Are mosque loudspeakers too loud?

[aed1980]

MK's call for turning down volume of mosque loudspeakers sparks debate among Arabs

Knesset Member Esterina Tartman likely did not intend to spark an intense debate among Arabs, but her call to turn down the volume of mosque loudspeakers did just that.


Recently, Tartman turned to Environment Minister Gideon Ezra and demanded that he order the mosque in the Palestinian village next to her hometown to turn down the volume of Muezzin loudspeakers.


The sensitive request, which was made in the midst of the holy month of Ramadan, became the talk of the day on many Arabic-language websites. Soon, Arab talkbackers were engaging in a fierce debate regarding Tartman's request.


As could be expected, most respondents slammed Tartman and defended their right to maintain loud calls for prayer.


"If it annoys you, go back to the place you came from, and stay away from the holy country that you tainted, you Zionist!" wrote Abu-Ali from Jerusalem. "Those who get annoyed by this are the enemies of Allah and the infidels," wrote Shihab. Meanwhile, a talkbacker identified as Hamdan wrote: "I’m not surprised at Tartman's request. She is an enemy and occupier, she is not Muslim, and she fights Islam. Yet regrettably, there are also Arab and Muslim states that want the same thing."


However, some Christian Arabs expressed different views. "The loud voice of the Muezzin is bothersome, and anyone who says otherwise makes a fool of himself," wrote a Palestinian from Bethlehem. "Did the Koran order you to install such loudspeakers in order to disturb others?" he wondered.


Another Bethlehem resident wrote: "My Muslim brothers, first, I wish you a blessed month of Ramadan…we do not say that the Muezzin is damaging or anything like that, but rather, that it's disruptive. When we and our young children are asleep, why do we deserve to be woken up because of the loud voices? This country belongs to all of us, and it's also the cradle of Christianity. And don't tell me 'go to France' etc. We need to respect each other."

However, Muslim talkbackers were quick to respond. "There's nothing more annoying than church bells," wrote one person. "If you don't like it, go to countries like France and Turkey that ban the Muezzin, you traitor," wrote another Muslim.


Some Muslim respondents even resorted to threats. One wrote: "We will permit your killing. We know who you are – signed, al-Qaeda."



I agree 1000% with tartman!!!

[The Dane]

The one at five o'clock in the morning is waaay too loud.

[Skutatos]

If THEY dont like it they can go back to their desert tent communities in saudi arabia and leave us all the hell alone.

[SickBick]

The one at five o'clock in the morning is waaay too loud.

Especially when the guys sound like they're ranting angrily (which, at least where I was, was definitely the case) after the actual prayers.

[aed1980]

If THEY dont like it they can go back to their desert tent communities in saudi arabia and leave us all the hell alone.

hahaha, im not saying that man,,, just saying that it is too loud!!!!

[One?]

If THEY dont like it they can go back to their desert tent communities in saudi arabia and leave us all the hell alone.

and they can say go back to eastern europe :)

[LaoSexMachine]

There's a mosque near my house. They never do the call to prayer.

[Hollis]

The stats uses a noise ordinance. There for, not church bells, not calls for prayer, etc. This happened mainly because of churches.

[Zeev]

and they can say go back to eastern europe :)

we came from here, our ancestors are from this land, we build and lives on this land first, all our culture and religion came from this land, even when we weren't always the majority, our people never leave the galil or jerusalem, a city that WE built, Islam and arabs came very much after, history and archeology can proves all of that, end of debate, there is nothing more to say, until the end of time.

[nagant_m44]

we came from here, our ancestors are from this land, we build and lives on this land first, all our culture and religion came from this land, even when we weren't always the majority, our people never leave the galil or jerusalem, a city that WE built, Islam and arabs came very much after, history and archeology can proves all of that, end of debate, there is nothing more to say, until the end of time.

according to the tanakh the jews didn't have jerusalem until david took it, so you didn't build that.

