Acting (Plt) Head of Public Relations, Data, and Information Bureau Ministry of ReligionThobib Al Asyhar, asserts that Minister of Religion Ruby Cholil Qoumas don’t compare the sound at all azan with a barking sound dog. He emphasized that Yaqut’s news of comparing the two different things was very inaccurate.
“The Minister of Religion does not at all compare the sound of the call to prayer with the voice of a dog, but the Minister of Religion is giving an example of the importance of regulating loudspeaker noise,” Thobib said in his official statement, Thursday (24/3).
Yaqut, said Thobib, when asked by reporters about Circular Letter (SE) Number 05 of 2022 concerning Guidelines for Using Loudspeakers in Mosques and Musala only explained that living in a pluralistic society requires tolerance. So it is necessary to maintain a harmonious life guideline, including the regulation of loudspeaker noise that can make you uncomfortable.
“In that explanation, Gus Minister gave a simple example, not in the context of comparing one with another, that’s why he said the word ‘example’. What Gus Yaqut meant was that for example, Muslims live as a minority in a certain area, where many people keep dogs. will be disturbed if there is no tolerance from the neighbors who maintain it,” he said.
Thobib considered that Yaqut at that time was just an example that a sound that was too loud, let alone appearing simultaneously in a mosque/musala, could cause noise and could disturb the surrounding community.
Therefore, he said there needs to be guidelines for the use of loudspeakers so that tolerance and harmony in society can be maintained.
“With the guidelines for the use of loudspeakers, the majority of Muslims actually show tolerance for others. Thus, harmony in society can be maintained,” he said.
Furthermore, Thobib said Yaqut did not prohibit mosques from using loudspeakers during the call to prayer. Because, this is part of the symbols of Islam.
The circular issued, he said, only regulates, among other things, the volume of sound to a maximum of 100 dB (decibels). In addition, set about the time of use is adjusted at each time before the call to prayer.
“So what is regulated is how the speaker volume cannot be loud, 100 dB maximum. It is regulated when they can start using the speaker before and after the call to prayer. So there is no prohibition,” he said.
(rzr/gil)
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