On January 20, Sheikh Dr. Abdul Latif Bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh imposed restrictions on mosque speakers. He is the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call, and Guidance. According to new directives, the number of outdoor loudspeakers to call for prayer (adhan) has been set at four.
All mosques that have more than four external loudspeakers have been ordered to remove them. The additional ones have to be stored in a warehouse for later use. They can also be provided to mosques that don’t have enough speakers.
According to Minister Al-Sheikh, the decree was allegedly triggered by complaints of excessive noise from Saudi households.
Saudi Arabian officials have defended limitations on mosque loudspeaker volume.
In 2021, the nation’s Islamic Affairs Ministry issued a directive stating that all loudspeakers should turn up only one-third of volume.
According to Mr. Sheikh, complaints came from parents who claimed that loudspeakers disturbed children.
Back then, Mr. Sheikh stated on state television that people who desire to pray don’t need for the Imam to call for prayer.
Leave a Reply