Loudspeaker ban: Mosque, surau committees can use own discretion - Penang Mufti

Mosque and surau committees in the state can use their own discretion in implementing the ban on the use of loudspeakers outside the mosques and surau except for the calls of prayers (azan and iqamah).

Penang Mufti Datuk Wan Salim Mohd Noor said if the ban were to be gazetted soon, the committees could still consider using the loudspeakers at any suitable time and situation.

"The fatwa gives exception to the calls of prayers in the use of loudspeakers outside the mosques and surau, but it is hoped that the committees can use their discretion in deciding what should be done in implementing the ban in its real context.

"The literalist follow exactly what is said by the law or follow the blind letters of the law, but a wise man will see the meaning behind what was written," he said in a statement Saturday.

The ban 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 conformed at the committee's subsequent 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 loudspeakers outside the mosque and surau must be improved by including the prohibition on the use of loudspeakers outside the mosques and surau for all programmes, meetings and so on.