (just freed from slavery), for making the call. His voice couldn’t be as loud and couldn’t go as far as the mechanically produced sound of a bell or a horn.
Yet, the Prophet chose the low-decibel human voice over the high-decibel sound of bell or horn.
Azaan is an essential and integral part of Islam but its recitation through loud-speakers or other sound-amplifying devices cannot be said to be an integral part of the religion.
In today's world with everyone having watch and mobile, the practice of using loudspeaker from mosques is neither mandatory nor required.
Almost a decade back, I had opined that the mosques in our country should stop using loudspeaker for azaan on their own before people of other communities start raising objections. Now, it is being created as an 'issue' to disturb communal harmony in the country.
The counterview, however, is that if few minutes
azaan is contributing to noise pollution and disturbance,
then what about loud bhajans and chants of shlokas from mandirs; 2-3 days continuous blaring of geet on loudspeakers during chaat puja, high decibel sound in processions on occasions like Ganesh Chaturthi, Ramnavmi and Navratri etc. Are not these contributing to noise pollution?
Well, I'll not comment on other religions' rituals and processions, but will again say Muslims should take lead in asking the management of mosques not to use loudspeakers for
azaan.
The Holy Quran encourages us and impresses upon us our duty by saying: You are the best community that has ever been raised for mankind; you enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid what is wrong, and you believe in Allah. Had the people of earlier revelations believed, it would have been for their own good. Few of them are believers, while most of them evildoers. (surah 3 Al-i-Imran; ayah 110).
Religion is not what one formally or ritualistically practices but how one deals with others. It is, therefore, not sufficient to be pious without performing deeds which demonstrate one's beliefs. And, it applies to all religions.
(elahi.raza82@gmail.com)
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