۹ فروردین ۱۴۰۳ |۱۸ رمضان ۱۴۴۵ | Mar 28, 2024
Indonesia ministry issues guidelines on Adhan in Mosques

Except for the Adhan (Islamic call to prayers), mosques in Indonesia have been asked not to broadcast sounds when most people are likely to be sleeping, resting, and praying.

Hawzah News Agency (Jakarta, Indonesia) - They have also been asked not to raise sound levels while conducting a prayer. 

Indonesia's Ministry of Religious Affairs has issued a circular on Adhan, with guidelines on when and how it ought to be broadcast by mosques across the country, amid an outcry over the jailing of a woman who had griped about adhan volumes to a neighbor. 

Titled "The use of loudspeakers in Mosques, Langgar, and Musholla", the circular released on Friday (Aug 24) urges religious institutions to follow the instructions of the director-general of Muslim guidance, Tempo news portal reported on Saturday (Aug 25). Langgar and Musholla are terms used in Indonesia for Muslim prayer houses. 

The woman, named Meliana, complained to her neighbor in 2016 about the volume of Adhan being broadcast by a mosque near her home in northern Sumatra. 

But the neighbor told others about it and soon rumor had it that Meliana was trying to ban Adhan. 

The resulting outrage led to a rampage by Muslims on several Buddhist temples in what is believed to be the worst bout of anti-Chinese violence in the country since 1998. 

After Meliana was sentenced on Tuesday (Aug 28), civil society groups and lawyers denounced the verdict as excessive and silly. 

The two biggest Muslim organizations in the country, Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, also questioned the use of the blasphemy charge against the woman. 

The religious affairs ministry's instructions on Adhan runs over six points according to Tempo:

 

Loudspeakers in mosques should be handled by experienced personnel to avoid droning sounds, humming, and other noises that would potentially arouse antipathy towards mosques.

Those issuing the Adhan must possess a melodious and good voice.

Do not raise sound levels while conducting a prayer.

Except for the Adhan, do not broadcast sounds when most people are likely to be sleeping, resting, and praying.

Adhan must fulfil basic requirements including being melodious and easy on the ears.

Adhan should be broadcast at appropriate times like during the subuh prayer at dawn. Activities such as Quran reciting should utilise only indoor speakers.

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