[tanks_alot]

The dawn prayer one is way too loud.... when i was in the regular army i was in an outpost very close to a mosque, in the West Bank, we had these armored tunnels surrounding the outpost where you would guard and patrol alone. now during the night you couldn't see anything without nightvision, you barely manage to keep your eyes open in those hours and suddenly, out of the blue, you hear ALLAH ACHBAR!!!!!! and it always sounded like someone was shouting it right near me.... scared me each time all over again, even when i tried to prepare for it. p-)

[GiladS]

and they can say go back to eastern europe :)

Strange how Arabs tend to forget the some three million Jews living in Israel who descended from communities in Arab states.

[Zeev]

according to the tanakh the jews didn't have jerusalem until david took it, so you didn't build that.

who build the pre islamic jewish buildings except the jews themselves? we were there and changed this town many centuries before muslims, thats the fvck I mean buy "building a town", I don't think that Jerusalem had the same face before and after the Jewish era.

Got it? or should I add an explanatory drawing?

[Karaahmetoglu]

Strange how Arabs tend to forget the some three million Jews living in Israel who descended from communities in Arab states.


Or the fact that Arabs and Jews are distant brothers.

[Zeev]

Strange how Arabs tend to forget the some three million Jews living in Israel who descended from communities in Arab states.

My familly leaves them a small house, I don't even think to claim them compensations, and to be fair, I don't care :)

[INAT]

I thank fate that I do not live anywhere there is this type of situation.
I am NOT a morning person. I love to sleep. Some guy calling the faithful through loudspeakers would earn my ire very quickly.




Why do the faithful need to be called to prayer? If I am faithful to something I would remember to go without being called. Right?


Why not send a txt message or fire a flare to remind people(Something i bit more quite)
I think loudspeakers to call those that are already faithful is redundant.
It is being pushy. How long has Islam been around? I think the faithful know the drill already. But that is just my view.

[nagant_m44]

who build the pre islamic jewish buildings except the jews themselves? we were there and changed this town many centuries before muslims, thats the fvck I mean buy "building a town", I don't think that Jerusalem had the same face before and after the Jewish era.

Got it? or should I add an explanatory drawing?

alot of the "pre islamic buildings" there are also roman... of course if you say "pre islamic jewish" buildings, then they are jewish.

please post some drawings, charts, and architectural plans of these buildings in jerusalem though.

[Hollis]

please post some drawings, charts, and architectural plans of these buildings in jerusalem though.


....... and this has what to do with the topic. Take a class on archeology of ancient Israel if your so fired up.

[nagant_m44]

....... and this has what to do with the topic. Take a class on archeology of ancient Israel if your so fired up.

look at zeev's original post that i responded to.

[Hollis]

look at zeev's original post that i responded to.


OK, thanks.

[loganinkosovo]

All things considered....I'd rather hear church bells.

And you only have to listen to them a couple of times a week.

Not 10 times a bloody day!

:)

[TheMiddlePath]

MP free as Malaysia tensions grow


http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45033000/jpg/_45033312_-15.jpg A controversial act left over from colonial rule was used to detain Ms Kok


Malaysian opposition MP Teresa Kok has been released from jail on Friday, one week after being detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA). She had been held without charge, accused of campaigning for a mosque to lower the volume of its call to prayer. A journalist arrested at the same time was released, but two bloggers detained in the past week remain in jail.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7625002.stm

[Vorian]

The dawn prayer one is way too loud.... when i was in the regular army i was in an outpost very close to a mosque, in the West Bank, we had these armored tunnels surrounding the outpost where you would guard and patrol alone. now during the night you couldn't see anything without nightvision, you barely manage to keep your eyes open in those hours and suddenly, out of the blue, you hear ALLAH ACHBAR!!!!!! and it always sounded like someone was shouting it right near me.... scared me each time all over again, even when i tried to prepare for it. p-)


rofl

I just had a very funny mental image right now.

