'There should be reasonable guidelines drafted for all religious ceremonies so as not to be overzealous and go overboard.'
Azan row: Volume lowered following complaint
Orang_gila_malaya: I'm Malay. I've been living in a multiracial mid-income housing area for years. I hear the bell rings at dawn and dusk. I have dogs barking at the side and front of my house. Even the scent of ‘colok' is all over the place. You can plug your ear, but can you plug your nose?
Still, I have good relation with my neighbours. No harm done. Please do not politicise this issue and do not fall into the trap set by our politicians.
Singa Pura Pura: Decreasing or increasing the amplified volume of the call to prayer has absolutely nothing to do with the integrity of a faith or the dignity of the 'ummah'. But it would probably take our politicians and other troublemakers one hundred Malaysian-years to realise that and another hundred years to understand it.
It is axiomatic - that the softer the volume goes, the more intent the faithful must listen. Anything that blares often goes unheard. But of course, we only know how to shout to be heard, or ignored.
Patriot: This is a clear case of "one man's meat is another man's poison". In the UK, some residents staying near London Heathrow airport complained about planes landing and flying around the airport. They went to court and lost.
But then they appealed to the European Union court and cited the European Human Rights Act. The EU court ruled that it is a human right to be able to rest well. As a result, the airport is closed from 12 midnight to 6am.
The ‘problem' is just not the call for prayers but also the broadcasting of the sermons. In the days of the Prophet, loudspeakers have not been invented and hence we cannot claim that it is a Quranic requirement.
Nowadays we have alarm clocks and handphones. We can direct all telcos to give free broadcasting for 'subuh' prayers to all Muslims on their handphones. This will make everyone happy.
Arbee: Islam is not just a religion, it is a way of life. Some may disagree with that, but that is the truth. Like it or not, the call to prayer has been around for 1,400 years.
Some may say it's not appropriate in multi-religious society. In Lebanon, Syria and Egypt, there are other faiths being practiced, but there has been no record of complaints about the call to prayer being too loud, or whatever.
Yes, I agree there should be some control on the volume of the sound. I suggest 75 decibels should do the job. At early hours, I am sure most windows are shuttered.
I would like to remind one and all - it's the Muslim's way of life. Yes, the Prophet did not use loudspeakers but that should not be the yardstick to go by. If you say the Prophet walked to the mosque, should we too all walk to the mosque?
Hamisu: I will agree with Arbee on this. It is a way of life. However, too many complaints have surfaced and I am glad at least Arbee provided an objective solution.
We all need to agree to what decibels is acceptable. It's a win-win situation for everyone. And I have also suggested the use of FM radios (as compared to expensive iphones as suggested by one contributor) as they are dirt cheap nowadays.
Sure the call for azan using amplifiers can only reach so far, using technology can take the call for prayers even further.
Ferdtan: I live near a surau, about 100 metres away, and I have no problem with the azan call. In fact, it can be quite soothing. Maybe the volume of the azan call at my place is not too loud as compared to others. What I am surprised of is that the mosque concerned had quietly agreed to lower the volume under the surprised order from Jawi (Federal Territories Islamic Department).
I am shocked that there are no protests from Perkasa and the Muslim NGOs? It had happened before in the Pakatan-controlled areas if a non-Muslim were to make complaint against any mosque, you can be sure the usual boys - Perkasa and Umno - would come out to protest. And the mainstream media would highlight the so-called weaknesses of the state government for their inability to solve the issue.
YellowMan: This is clearly not about religion but about civic mindedness. Please do not mix this with religion. I think the other non-Muslim communities has been very fair in respecting the Muslim on their need for the call of prayers with loudspeakers. Therefore, it is also fair for our Muslim friends to respect the rest for not being overly loud in the volume.
Chan: I couldn't understand why would anyone want to hear the sermon at the comfort of their home instead of in the mosque, subsequently the mosque have to blast the speakers at some disturbing loud volume?
I too have a mosque nearby, also around 1km away and of late, I can hear them loud and clear. Though I tried to be understanding but I am disturbed nonetheless.
Rayfire: It looks like this is another scrupulous means to cause disunity in this country, and we all know jolly well of people excellent at writing such scripts. Despite this attempt, I hope people will have a level-headed approach in dealing with this issue due to its sensitivities.
All have to be responsible and ensure the azan is audible and yet soothing to others as well. It is okay for me as it is a prayer and I have no complaints. In fact, I hear them every morning as well near my house. The matter gets worse only if some choose to blast it out just because they could do so. I have seen that happen too in my previous residential area. So let us be tolerant.
I do agree with some that there should be reasonable guidelines drafted for all religious ceremonies so as not to be overzealous and to go overboard. Let us hope this drama will not push us further apart.
God please guide us. We call you by different names but I believe you are the one and only one we are addressing.
Aziz Kader: The best solution for this problem is establishing a standard sound level for entire country so that nobody will question our religion rights. For example, bell sound, ‘bakar kertas' and other items by Chinese and Hindus should have guidelines as well.
Md Imraz Muhammed ikhbal: During the days of our beloved Prophet Muhammad, there was once, upon him finishing his prayers in a mosque, he noticed a Muslim just behind him reciting the Quran rather loudly and beside him was another sleeping by the corner of the prayer hall.
Our prophet immediately but politely interrupted and told the person reciting to lower his volume a bit so as not to perturb the other person sleeping beside him. The Quran reader thanked the Prophet and he duly obliged by continuing to recite the Quran but in a much lower volume. That for those who know not is the true Islam.
We are not to perturb our neighbours and we are not to shove down our religious beliefs down the throats of others for those are anything but Islamic. The purpose of the azan is to call for prayers and help wake those Muslims who may be fast asleep. That can easily be achieved through azan alarm clocks without disturbing others.
PAS slams Najib for bowing to azan complaint
Habib RAK: PAS Youth leader Mohamad Suhaimi Abdul Aziz has fallen for the ruse by Umno hook, line and sinker. Where else, Nurul Izzah Anwar is calm, cool and collected and is asking the right questions to verify the claim. It's very heartening that we have young MPs like Nurul to address hot issues like this in an objective manner.
KLeo: Plus points for Nurul Izzah's levelheaded response. I doubt Prime Minister Najib Razak had anything to do with the directive though. The complaint was probably kicked around the various departments until it rolled into Jawi's (Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department) court.
That said, I'm astounded that the lawyer had the audacity to submit written complaints to all those government departments. In any case, the demonstrators had no right to reveal the lawyer's personal details. It's as if they're inviting Muslims to harass him.
Victor Johan: At a young age, confronted with such a situation, Nurul keeps herself composed and delivers a pacifying message. She does not mix politics with religion and an exemplary leader for now and the future.
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