Loudspeakers to be banned outside mosques during Ramadan prayers

CAIRO – 22 April 2018: Egyptian Minister of Religious Endowments, Mohammed Mokhtar Gomaa, has previously banned the usage of loudspeakers outside mosques during prayers, however, the call was not followed by several mosques across Egypt’s governorates.

Since Ramadan is knocking on doors, the loudspeakers fuss is expected to be revived during the holy month. Members of the Egyptian Parliament and Al Azhar scholars are eager to have the call implemented in all of the Egyptian governorates during Ramadan.

Professor of Comparative Jurisprudence and Islamic Law, Ahmed Kareema, told Egypt Today that loudspeakers must be banned during prayers, as they represent a flagrant violation of Islamic law and Qur’an.

Kareema added that louspeakers should be used only during Adhan (Islamic call for worship) and Iqama (second call for worship). Mosque goers must take into consideration not to disturb elderlies, patients and non-Muslims, added Kareema to Egypt Today.

“If I were the minister of religious endowments, I would have a firm grip on the loudspeakers to have them banned during prayers,” added Kareema.

Using loudspeakers during prayers must be banned as it is an unpleasant thing, said the member of Al Azhar’s Islamic Research Academy (AIRA), Mohamed El Shahat El Gendy.

“We brag about using loudspeakers, a phenomena turned epidemic in all Egyptian governorates, despite all mosques being close to each other,” added El Gendy.

“The Qura’n says ‘Those who offer their prayers with all solemnity and full submissiveness,’ prayers should be offered with solemnity not with loudspeakers disturbing patients and elderlies,” added El Gendy to Egypt Today.

Omar Hamroush, Secretary of Parliament’s Religious Committee, said that the Parliament summoned the minister of religious endowments to oversee the Ministry’s plan to face usage of loudspeakers during prayers and small mosques (Zawaya) which are occasionally involved in promoting terrorist ideologies.

“The decision to ban loudspeakers inside mosques is still enforced, preachers will be informed to follow the Ministry’s rules regarding prayers during the holy month,” said the head of religious sector in the Ministry of Endowments, Gaber Ta’ei, to Egypt Today.

Ta’ei added that those who violate the rules will be subjected to a penalty dictated by the Ministry of Endowments.