Azan row: Volume lowered following complaint
Abdul Rahim SabriPublished: Jan 14, 2011 7:50 AM | Updated: Jan 14, 2011 3:25 PM
The volume of the loudspeakers announcing the azan, or call for prayers, at a mosque had to be lowered on "orders from the top" amidst dissatisfaction among the faithful in the predominantly Muslim area following a complaint from a non-Muslim lawyer that it was too loud.
Officials at a mosque in Kg Kerinchi say they were given 'orders' to lower the volume of the loudspeakers.
The volume of the loudspeakers announcing the azan, or call for prayers, at a mosque had to be lowered on "orders from the top" amidst dissatisfaction among the faithful in the predominantly Muslim area following a complaint from a non-Muslim lawyer that it was too loud.
Mahadi Abdullah, the head imam of Masjid Al-Ikhlasiah in Kampung Kerinchi, Kuala Lumpur, said the decision was made after a meeting with Federal Territories Islamic Department (Jawi) officials late last December.
He was told that the lawyer, who lives in nearby Pantai Hill Park about 1km away, had sent a letter of complaint directly to the prime minister, whose office in turn passed it to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Islamic affairs, Jamil Khir Baharom, and Jawi.
Jawi later gave the mosque officials a copy of the letter, which Mahadi said claimed that the loudspeakers were so loud during the ‘Subuh' or dawn prayers that it disturbed the sleep of the complainant.
Mahadi, who has been heading the mosque since March last year, added that he was informed by Jawi officials that the lawyer had again called up the department a few days earlier, complaining that the azan was still too loud.
Following the complaints, the mosque officials were told to bring down the volume of the loudspeakers at every call to prayer, and for Friday prayers only the loudspeakers in the prayer hall are used.
‘We can't do anything about it'
Mahadi acknowledged that Muslims in the area have complained that they could no longer hear readings from the Quran or sermons, while the call for Friday prayers, which is compulsory for Muslim men, is now barely audible.
"(But) I can't do anything about it... we received orders from the top," he said when met by Malaysiakini earlier yesterday.
Mahadi said mosque officials had asked residents of a nearby condominium if the azan was disturbing them following the complaints, but none had expressed similar grouses.
"We asked around 10 people, and most of them said the azan was normal and did not disturb their sleep... no problems and no disturbance," he said.
When asked about plans by a group to stage a demonstration in front of the mosque today to protest against the lawyer's actions, Mahadi said mosque officials have heard of the plan but distanced themselves from it.
"We are not involved in any way," he said, adding that he is not aware of the identity of the group.
Malaysiakini was unable to reach the lawyer for his comments. The volume of the azan has from time to time stirred controversy among residents who live near mosques and suraus, raising tension between Muslims and non-Muslims.
Mahadi Abdullah, the head imam of Masjid Al-Ikhlasiah in Kampung Kerinchi, Kuala Lumpur, said the decision was made after a meeting with Federal Territories Islamic Department (Jawi) officials late last December.He was told that the lawyer, who lives in nearby Pantai Hill Park about 1km away, had sent a letter of complaint directly to the prime minister, whose office in turn passed it to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Islamic affairs, Jamil Khir Baharom, and Jawi.
Jawi later gave the mosque officials a copy of the letter, which Mahadi said claimed that the loudspeakers were so loud during the ‘Subuh' or dawn prayers that it disturbed the sleep of the complainant.
Mahadi, who has been heading the mosque since March last year, added that he was informed by Jawi officials that the lawyer had again called up the department a few days earlier, complaining that the azan was still too loud.
Following the complaints, the mosque officials were told to bring down the volume of the loudspeakers at every call to prayer, and for Friday prayers only the loudspeakers in the prayer hall are used.
‘We can't do anything about it'
Mahadi acknowledged that Muslims in the area have complained that they could no longer hear readings from the Quran or sermons, while the call for Friday prayers, which is compulsory for Muslim men, is now barely audible.
"(But) I can't do anything about it... we received orders from the top," he said when met by Malaysiakini earlier yesterday.
Mahadi said mosque officials had asked residents of a nearby condominium if the azan was disturbing them following the complaints, but none had expressed similar grouses.
"We asked around 10 people, and most of them said the azan was normal and did not disturb their sleep... no problems and no disturbance," he said.
When asked about plans by a group to stage a demonstration in front of the mosque today to protest against the lawyer's actions, Mahadi said mosque officials have heard of the plan but distanced themselves from it.
"We are not involved in any way," he said, adding that he is not aware of the identity of the group.
Malaysiakini was unable to reach the lawyer for his comments. The volume of the azan has from time to time stirred controversy among residents who live near mosques and suraus, raising tension between Muslims and non-Muslims.
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