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Hindustan Times
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Deprived of loudspeakers, mosques adopt novel ideas to continue broadcasting azaan
MUMBAI: After the police, following court directives to enforce noise pollution regulations, removed loudspeakers from all religious structures in the city, Mumbai's mosques are looking for alternatives to overcome the predicament. A couple of them have come up with innovative ideas. Following court directives, the police removed 1,149 loudspeakers from mosques across the city. Last week, CM Devendra Fadnavis declared that the city had been made loudspeaker-free. (PTI) In the course of the drive, the police removed 1,608 loudspeakers from religious structures in Mumbai alone. Of these, 1,149 were in mosques, 48 in temples, 10 in churches, four in gurudwaras and 147 in other religious establishments, as per the information given by the state government in the state legislature. On Friday, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis declared that the city had finally been made loudspeaker-free. Even as several petitions have been filed in the Bombay high court, claiming that the police action infringes upon the right to religious freedom, mosques in the city have begun looking at technology-based innovative options. While some have begun using a mobile application designed to resolve the problem, a society in Maharashtra Nagar, Mankhurd, has installed speakers in flats, connecting them directly to the nearby mosques. 'All the speakers are directly connected with our mosques, and as soon as the muezzin starts reciting azaan, the residents get to hear it,' said Razzak Shaikh, who played a vital role in the initiative. 'It leaves no ground for others to raise objections to azaan.' Shaikh said that they had pre-empted the police action. 'The police removed speakers from mosques only a few weeks ago, but we had installed the sound system last September,' he told Hindustan Times. 'As many as 50 homes are benefitting from this.' The second azaan option is a mobile app developed in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, which is turning out to be a feasible option for the community. Over two dozen mosques in the city have already started using it because of its unique features, among them major mosques such as the Mahim Juma Masjid and Sunni Badi Masjid at Madanpura. The app was developed four years ago as a solution for people who stayed far away from mosques and could not hear the azaan. Seventy-year-old lawyer Allapitchai M, who got the app developed, said that the issues of Muslims living far away gave him the idea of developing such an app. 'The people of Tamil Nadu took to it, and it is being used by around 250 to 300 mosques in the state,' he said. Allapitachai said he was not aware of the situation of mosques in Mumbai or Maharashtra. 'This app was also not developed for that purpose,' he said. 'This is the reason that when a Mumbai mosque approached us a few months ago, we were not keen on sharing it with them. But then we came to know about the situation in Mumbai and did share it.' The 'OnlineAzan' app has a distinct feature that offers a separate system for every mosque. 'Those who download the app will get to hear the azaan from their own mosque in real time once a muezzin starts reciting it,' said Allapitchai. 'We have developed a website, ' where a mosque can request to be added. We are providing the app absolutely free. It was developed for charity purposes and not to mint money.' The mosque that first started using the OnlineAzan app was Noor Masjid in Cheeta Camp, Trombay. Social worker Mohammad Ibrahim, 62, said they had been using the app for the last three months. 'As soon as the muezzin recites azaan, all those who have downloaded the app get to hear it at the same time,' he said. 'The community is really happy with it, and now two more nearby mosques have joined in.' Mohammad Iqbal, trustee of the Sunni Badi Masjid, Madanpura, said they came to know about the app from the Mahim masjid. 'We shared the link through WhatsApp and now most people coming for daily prayers have started using it,' he said. 'We have asked people from other mosques to start using it without waiting for the court verdict.' Azaan has been a crucial part of daily prayers for centuries, a call for Muslims to come and worship at the mosque. Over the years, the use of loudspeakers was started to ensure that azaan reached out to the maximum number of Muslims.