[INAT]

All things considered....I'd rather hear church bells.

And you only have to listen to them a couple of times a week.

Not 10 times a bloody day!

:)


Agree 100% Christians have bells. Jews have the Ram's horn they blow.
They had to think of something unique. Speakers are too much.


@Vorian -that is funny I can picture that.

@TheMiddlePath-WTF?

[Mr.Flint]

All things considered....I'd rather hear church bells.

And you only have to listen to them a couple of times a week.

Not 10 times a bloody day!

:)
I had a chance to live once right between five churches, generaly it was tolerable, but at Troiza and Paskha, time it was a bloody hell....


As for Muedzins? Etiher they stop using loudspeakers altogether, or kick em out....
Its a living hell to wake up during a hamsin a 5am with those assholes wailing WAAAAAAAAALAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH AAAAAAAAAAAAAKBAAAAAAAAAAAAAR BIIIIIIIIIISMIIIIIIIIIIIIIILAAAAAAAAAAAAH IIIIIIIIIIIIIIL RAAAAAAAAAAAAAHMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!
From 4 minarets around my neighoburhood! :fork:

[GiladS]

By the way...

Does any Israeli on the board remember an incident in which IDF soldiers entered a mosque and played rock music via its loudspeakers?

[Karaahmetoglu]

However, Muslim talkbackers were quick to respond. "There's nothing more annoying than church bells," wrote one person. "If you don't like it, go to countries like France and Turkey that ban the Muezzin, you traitor," wrote another Muslim.



It's not banned in Turkey, though for a long time it was in Turkish but they changed that that was 60 years ago.

[kvk1]

It's not banned in Turkey

It damn well should be.

No but seriously, at least broadcast the damn thing within the mosque and not to the entire 1000 mile radius at 5 in the morning when I'm trying to get some f'ing shuteye.

Those ****ers are WAY too loud.

[LaoSexMachine]

MP free as Malaysia tensions grow


http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45033000/jpg/_45033312_-15.jpg A controversial act left over from colonial rule was used to detain Ms Kok


Malaysian opposition MP Teresa Kok has been released from jail on Friday, one week after being detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA). She had been held without charge, accused of campaigning for a mosque to lower the volume of its call to prayer. A journalist arrested at the same time was released, but two bloggers detained in the past week remain in jail.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7625002.stm

Just sad. Is she Chinese? Been reading how the ethnic Malay aren't too fond of peeps that aren't Malay.

[Bushranger]

I stayed in a hostel in Istanbul & the mosque was around the corner when the cat strangling started it was that loud it wasnt funny.

[INAT]

I stayed in a hostel in Istanbul & the mosque was around the corner when the cat strangling started it was that loud it wasnt funny.


Cat stranglingrofl

Something must be done! what are they going to do about it?

[Eokboy]

Just sad. Is she Chinese? Been reading how the ethnic Malay aren't too fond of peeps that aren't Malay.
Yes. I do not like that Teresa Kok.

But putting her in detention is wrong.

[LaoSexMachine]

Yes. I do not like that Teresa Kok.

.

You don't like because she wants the volume lowered or is there something else?

[VEVAK]

Or the fact that Arabs and Jews are distant brothers.

You are right! They are brothers! Both are semitic, speak a semitic language and practice an Abrahamic religion. It is very strange for me how they hate eachother so much!

[aed1980]

You are right! They are brothers! Both are semitic, speak a semitic language and practice an Abrahamic religion. It is very strange for me how they hate eachother so much!

Maybe because they have a new religion based on ours, in wich instead of seeing us as older brothers, they see as people who didnt want to accept conversion to mohamed's new religion.

[PeterRJG]

You are right! They are brothers! Both are semitic, speak a semitic language and practice an Abrahamic religion. It is very strange for me how they hate eachother so much!

