Ulemas will take a call on azaan: Waqf Board chairman

Udupi: Waqf Board chairman N K Mohammed Shafi Saadi said that ulemas (Muslim scholars) in the state will take an appropriate decision on azaan, by adhering to the Supreme Court’s judgment.
“As per a Supreme Court judgment of 2005, loudspeakers are not allowed for religious and other programmes between 10pm and 6am. The Waqf Board had also issued a circular on March 17, 2021, to this effect to all mosques, with the directions to follow the Supreme Court’s judgment. The loudspeaker restrictions between 10pm and 6am will affect only the azaan for the Fajr namaz held in the early hours. I have held discussions with many Hindu religious seers, and they have also expressed concern over the loudspeaker restrictions, which is detrimental not only to azaan, but also for puja rituals in temples,” Saadi told the media here on Sunday.
The state government has issued a circular recently, to enforce the Supreme Court’s direction regarding the use of loudspeakers. Accordingly, only the morning azaan will be affected, he said, adding that the Waqf Board has not taken any decision on this yet.
“It is absolutely an issue related to the Shariat, which the ulemas should take a final call on jointly. We have been asking the community to follow the directions of the Supreme Court. Ulemas of coastal districts will also be meeting soon, and a decision that does not violate the Supreme Court’s verdict is expected to arrive. Muslims of this country are known for their respect of court orders,” he said.
Further, he called upon Hindus and Muslims to maintain a cordial relationship. “Neither Hindu nor Muslim community as a whole is responsible for the communal hatred being spread in the society. Only a few people from the communities are involved in spreading hatred. People in the state should unite and corner those miscreants,” he said.
To a query, Saadi said that the national anthem and chapters on nationalism have already been included in the syllabus in all madrassas functioning in the state. “Islam makes it mandatory that one should respect the nation. The Waqf Board will give more emphasis to make children sing the national anthem in all madrassas in the state,” he added.