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Muslim prayer call ban blasted as ‘an attempt to erase the religion’

Source: Sunday Express

By ZOE EFSTATHIOU

The draft law, proposed by the Israeli government, has sparked outrage among Muslims who claim they are being discriminated against.

But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims the bill is not intended to suppress Islam, but aims to protect citizens from noise disturbance.

Coalition parties are expected to back the legislation, which would ban the prayer call from being broadcast at night and early morning.

Moni Aloleimi, 44, a Muslim originally from Jordan now living in Jaffa, Israel, described the bill as “an attempt to erase the religion”.

Muslim 1GETTY

Muslims have said the law is an attempt to “erase the religion”

People can’t accept this. If there is no call to prayer, there is no prayer. And if there is no prayer, there is no religion

Moni Aloleimi

He added: “People can’t accept this. If there is no call to prayer, there is no prayer. And if there is no prayer, there is no religion.”

Mr Aloleimi, who runs a manpower company, said the prayer call, which is broadcast five times a day and dates back to the time of the prophet Muhammed, is required to “rouse and remind people that there is a god and to not do evil deeds.”

He warned that if the law goes through, “there will be an explosion and it will end very badly”.

He added: “You don’t infringe on the religion of an Arab. It starts with this and then they will take other steps like telling us we don’t need 20 mosques, that five is enough.”

Amjab Rasas, 40, from Jerusalem, claimed he would flout the ban if it goes ahead, by attaching loudspeakers to his house.

Muslims prayingGETTY

One Muslim (not pictured) said if there is ‘no prayer, there is no religion’

He added: “I’ve been hearing the call to prayer from al-Aksa mosque all my life. How can they stop it? I hear the Shabbat siren on Fridays, and there’s no problem with it.

“Why should people be disturbed by the call to prayer? Whoever doesn’t want to hear it, can leave. The call to prayer was here before the Jews came.”

But members of the public in favour of the bill say it will help them sleep better.

PrayerGETTY FILE PIC

The prayer call is one of the five pillars of Islam

Itamar Siani, a painter who lived in Jaffa, told The Jerusalem Post

“I’m not against praying, but the problem is noise. It disturbs people, it wakes you up, so if they lower it, what’s the problem? I hear the muezzin from my home.

“I hear it from the left, the right and from behind. Of course it wakes me, and sometimes the call from different mosques is not together, you’ll get one before, one after.

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Categories: Islam, Israel, Middle East, Religion, The Muslim Times

1 reply ›

  1. Lowering the volume is one thing and banning the Adhan altogether is another.

    When there are mosques at every neighbourhood, there’s no need for these loud-speakers since there were none at the time of the Holy Prophet (pbuh), and only a loud human voice was used.

    So, why not do the same if the only people being called to prayer are the Muslims around the neighbouhood of a mosque?

    And in my country and town, it’s not just the call to prayer that is heard on the loud-speaker, it is the entire prayer and on Fridays the whole sermon too, can be heard on them and it is terribly disturbing for those praying at home, too, forget about the non-Muslims.

    So, why do Muslims insist on loud speakers when every neighbourhood has a mosque and a call can be made without it to inform the nearby Muslims?

    Reply

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