RIYADH, KOMPAS.TV – The government of Saudi Arabia has just issued a circular instructing all mosque managers to only use external loudspeakers during the call to prayer and prayer.
Quoting Saudi Gazette, a letter signed by the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Da’wah and Guidance of Sheikh Abullatif bin Abdulaziz al-Sheikh was published on Monday (24/5/2021) local time.
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Azan is a call or exhortation to invite Muslims to perform congregational prayers. The muezzins call the call to prayer five times a day and night according to the number of obligatory prayers.
Meanwhile, ikamah is an immediate call to stand for congregational prayer. The muezzin called for ikamah a few seconds before the performance of the congregational prayer.
The circular also contained an obligation that the volume of loudspeakers did not exceed one-third of the maximum volume. Minister Sheikh Abullatif said his party would impose sanctions on people who violate the rules.
The move comes because of concerns that calls from mosque loudspeakers could disturb the sick, the elderly and children living in nearby homes.
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