Noise Pollution: Saudi Arabia Restricts Use Of Mosque Loudspeakers

The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Sheikh Dr.
Abullatif Bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh issued a circular on Sunday to
all of the ministry’s branches in the Kingdom’s regions,
instructing the employees in mosques to restrict the use of
external loudspeakers to calling the faithful to prayer (Adhan) and
Iqamat-ul-salah (the second call for congregational prayer).

Furthermore, the volume must not exceed one-third of the full
volume of loudspeakers. The minister warned that regulatory
measures would be taken against anyone who violates this
circular.

This circular issued Monday by the minister comes in the wake of
the ministry noticing that external loudspeakers are used during
the performing of prayers. This harms patients, old people, and
children in the houses in the vicinity of the mosques.

In addition, there is interference in the recitations and rites
by the imams of mosques. This causes confusion for the worshipers
in the mosques and the residents of houses in the surroundings of
these mosques, (especially the sequence of rites?).

The circular is also based on evidence from the Shariah, most
important of which is the Prophet’s saying that all worshipers are
praying and supplicating to Allah Almighty, so they should not harm
or cause inconvenience for one another by loud recitations during
prayer.

This is in implementation of the jurisprudential (Fiqhi)
principle, “Do not harm others, nor should others harm you.”

The reason is that the imam’s voice during prayer must be heard
by all inside the mosque, and there is no need, according to the
Shariah for the imam’s voice to be heard in the neighboring houses
outside.

Moreover, there is disrespect for the Holy Qur’an when it is
recited loudly using external loudspeakers, while no one is
listening to and pondering on its verses.

The circular is also in conformity with the religious edict
(fatwa) by the late religious scholar Sheikh Muhammad Bin Saleh
Al-Othaimeen (May Allah have mercy on his soul) that external
loudspeakers should not be used except for Adhan and
Iqamat-ul-salah.

The circular is also based on the fatwa by the member of the
Council of Senior Scholars and member of the Permanent Committee
Dr. Saleh Al-Fowzan, and several other religious scholars.

The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Sheikh Dr.
Abullatif Bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh issued a circular on Sunday to
all of the ministry’s branches in the Kingdom’s regions,
instructing the employees in mosques to restrict the use of
external loudspeakers to calling the faithful to prayer (Adhan) and
Iqamat-ul-salah (the second call for congregational prayer).

Furthermore, the volume must not exceed one-third of the full
volume of loudspeakers. The minister warned that regulatory
measures would be taken against anyone who violates this
circular.

This circular issued Monday by the minister comes in the wake of
the ministry noticing that external loudspeakers are used during
the performing of prayers. This harms patients, old people, and
children in the houses in the vicinity of the mosques.

In addition, there is interference in the recitations and rites
by the imams of mosques. This causes confusion for the worshipers
in the mosques and the residents of houses in the surroundings of
these mosques, (especially the sequence of rites?).

The circular is also based on evidence from the Shariah, most
important of which is the Prophet’s saying that all worshipers are
praying and supplicating to Allah Almighty, so they should not harm
or cause inconvenience for one another by loud recitations during
prayer.

This is in implementation of the jurisprudential (Fiqhi)
principle, “Do not harm others, nor should others harm you.”

The reason is that the imam’s voice during prayer must be heard
by all inside the mosque, and there is no need, according to the
Shariah for the imam’s voice to be heard in the neighboring houses
outside.

Moreover, there is disrespect for the Holy Qur’an when it is
recited loudly using external loudspeakers, while no one is
listening to and pondering on its verses.

The circular is also in conformity with the religious edict
(fatwa) by the late religious scholar Sheikh Muhammad Bin Saleh
Al-Othaimeen (May Allah have mercy on his soul) that external
loudspeakers should not be used except for Adhan and
Iqamat-ul-salah.

The circular is also based on the fatwa by the member of the
Council of Senior Scholars and member of the Permanent Committee
Dr. Saleh Al-Fowzan, and several other religious scholars.