United News of India
29-06-2025
- United News of India
Maha: 'Online Azan' app helps Mumbai faithful navigate loudspeaker curbs
Mumbai, June 29 (UNI) At least six mosques across the city have adopted a digital solution to maintain the call to prayer amid tightening restrictions on loudspeaker use. The "Online Azan" application, developed by a Tamil Nadu-based tech firm, delivers real-time azan broadcasts directly to worshippers' mobile devices. The initiative follows increased police enforcement of sound regulations, including visits to mosques like Mahim Juma Masjid where authorities warned of legal action against loudspeaker violations. "This led us to temporarily disable our sound system," said Fahad Khalil Pathan, managing trustee of Mahim Juma Masjid said today. Developed with technical expertise from Tirunelveli professionals, the free app streams live azan audio precisely synchronized with mosque announcements. It serves nearby residents, particularly the elderly, and those beyond traditional speaker range. The app also functions as a prayer-time notification system, operating automatically after initial setup. Pathan emphasised the community-driven approach: "We chose innovation over confrontation. Five hundred local residents registered within three days, and six Mumbai mosques now broadcast through the India-based server." Users select their locality and nearest mosque during setup to receive location-specific alerts. The shift responds to sound limits set by the Bombay High Court – 55 decibels daytime, 45 decibels nighttime – not a full loudspeaker ban. Mosques have replaced traditional speakers with smaller 10x15 box speakers that comply with regulations but have reduced audio range. Mohammed Ali, co-founder of Online Azan, confirmed 250 mosques in Tamil Nadu already use their three-year-old platform. Mosque registration requires submission of an application form, address verification and the muezzin's Aadhaar identification. Political reactions vary: Mumbai Congress general secretary Asif Farooqui praised the technological adaptation, noting "Prayer is important, not loudspeakers." Conversely, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya claims his campaign has removed 1,500 unauthorised loudspeakers across the city. The solution preserves religious observance while addressing urban noise concerns, with Pathan observing: "Even when speakers are off, worshippers stay connected to their mosque's call." UNI AAA SS
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
City mosques introduce azaan app for namaaz call
Mumbai: Upset by the city police's alleged pressure to remove loudspeakers from mosques, some mosques in the city have found a solution through the introduction of a dedicated mobile Azaan app to relay call to prayers five times a day, directly to the worshippers. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Globally, Muslim citizens, including those in the US, the UK, Saudi Arabia and UAE, use Azaan apps to get notification for Azaan time for the masjid located in specific areas. Developed by a group of volunteers in Tamil Nadu , the online azaan app has been in use in TN for over three years. "Most people go out to work and their place of work may not be close to a mosque. Having azaan app helps them respond to azaan," said a volunteer, giving one of the reasons for this app. In Mumbai, the more pressing reason is police action against use of loudspeakers. "Mahim Juma Masjid launched the 'Online Azaan' app. The app was developed with technical support from a team of professionals in Tamil Nadu and is now available on Android devices and iPhones," said Fahad Khalil Pathan, the Masjid's managing trustee. Many have welcomed this move. "We have to move with the times. Instead of politicising the issue and taking delegations to ministers, community leaders should tell mosques to introduce the Azaan App and relay calls to prayers live. Azaan on loudspeakers is not mandatory; offering namaz five times a day for every adult Muslim is obligatory. Use technology and avoid wasting time and energy to continue a tradition (Azaan on loudspeakers) which is not mandated by religion," said city Congress general secretary Asif Farooqui. Unlike many other apps which only give recorded alerts on azaan time, this app relays azaan live and users can choose the local mosques registered with this app. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The service is free. Muslim community members have complained of police removing loudspeakers from mosques over the past weeks. On Wednesday, a delegation of Muslims met deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who was joined by DG Rashmi Shukla and Police Commissioner Deven Bharti. The senior cops said they were following the high court order, and so far, 1,500 loudspeakers were removed in the city. Though many masjid committees said they follow the decibel levels (55 in daytime and 45 at night), the police want loudspeakers removed until the mosques renew the police permission to use loudspeakers.
The Hindu
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Mahim Juma Masjid Trust launch Online Azan app amid loudspeaker row
Amid the ongoing chaos surrounding Mosque loudspeaker restrictions, Mahim Juma Masjid has come up with an alternative and introduced a dedicated mobile app that streams the Azan live, allowing devotees to hear it in real-time without violating any regulations. According to the Mahim Juma Masjid Trust, due to the restrictions on the use of loudspeakers for the call to prayer (Azan) in several urban areas of Mumbai, Juma Masjid launched a dedicated mobile app, which was developed with technical support from a team of professionals led by a team in Tamil Nadu. The name of the app is Online Azan app, and so far, over 100 users have downloaded it. The app gets the Masjid registered, and people associated with the particular masjid can be selected and listened to. Before the Azan time, users receive notifications alerting them to the start of the prayer. 'The initiative comes after a police crackdown on the use of loudspeakers, where officers visited the mosque and warned that loudspeaker use could result in action. This led to the mosque temporarily disabling its sound system. Besides, the Court order of the 45-56 decibel restriction on the speakers does not serve the purpose. So, this is an alternate,' the Managing trustee of Mahim Juma Masjid, Fahad Khalil Pathan told The Hindu. This comes after the delegation of Muslim leaders complained of campaigns against loudspeakers by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya in several areas of Mumbai, as well as police action on removing the loudspeaker. Despite compliance with the court's order of permissible noise levels under 56 decibels, Muslim representatives alleged that police have been harassing mosque committees. On Wednesday (June 25, 2025), a delegation of Muslim leaders and top police officials met Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar on the issue of loudspeakers at mosques in Mumbai. The app plays a live audio stream of the Azan through mobile phones exactly when it is delivered from the mosque, says a Trust member.
