The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has welcomed the Gujarat High Court’s dismissal of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) which sought a ban on Azaan through loudspeakers.
In a statement to the media on December 1, the JIH Vice-President Malik Mohtashim Khan said, “We welcome the judgment by the division bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha Mayee of the Gujarat High Court that dismissed a PIL seeking ban on Azaan through loudspeakers. We completely concur with the views of the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court that the plea was “wholly misconceived” and it was difficult to “understand as to how the human voice making Azaan through loudspeakers could achieve the decibels to the extent of creating noise pollution causing health hazard for the public at large.”
Khan further said, “Jamaat feels that there was an apparent contradiction in the complaint about noise disturbance and health hazard due to Azaan compared to the noise generated during other religious practices. The selective outrage on the Azaan by ignoring and normalizing loud music during bhajan or aarti in temples and other religious processions smacked of religious bias and Islamophobia, which is, unfortunately, becoming endemic in our body politic. India has a glorious history of religious tolerance and communal amity. We appeal to the people of India not to fall prey to those who wish to incite hatred and misuse religion for their political agenda.”
The JIH leader added, “We wish to emphasize that Azaan acts as a call to Muslims to join the mandatory five-time congregational prayers in mosques. This practice was instituted by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and continues to this day. The words of Azaan proclaim the greatness of our Creator and testify that Muhammad ﷺ is the Prophet of God. It is a call to peace and salvation.
“We invite our fellow brothers and sisters to study the Quran and read the life of the Prophet of Islam to acquaint themselves of the noble and pristine teachings of Islam. Jamaat feels that the best way ahead for our country is to celebrate our unity amidst diversity and spread love and compassion.”