Mumbai: The morning Azaan (name for the primary prayer of the day known as Fajr) normally goes out earlier than 6 am, and lots of metropolis residents are receiving it in several methods from cellular functions to Whatsapp group reminders. An condo advanced in Panvel has loudspeakers put in in each home which connects to a prayer room constructed within the constructing, and the Juma Masjid in Crawford Market has introduced plans to launch an app that may assist individuals hear the Fajr inside their properties.
Throughout Maharashtra, the usage of the loudspeaker isn’t permitted earlier than 6am and after 10 pm in line with Noise Air pollution (Regulation and Management) Guidelines, 2000. The norms have been additional bolstered by a Supreme Courtroom verdict from October, 2005. Accordingly, a loudspeaker or a public handle system can’t be used with out written permission from the authorities; There are additionally limits to the decibel ranges throughout permissible hours (50 to 75 decibels).
Over the previous month, the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) authorities has come below fireplace from Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the Bharatiya Janata Celebration (BJP) which took umbrage in opposition to the usage of loudspeakers utilized by mosques throughout the state. Political leaders threatened to chant Hindu prayers outdoors the chief minister’s residence, and others from the opposition celebration questioned the Shiv Sena’s Hindutva ideology in mild of its stance that the state wouldn’t make any disturbance to the law-and-order state of affairs.
Altamash Saeed (30) a civil engineer who runs a modular kitchen enterprise, began utilizing cellular utility Quran Majeed to be notified for morning Azaan from Might 3. “Those that wish to pray will discover a manner. I used to be already utilizing this cellular utility to be notified about Namaz timings, which is helpful whereas I am at work however now I’ve began utilizing it particularly for ‘Fajr’ Azaan as mosques have stopped utilizing loudspeakers within the morning,” the Kurla resident mentioned.
Arif Khan (51), who works within the digital advertising and marketing division of a chocolatier specializing in luxurious candies, mentioned he makes use of ‘Muslim Professional’ app that performs the Azaan quarter-hour earlier than the prayers. “The first perform of Azaan is to name the trustworthy to prayer. All ought to convey the Azaan into their properties and places of work by downloading free apps on cell phones,” the Navi Mumbai resident mentioned.
There are a number of cellular functions notify the time for Namaz for various cities (the time for prayer adjustments in line with the latitude and longitude of a spot); There are additionally apps that present recorded Azaans.
Sarfaraz Arzoo, Editor, Hindustan Every day, an Urdu newspaper, mentioned that many individuals would use these functions in the event that they lived or labored in a spot the place no mosque was close by. “Nevertheless in at this time’s state of affairs, members from the neighborhood have began utilizing them for morning prayers prayers as there isn’t a Azaan from loudspeakers which used to assist individuals to get knowledgeable for prayers. In actual fact, they’re arising with extra revolutionary concepts to take care of the state of affairs,” he mentioned.
The Juma Masjid, one of many largest and oldest mosques in Mumbai situated in Crawford Market has plans to develop a cellular utility that may assist the trustworthy hear the Azaan whereas at house. “We’re creating our personal cellular utility which can assist individuals hear Azaan whereas being at their properties with out disturbing anybody. It is going to be prepared within the subsequent eight days and shall be used for prayers 5 instances a day,” mentioned Shoaib Khatib, trustee and chairperson of the Juma Masjid of Bombay Belief.
The cellular utility will even be used for Khutbah — sermon delivered by an Imam (head priest of a mosque) earlier than mass prayer — on Fridays, he mentioned.
In Panvel, a residential society named Bhaiji Cooperative Society has a loudspeaker connection in each home. “When our society went for redevelopment we requested the builder to supply us a prayer room within the newly developed constructing as one of many residents has already donated his flat for a prayer room within the outdated society. The builder not solely fulfilled the promise but in addition supplied loudspeaker connection in each flat, which we’re utilizing for the three years for listening to Azaan and Namaz at house with out disturbing non-Muslim residents of the society,” mentioned one of many residents, Tahir Ali Khan. The society has 28 households and most of them are Muslims and the Azaan emerges from a prayer room situated within the constructing.
Shahid Latif, editor, Urdu every day Inquilab, mentioned that the neighborhood is responded to the altering instances. “The problem isn’t new and has been a topic of debate. Muslims have nice respect for the Supreme Courtroom. The Babri Masjid case verdict is an instance, it was accepted regardless of being sudden. I might say that the neighborhood’s response is acceptable to the state of affairs,” Latif mentioned.
“Muslims didn’t react to the political controversy which was not anticipated by them (MNS). End result, these seeking to get benefit out of it failed miserably and communal concord and peace additionally maintained,” Maulana Mahmood Dariyabadi, normal secretary, All India Ulema Council mentioned.
There have been no loudspeakers when Islam first emerged and the loudspeaker was merely a instrument to succeed in out to extra individuals, he mentioned. “With altering instances, such cellular apps are facilitating the believers otherwise,” Dariyabadi mentioned.
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