'When Worship Meets Technology': Mumbai Mosques Broadcast Azaan On Online Apps, Home Speakers After Court Orders Removal Of Loudspeakers

Mumbai: Following police action, prompted by court orders, to take down loudspeakers from religious locations in Mumbai to comply with noise pollution laws, mosques have started exploring different ways to transmit the azaan.

The police operation resulted in the confiscation of 1,149 loudspeakers from mosques and additional loudspeakers from temples, churches, and gurudwaras, amounting to a total of 1,608 loudspeakers from different religious sites. In reply, certain mosques are embracing technology creatively. One method consists of employing a mobile app created to tackle the problem, whereas in Maharashtra Nagar, residents have set up speakers in their apartments linked directly to nearby mosques.

A mobile application called 'OnlineAzan,' created in Tamil Nadu four years back, is becoming popular in Mumbai. This application was initially designed for people residing far from mosques who are unable to hear the azaan, according to a report by Hindustan Times.

Even though he was first hesitant to share it with the Mumbai mosques, he recognized their requirements and granted them access. The application enables users to listen to the azaan live from their local mosques.

The Noor Masjid in Cheeta Camp was the initial mosque to implement the ‘OnlineAzan’ app, receiving positive responses from the community. Other mosques, such as Sunni Badi Masjid, have begun utilizing it after discovering it from Mahim Masjid.

The circumstance illustrates a considerable adjustment in the community to preserve the practice of azaan amid fresh regulatory limitations, underscoring the continuing significance of this ritual in everyday Muslim life.

What Is Azaan?

The Azaan, or Adhan, is the Islamic call to prayer recited by a muezzin from a minaret, announcing the five daily obligatory prayer times. It serves as a public summons for Muslims to gather at the mosque. Recited in Arabic, the Azaan highlights the significance of prayer in Islam and functions as a reminder. Additionally, it is the first phrase spoken in a newborn’s ear, symbolizing the child’s introduction to the faith.