Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin has come out in support of the decision by Penang state mufti department to ban the use of loudspeakers outside of mosques and surau other than for the azan (call to prayer).
"What Islam bids us to broadcast is only the azan. Other than that, there is nothing that tells us to broadcast (anything else) until others are disturbed.
"Actually, in Islam, other people's peace should be preserved unless there is some exception that is allowed by Islamic law," Mohd Asri said in a Facebook post today.
The readings of the Quran and zikr are honorable practices, he added, but they (Muslims) must not force others to listen to their recitations.
There are many reasons to be considerate of others when it comes to these recitations, he said.
Maybe others want to read it themselves, or they might be sick or have children who are sleeping, he explained.
"Some people tried to defend this practice (of using loudspeakers other than for the azan), justifying it by saying it is from the Quran or zikr and that it should be honoured. They think their hardline attitude in this matter is 'the struggle to defend Islam'," he said.
Mohd Asri had previously pointed out that the Prophet Muhammad himself forbade the loud reading of the Quran in mosques that could disturb others.
Perlis set precedent
Perlis has enforced the prohibition of the use of loudspeakers outside mosques and surau except for the azan for several years now.
Former Perlis mufti Juanda Jaya had said that the Perlis Fatwa Council had broached the matter as early as April 30, 2007.
I wish to comment on some of the bacaan (readings, recitations of
Quranic passages), in addition to the azan, that is being broadcast through
loudspeakers today, resulting in disturbance to the public. Such bacaan has
confused non-Muslims who mistake them for being part of the azan (call to
prayer).
Some are defending the practice of broadcasting the bacaan on the
grounds that since it is the reciting of the Quran or zikir (devotional
songs), such a practice ought to be held in high regard. They believe their
uncompromising attitude in this matter represents 'the struggle to defend
Islam'. I would like to comment on this as follows:
1. That which Islam instructs to amplify, is only the azan. Apart from
this, there is no instruction to amplify anything else, to the point of causing
disturbance to others.
In fact, such acts are forbidden by the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.
Furthermore, in Islam, care is taken regarding the tranquillity of others, with
exceptions, if any that are permitted by Islamic law.
2. Although the readings of the Quran and zikir are excellent
practices, we cannot force others to listen to our prayer recitations. Perhaps
there are others who prefer to read their prayers themselves, or would like to
recite during other times of the day. Or one may be ill, or may not be
observing prayers at the time, for example a woman during her period, or non
Muslims and so on.
3. Many non-Muslims are confused between the azan and readings of the Quran
that do not constitute azan, that are being broadcast through loudspeakers.
They are under the belief that such recitations are instructed by Islam,
and therefore get the wrong impression of Islam as a harmonious religion.
Furthermore, the recitations are prolonged, while the actual call to prayer
lasts no more than five minutes.
4. In truth, the Prophet himself forbade people from amplifying their readings
of the Quran in mosques such that it would disturb others.
In the hadith of the Prophet, Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said : "When
the Prophet once prayed at the mosque, he heard someone reciting the Quran
loudly while the Prophet was at the place of worship.
“The Prophet then lifted the curtains (between them) and said, “Listen ye
who supplicate to his God, let not these of you cause disturbance to others. Do
not raise your voice in reciting prayers, above that of the others.” (Recorded
by Abu Daud).
In this hadith the Prophet forbade the raising of voices in reciting
prayers in the mosques that may interfere with other’s prayers, or aggravate
others. If this is so, what more amplifying through loudspeakers that may
disturb those outside the mosque? There may be others with infants or who are
ill, who may be disturbed.
A highly esteemed present-day scholar, Al-Sheikh Muhammad Salih al-Hadith
Uthaimin commenting on this hadith once said: "We are witnessing
today that which was described in the hadith (cited above). We are
seeing those who are doing (what the Prophet describes) by conducting prayers
using loudspeakers outside the mosque.
"If their actions cause grief to those around them, then they have sinned...they
without doubt should avoid such actions that furthermore do not bring any
benefit whatsoever, because one does not pray with those who are outside the
mosque, but only with those who are within the mosque.
"So we remind our brothers, especially the imams in the mosque, not to
practice this (using amplification). There may be those who have already prayed
and have to sleep and rest, perhaps there are those who are ill who will be
disturbed, or the mosque may be close to people’s homes....
"In conclusion, this problem (may have aggravated neighbourhoods or
homes) but brings no benefit whatsoever (to the devotee)." (Ibn Uthaimin,
Riyadh al-Salihin Syarh)
Imagine, this statement was issued by a distinguished and senior ulama in
Saudi Arabia, a country whose population is completely Muslim. What more for a
(multiracial) country like ours.
5. Ulama of the past have also spoken on this matter, that recitations
(other than the azan) are forbidden because they can disturb the general
public.
Al-Imam al-Hafizd Ibn Jauzi (died 597H) said: "Amongst the tricks of
Satan are those who mix up the azan with reminders, praise and advice. They
have turned the azan into something jumbled.
"The ulama disapproves of all that is added on top of the azan. Very
often we learn of people who get up in the middle of the night and serve up
reminders and advice on top of the minarets.
“There are those amongst them who read the Quran so loudly that they
disrupt the sleep of others and disturbs those who are conducting night prayers.
All these acts bring dishonour.” ( Ibn Jauzi, Talbis Iblis, 159, Beirut: Dar
al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah).
These prohibitions were made by ulama before loudspeakers were in
existence; what more if they learn of the kind of loudspeakers we have today?
Therefore with this, Muslims ought to stop reciting through loudspeakers
that may disturb those outside the mosque.
Adhering to this advice (not to use loudspeakers) is not a political issue
at all, but merely following the instructions of the Prophet and at the same
time preserving the image of Islam as harmonious.
Raising one’s voice in prayer does not add to one’s love towards Islam, but
in fact creates misunderstanding amongst many quarters.
Kommentare