Following restrictions on the use of loudspeakers, six mosques in Mumbai have registered for a mobile phone application that notifies the Muslim community when the 'Azaan' is called. The app, called 'Online Azaan', has been developed by a Tamil Nadu-based company.
Considering the restrictions and sensitivities surrounding the use of loudspeakers for namaz, the mobile app helps in giving the Azaan directly to worshippers from local mosques. He said that the app will help users listen to the Azaan at home even during Ramzan and during public restrictions.
The initiative has been taken after the police took strict action against the use of loudspeakers. The police had visited the Juma Masjid and warned that action could be taken against the use of loudspeakers. Due to this, the mosque has temporarily switched off the loudspeakers.
Mahim Juma Masjid Mutawalli Fahad Khalil Pathan told PTI that the Juma Masjid in Mahim area has adopted this app to continue the tradition of Azaan.
He said that this has been done especially for the elderly and people living nearby (in the mosque). The app has been developed with the technical assistance of a team of IT professionals from Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu. It is now available on 'Android' devices and iPhones.
The app provides live audio of Azaan through mobile phones when it is given from the mosque. Those who cannot listen to the Namaz Pathan Azaan due to the ban on loudspeakers can now listen to it at the scheduled time through this app, Pathan said.
Now people of the Muslim community can stay connected with the Azaan timings. In the last three days alone, 500 people living around our mosque have registered on the app.
The Bombay High Court has not ordered the removal of loudspeakers but has set sound limits of 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night.
In response to this and on the request of the police, they have voluntarily stopped using loudspeakers and have started using box speakers to comply with the guidelines.
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