“Azaan” is recited by the mosque before the namaz. Azaan is actually a call for prayers. On hearing the azaan the Muslim go to the mosques to pray. In view of the coronavirus pandemic, places of worship are closed. People of all religions have been requested to pray from their homes.  Administrations in Uttar Pradesh had directed mosques to stop recitation of azan through loudspeakers in view of the COVID-19 guidelines. MP Afzal Ansari, Congress leader Salman Khurshid and senior advocate S Wasim A Qadri, challenged these orders in Allahabad High Court. In the petition, they said that the fundamental right to religion may be protected. He requested the court to allow recitation of the azaan by one person as it will not break any rule for controlling the coronavirus pandemic. 

The petition said the recitation of azaan is an integral part of Islam. It does not come in the way of the pandemic response. In response to the petition, the Uttar Pradesh government had filed a counter-affidavit opposing that azaan is a call for the congregation to offer prayers at the mosque and so it is breaking the guidelines for containing the pandemic. The Allahabad High Court said that azaan “may be an essential and integral part of Islam” but its recitation “through loudspeakers or other sound-amplifying devices cannot be said to be an integral part of the religion. 

The court announced that the azaan can be recited by the muezzin from the mosque minarets “by human voice without using any amplifying device and the administration is directed not to cause (disturbance)” The petitioners said that the judgment was in their favor and they were content (satisfied) with it. “We wanted permission for azaan, which the honorable court has granted.” 

Tags

• Uttar
• Pradesh
• Islam
• Azaan
• Muslim

Advertisement