Hutu vs Tutsi, Croatian vs Serbian, Northern Ireland Protestant vs Northern Ireland Catholic, Khmer Rouge Cambodian vs Royalist Cambodian.

Is it so strange after all?

[Eokboy]

You don't like because she wants the volume lowered or is there something else?
Because she was against the Jawi script used in road signs yet promoted tamil and mandarin versions. Hypocritical.

[IDF_TANKER]

My buddy's village once tried to start a war against them, so they would put huge speakers directed towards Mosque and playing some heavy metal rock at the same time when the moadzin would make his calling. Didn't work though, Mosque guys were more persistent.

[Connaught Ranger]

At times I wish ordinary Church bells would be done away with, early Sunday mornings especially, there use is outdated, calling people to prayer or reminding people its time for the 6 o'clock Angelus, when out working in the fields, Alarm in the time of war, etc..etc..

Do the Iman (sp?) actually do a live broadcast or is it a tape recording??

Connaught Ranger

[IDF_TANKER]

At times I wish ordinary Church bells would be done away with, early Sunday mornings especially, there use is outdated, calling people to prayer or reminding people its time for the 6 o'clock Angelus, when out working in the fields, Alarm in the time of war, etc..etc..

Do the Iman (sp?) actually do a live broadcast or is it a tape recording??

Connaught Ranger

Imam doesn't do it. There is a special guy for this task - Moadzin. In more traditional Muslim societies this job is reserved for a blind guy, cause historically, in the hot ME countries people used to sleep on the roofs, so the blind guy couldn't see stuff...

[Zeev]

alot of the "pre islamic buildings" there are also roman... of course if you say "pre islamic jewish" buildings, then they are jewish.

please post some drawings, charts, and architectural plans of these buildings in jerusalem though.

I have no time to waste with you, it seems that YOU want to rewrite our history, so find yourself evidences that jews didn't build anything before muslims in Jerusalem, I'll be glad to see that..

PS; even if a lot of pre islamic buildings are as you said "roman" I remember you that there is no roman civilisation anymore to claim for, so the logic (at least the 99% people logic) wants that Jews are the most legitim heirs of these places, and certainly not muslims or anybody else.

[Calanen]

My buddy's village once tried to start a war against them, so they would put huge speakers directed towards Mosque and playing some heavy metal rock at the same time when the moadzin would make his calling. Didn't work though, Mosque guys were more persistent.

Lucky they didnt get a Qassam shot at the speaker stack.

[Connaught Ranger]

Imam doesn't do it. There is a special guy for this task - Moadzin. In more traditional Muslim societies this job is reserved for a blind guy, cause historically, in the hot ME countries people used to sleep on the roofs, so the blind guy couldn't see stuff...


Hi IDF_TANKER :) Thanks for the clarification,

Connaught Ranger:)

[Telmar]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcyKqaU5BP4

[m.i.t]

I stayed in a hostel in Istanbul & the mosque was around the corner when the cat strangling started it was that loud it wasnt funny.


Yes .its a still problem in Istanbul . Even muslim Turks dont confirm using high leveled electronic loudspeakers for ezan like that.
Actually "ezan or salad " should be louded by a human and this sound level dont disturb people...
But loudspeakers are disturbance...

[204 Kaymaz]

I actually once when i was little sang twinkle twinkle little star in my mothers village, got a good beating from the elders :)

never went to the moske after that

[nagant_m44]

I have no time to waste with you, it seems that YOU want to rewrite our history, so find yourself evidences that jews didn't build anything before muslims in Jerusalem, I'll be glad to see that..

PS; even if a lot of pre islamic buildings are as you said "roman" I remember you that there is no roman civilisation anymore to claim for, so the logic (at least the 99% people logic) wants that Jews are the most legitim heirs of these places, and certainly not muslims or anybody else.


Learn to read and comprehend english. I didn't say the jews didn't build anything, I countered the claim you made saying that the jews built everything in that city, which is simply untrue.

[the_hog]

Silence them with hunting rifles.

