Azaan On Microphones: Stop This War Cry!

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 15 March 2023 “Kaankar Paathar Jori Ke Masjid Lai Chunay/ Ta Chadhi Mulla Baang De Kya Bahira Hua Khuday?” Kabir (Collecting stones and pebbles, a mosque was built/ A Mulla, Muazzin, screams from there, is Allah deaf?) Representative Image ---- What Kabir asked centuries ago is still relevant when recently a senior BJP leader questioned the use of microphones to call the faithful Muslims for prayers. And what do they scream on mikes in a 'secular' country: Ashhadu Alla Ilaha Illallah Wa Ashhadu Anna Muhammad ar Rasulullah (I bear witness that there's no deity - NONE truly to be worshipped - but, Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah). All this in a secular country where there're the followers of other faiths as well! Mind you, a Muazzin is flippantly screaming on a loudspeaker that none truly to be worshipped barring Allah. But this debate regarding the flagrant defiance and denial of other religions in a secular set up is for some other day. Coming back to Azaan on microphones, only Muslims cannot be held responsible for this nuisance and disgusting noise pollution. Now Hindus, Jainas and Sikhs are also playing blaring music in their religious activities. But if you notice, Muslims have a particularly 'retaliatory vindictive' - a phrase used by a columnist in a leading daily when a few years ago, Sonu Nigam complained that Azaan on loudspeakers disrupted his sleep- approach to this without understanding the idea of Azaan. Azaan is a call for prayers. But shouldn't a prayer be spontaneous? A faithful doesn't require a call for prayers. He goes on his own. He doesn't wait for a Muazzin's piercing call that grates on ears. The idea of Azaan came into existence when Islam was in its infancy in the Arab Peninsula. Neo-Muslims, who were desert yokels, needed to be regimented and disciplined in their worship to Allah (who just cannot live without constant praise and worship). Have you seen how cattle-grazers and shepherds call their sheep when it's time to return home in the evening? Likewise, faithful Muslims are called to a congregation by a Muazzin. But isn't there a difference between humans and animals? Why's there an unmusical scream on microphones to gather humans like cattles just to bow to a narcissistic Allah who demands unquestioning submission all the time? Does your Islam teach you to disrupt sleep of non-Muslims by screaming at the crack of the dawn? In fact, there're also many sane Muslims who get irritated by this war cry. Noise is a nuisance to all noetic people. Humans must collectively realise that we're already victims of noise pollution. This is being aggravated by the followers of all faiths with their noisy activities in the name of religion. Stop this charade. ------ A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-politics/azaan-microphones-war-cry/d/129323 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism