By Shafeeq Hudawi, TwoCircles.net
Kozhikode: Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Sunni Mahallu Federation (SMF) state president Panakkad Syed Hederali Shihab Thangal directive to restrict the use of loud speakers in mosques has got accolades from the general public as well as the community leaders in Kerala.
The direction came in the wake of the recent untoward incidents, reported from Olavakkode in Palakkad district, where local residents raised protests against a mosque after they got irritated by the hours long continuous usage of loudspeaker. In a response to the demand, raised from representatives of various organisations, Thangal, while attending state committee meeting of SMF, asked the mosque authorities to restrict the use of loud speakers for azan calls and emergency announcements.
Soon after the direction issued last week, the SMF state committee started to send circulars to the mosques, undertaken by the federation across the state, seeking steps to implement the direction.
SMF state coordinator A K Alipparamba told TwoCircles.net that they are raising awareness among the clerics and mosque authorities against the noise pollution, which is posing threat to the public health.
Meanwhile, Hyderali Shihab Thangal, in an article, appeared in the Chandrika daily, mouthpiece of IUML, asked the mosque authorities to not to make the loud speakers a nuisance for the students and others, who are engaged in their own works. “Believers should keep out of the things that create a controversy and hostility among various communities,” Thangal said.
The direction comes, according to the article, at a time when vested interests are taking up efforts to create confusion and misunderstandings among people. “Its high we deal with such moves with wisdome,” Thangal said.
Meanwhile, the leaders of various Muslim organisations were all praise to the direction.
While having a talk with TwoCircles.net, Jamaate-e-Islami leader and author Sheikh Mohammed Karakkunnu said that the present scenario, where clerics in the mosques indulge to compete in using the loudspeakers, demanded such a direction.
“Religion is meant to ease the human life, not to create panic and spread hostility. All factions of the community are obliged to follow this direction,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
“The Muslim community has been granted all rights to perform their religious worships. Its definitely terrible to leave others to suffer by using the loud speakers for unwanted purposes,” said Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulema spokesperson Musthafa Mundupara.
He went on to say that such negative trends were compelling the authorities to not give sanction for mosque construction in some parts of the state.
Earlier, Muslim Students Federation (MSF), students’ outfit of IUML, leader P K Firoz had come down heavily against the unwanted usage of loudspeakers. However, the clerics and functionaries of various outfits including Samastha Kerala Sunni Students Federation (SKSSF) and Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS), who resorted into venting strong ire against the MSF leader haven’t so far dared to raise any sign of protest against Syed Hyderali Shihab Thanga.