[TheMiddlePath]

Just sad. Is she Chinese? Been reading how the ethnic Malay aren't too fond of peeps that aren't Malay.
Video of Teresa's release from ISA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45w-Hm3kPPc

[sunsettowner]

it is once every lunar year so one must bear it especially one who live in a country with the largest moslem population ha ha
other annual anomalis includes
>> Crowded mosques
>> Empty or closed bars and other entertainment places:-(
>> Closed restaurants and food courts (daytime)
>> significantly lower number of intoxicated peoplea
and many other interesting change in people's behaviour
most think that this "Holy Month" is the "recycling period" when any "amal" or good thing that they do in this single month will greatly reduce and wipe their bad record for the other 11 months :roll:.
so bear it for one month they'll get their common sense after that

[aed1980]

Learn to read and comprehend english. I didn't say the jews didn't build anything, I countered the claim you made saying that the jews built everything in that city, which is simply untrue.

Sorry mate, but you seem the one that doesnt comprehend english, he never said jews built everything in the city.

[Mr.Flint]

it is once every lunar year so one must bear it especially one who live in a country with the largest moslem population ha ha
other annual anomalis includes
>> Crowded mosques
>> Empty or closed bars and other entertainment places:-(
>> Closed restaurants and food courts (daytime)
>> significantly lower number of intoxicated peoplea
and many other interesting change in people's behaviour
most think that this "Holy Month" is the "recycling period" when any "amal" or good thing that they do in this single month will greatly reduce and wipe their bad record for the other 11 months :roll:.
so bear it for one month they'll get their common sense after that
Its not once every every year over there, but every bloody morning!

[Zeev]

Sorry mate, but you seem the one that doesnt comprehend english, he never said jews built everything in the city.

correct bro.

[Ordie]

I don't mind the call to prayers. I find it very harmonic and comforting.
Unfortunately, recorded calls to prayers ruins the authenticity and sincerity of the overall experience.

My recommendations.

1) Use a real person calling from the minarets.
2) Simulcast through the radio or internet.

Historical fact:
Holy Roman Emperor Fredrick II, sucessfully led the 6th Crusade and re-took Jerusalem through negotiating Al-Kamil, The Kurdish Sultan of Eygpt.

Fredrick was raised in Sicily and educated in Arabic. Because he was ex-communicated by the Pope, he surrounded by Muslim bodyguards who cannot be ex-communicated.

When Fredrick II was hosted by Al Kamil, Al Kamil asked the Muzzen not to call for prayers in order not to disturb Fredrick II. When Fredrick II awoke he complained to Al Kamil that the Muzzen did not do his duty and asked his host to resume the call for prayers.

Once he took over Jerusalem, he was once again ex-communicated by the Pope.

[tluassa]

In rural Westfalia we have this

http://www.spektral-records.de/grafik/cover/07007_GlockenKonstanz_gross.jpg

Replace Mosque with Airport, Highway, Port, etc we should all work to reduce freaking noise you all agree (take out Concerts on rural fields )

[Ulytau]

Especially in Istanbul i can say work of art.''know some people who waking up only for listen at morning cause in old mosques imams are educated with Turkish Classic Music too''

Can be for who dont know about this rememberin a friend who came here as a tourist from Sweden she was keep saying i gonna kill a man who singin same song every morning roflthen finally when we learn problem solve problem :)

An example from the Sultanahmet Mosque Morning Ezan ''Aka Blue Mosque''

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZgp7pqzw20

[ggk]

im sorry if the azzan were disturbing some of you guys...but believe me thats how it is in a muslim country.

i just want to comment on this Teresa Kok (unmarried and available). She claimed that the adzan were distrupting the chinese community sleep in the early morning . (usually somewhere between 5.30 am to 6.00 am.

