As Mumbai Turns Loudspeaker-Free, Mosques To Go Digital With Azan App
Mumbai, Maharashtra: On Saturday, Mumbai police announced that all religious structures are now loudspeaker-free in the city. Announcing the transformative move, police commissioner Deven Bharti said that their efforts found result in removing loudspeakers from more than 1,500 structures, making the city loudspeaker-free.
Police said they convened meetings and negotiations with community and political leaders, and the trustees of religious groups, to peacefully remove the loudspeakers. Officials specifically mentioned that the action was not aimed at any particular community, and that the move followed the direction of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in March this year.
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However, the officials clarified that religious structures can use loudspeakers temporarily during festivals, with permission from local police stations.
Notably, several mosques in Mumbai have decided to go digital with the Azan app to overcome the prayer-related problems following the loudspeaker restrictions. As per reports, at least six mosques in the city have begun using the Online Azan mobile app to broadcast the azan (call to prayer) directly to worshipers’ phones in real-time.
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Several mosques introduced the app developed by a Tamil Nadu company. Mosques are promoting the app as a solution to the loudspeaker restrictions to ensure the spiritual experience continues uninterrupted.
The app streams the live Azan right at the time it is delivered from the mosque, notifying users of the prayer times. It thus serves as a smartwatch alert. Users can download the app, choose their locality, and select nearby mosques to avail the App’s services. People receive live audio streams and notifications whenever the azan is called.
Talking about the innovation, Fahad Khalil Pathan, managing trustee of Mahim Juma Masjid, said that about 500 local residents signed up for the app in the past three days alone. He said believers can easily connect to the azan timings, regardless of loudspeaker use through the app.
Though the Bombay High Court has not banned loudspeakers outright, but only imposed a limit of 55 decibels at night, the Masjid committee voluntarily stopped using loudspeakers, Pathan pointed out.
Notably, there were allegations that the administration in Mumbai removed loudspeakers from 8 mosques without checking noise levels or giving warnings. Locals points out that the High Court limits noise to 45–56 decibels and any action should follow proper notice or license cancellation, adding that removing speakers without inspection is unfair.
Speaking about the Online Azan App, its co-founder, Mohammed Ali, said their three‑year‑old company already has 250 mosques registered in Tamil Nadu. Mumbai Congress general secretary Asif Farooqui hailed the move, appreciating the committee for adapting to new innovations.
