Penang bans outside loud speakers, except for prayer calls

(Barnama) – The decision to ban the use of loud speakers outside the mosques and surau except for the prayer call or “azan” and “iqamah” in Penang will be gazetted soon.

This was stated in a letter from the Penang state mufti’s office dated September 1 concerning the decision of the Penang state fatwa committee meeting on July 1 and 2.

The letter quoting excerpts of the minutes of the Penang state fatwa committee meeting stated the prohibition of reading the Quran before “Subuh” (dawn) using the loud speakers outside the mosque and surau.

This also includes the prohibition on the use of loud speakers outside the mosques and surau for all programmes, meetings and so on.

Only the use of internal loud speakers are allowed for programmes and activities at the mosques and surau.

Ten complaints had been received by the Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Department on the use of loud speakers in mosques and suraus from January 2012 until May 2015 involving external loud speakers for recordings of Quran recitals or ceramah before the call of prayer (azan).

Penang mufti Wan Salim Mohd Noor, when contacted by Bernama, confirmed the letter on the decision of the minutes of the meeting and that it did not affect the sanctity of Islam and was in fact in line with the passages from the Quran and Al-Sunnah.