Im curious because, the chinese woke up at 4.00 am in the morning preparing food or whatever for their kid very early indeed...and they wont get back to sleep untill their kid were safely went to school..(around 7.00 am)

come to think of it, in fact most malaysian wake up early to work...usually around 6.00am...yeah i wonder if the muadzin (or billal) are actually doing a favor for them? (to wake them up in the morning?)

That said the morning Azzan were slightly different from the ordinary azzan, because it add a short message to it..which literally translated "wake up from your sleep"

Yeap! wake up and go to work, start your day early and the rest of the day will be just fine.

[ggk]

The dawn prayer one is way too loud.... when i was in the regular army i was in an outpost very close to a mosque, in the West Bank, we had these armored tunnels surrounding the outpost where you would guard and patrol alone. now during the night you couldn't see anything without nightvision, you barely manage to keep your eyes open in those hours and suddenly, out of the blue, you hear ALLAH ACHBAR!!!!!! and it always sounded like someone was shouting it right near me.... scared me each time all over again, even when i tried to prepare for it. p-)

is that good or bad? sleeping on duty and some muadzin wake you up with the azzan.

[ColinP]

Or the fact that Arabs and Jews are distant brothers.

Hence the bitterness of the fight, the closer you are to your enemy the nastier the fight.

[Ghorkhali]

Allah can hear us in low volume too..... none of the prayer of any religion should disturb any one just becoz of stupid reason tat "WE ARE COMMUNICATING GOD"

[Ordie]

Maybe a rap version would be more appealing.

[junglejim]

Paul Potts as Muadzin in "The Morning Prayer"

You guys just need to get creative.

Wonder if they actually do the "Test" before the prayer, imagine hearing that in the morning "tsss tsss, test mike test, tss tss C balance"

[Heinemann]

im sorry if the azzan were disturbing some of you guys...but believe me thats how it is in a muslim country.

That and a whole list of other reasons is why I would never live in a Muslim country.

[LEGEND]

Great thing in the US nobody is allowed to make noise that would disturb people. PERIOD.

[loganinkosovo]

Paul Potts as Muadzin in "The Morning Prayer"

You guys just need to get creative.

Wonder if they actually do the "Test" before the prayer, imagine hearing that in the morning "tsss tsss, test mike test, tss tss C balance"

"Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

This is the weekly test of the Emergency Jihad Warning Broadcast System. In the event of The Great Satan getting around to sending us to Allah this Minneret will give you last minute instructions on how to kiss your A$$ Good-Bye. This has been a test of the Emergency Jihad Warning Broadcast System."

:)

[loganinkosovo]

OK...here's some payback for 7 years of "Call to Prayers"

Make sure you turn your speakers all the way UP!!!!!!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JLPC0T_Aio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzYxENRuMRs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7I9UIUQJkc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toToq4x2pSQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcXO3Bf8o8Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_tmTmaMrHw


:)

[loganinkosovo]

Great thing in the US nobody is allowed to make noise that would disturb people. PERIOD.

Then why is there RAP Music?

[sujithkochi]

Come on guys, show some respect to other religions as well. I am not a Muslim, i used to live in Dubai, i never for once considered the call for prayer from ard 3 mosques near where I stayed as a nuisance.

Its called tolerance for another persons religion/ belief.

[kvk1]

Come on guys, show some respect to other religions as well. I am not a Muslim, i used to live in Dubai, i never for once considered the call for prayer from ard 3 mosques near where I stayed as a nuisance.

Its called tolerance for another persons religion/ belief.

Sheesh....

Complaining =/= Non-Tolerance

If the thread had been The prayers were too loud so I went into the mosque and suplexed the imam...then yeah, you'd have a point.

[Macs.]

Come on guys, show some respect to other religions as well. I am not a Muslim, i used to live in Dubai, i never for once considered the call for prayer from ard 3 mosques near where I stayed as a nuisance.

Its called tolerance for another persons religion/ belief.

...and where is the tolerance for people without a belief who do not want to be bothered by such nonsense ?