Ban on use of loud speakers in mosques except for prayer calls in Penang

The decision on banning 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 Office dated Sept 1 concerning the decision of the Penang State Fatwa Committee meeting on July 1 and 2 and confirmed at the Penang State Fatwa Committee meeting on Aug 23 and 24.

The letter quoting excerpts of the minutes of the Penang State Fatwa Committee Meeting stated that the meeting had agreed that the command decided at the State Fatwa Committee Meeting dated April 7, 2011 on the prohibition of reading the al-Quran before 'Subuh' (dawn) using the loud speakers outside the mosque and surau must be improved by including 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 (JHEAIPP) on the use of loud speakers in mosques and surau from January 2012 until May 2015 involving external loud speakers for recordings of al-Quran recitals or ceramah before the call of prayer (azan).

Penang Mufti Datuk 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 al-Quran and al-Sunnah.