All Praise be to Allah,
During the times of our beloved Prophet (S) and the Sahaabah (R) they did not have, use or need loudspeakers for calling out Adhaan.
Insisting on the use of loudspeakers for calling Adhaan is an unneccesary annoyance.
It becomes a Bid’ah when people claim it is absoloutley neccesary (Fardh) in religion to call Adhaan over the loudspeaker and there is a narration attributed to our beloved Prophet (S) on Bid’ah or innovation which goes as follows:
“… The best of speech is the Book of Allaah and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad. The worst of things are those which are newly-invented, and every innovation is a going astray…” (Muslim)
It is also a form of extremism in religion, by extremism I don’t mean the kind we’re accused of by the Kuffaar (for following the injunctions of Islam such as the beard and the hijab) but rather by extremism I mean making the religion harder than it is by trying to go a step or two further than the Prophet (S) and the Salaaf As-Saaliheen (R) in religious matters, thinking the extra zealousy will make us more pious.
There is a narration attributed to the Prophet (S) in regards to extremism which goes as follows:
“Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the glad tidings that you will be rewarded.” (Bukhari)
The Adhaan is soothing and spiritually uplifting when at a natural volume our ears can accomodate but when every loudspeaker in the village starts blaring at the same time at an unnaturaly loud deafening volume it hurts the eardrums and the head, and it is most unspiritual.
The ill effects of going against the Prophets’ (S) orders by comitting innovation and extremism in religion can clearly be seen. Loudspeakers are very inconsiderate of the sick, the elderly and the babies who need to rest.
It is also very disrespectful to the Adhaan or other sacred recitations given over the loudspeaker.
There are certain places and times where and when the Dhikr (Rememberence) of Allah is disrespectful.
The Holy Prophet (S) said:
“All the earth is a Mosque except for graveyards and bathrooms.” (Tirmidhi)
Allah Ta’ala says (intrepretation of the meaning):
“So, when the Qur’aan is recited, listen to it, and be silent that you may receive mercy” [The Holy Quran 7:204]
and
“Which none shall touch but those who are clean.” [The Holy Quran 56:79]
Listening to Adhaan or Quran recital whilst sat on the toilet defecating, whilst having sex with ones spouse or whilst bathing nude with the private parts exposed is hardly respectful, but because of the loudspeakers it is unavoidable at times as the Adhaans all last a good 15 minutes between them, the result is people in this country have simply lost respect for the Adhaan.
Another issue is that the Prophet (S) told us in the following narration to answer the Adhaan, it is impossible to comply with the Prophet’s (S) orders when 10-20 Adhaans are all being called out at once, for one it is impossible to make out any of what is being said during the Adhaans due to the noise and even if they had been coherrent it would be impossible to answer them all.
“If the muezzin says ‘Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar’ and one of you says, ‘Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar’; then he says ‘Ashhadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah’ and you say ‘Ashhadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah’; then he says, ‘Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasool Allaah’ and you say, ‘Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasool Allaah’; then he says, ‘Hayya ‘ala’l-salaah’ and you say ‘Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa Billaah’; then he says, ‘Hayya ‘ala’l-falaah’ and you say ‘Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa Billaah’; then he says, ‘Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar’ and you say, ‘Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar’; then he says ‘Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah’ and you say, ‘Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah’ from the heart, you will enter Paradise.” (Muslim).
In the following narration the Prophet (S) tells us to say a prayer (Dua’) after the Adhaan but it’s impossible to pray after all the Adhaans.
“Whoever says when he hears the call to prayer: ‘Allaahumma Rabba haadhihi’l-da’wat il-taammah wa’l-salaat il-qaa’imah, aati Muhammadan il waseelata wa’l-fadeelah, wab’athhu maqaaman mahmoodan illadhi wa’adtah (O Allaah, Lord of this perfect call and the prayer to be offered, grant Muhammad the privilege (of intercession) and also the eminence, and resurrect him to the praised position that You have promised),’ my intercession for him will be permitted on the Day of Resurrection.” (Bukhari).
Then there is the issue of saying “Sal-Allaahu 'Alayi Wassallam”, there is a narration from the Holy Prophet (S) which goes as follows:
It is reported by Hazrat Kaab Ibn Ujrah that once the Holy Prophet (S) told everyone to come close to the mimbar, and so we did. When the holy Prophet (S) placed his blessed foot on the first step, he said “Ameen”. When he raised his blessed foot on to the second step he again said “Ameen”, and in the same way again when raised his foot and placed it on the third step, he repeated for the third time “Ameen”. On the completion of the sermon and alighting from the mimbar, we asked the Prophet (S), “Today we heard from you something which we had not heard before”. The Holy Prophet replied, "The Angel Gabriel came before me and said ‘Destruction be to that person who found the month of Ramadhan but failed to attain forgiveness’, so I said “Ameen” and when I went on to the second step he said, ‘Destruction be to that person in who’s presence you are mentioned and he does not send salutations upon you’, so I said “Ameen” and when I went onto the third step he said ‘Destruction be to that person whose parents have reached old age and he fails to gain Jannat by serving them’.
As Muslims we would do anything to avoid being a target of that curse but it is almost impossible to say “Sal-Allaahu 'Alayi Wassallam” everytime one hears the Holy Prophet’s (S) name in all the Adhaans at once, the loudspeaker makes religion harder than it is.
It is not practicle or possible to answer all 5-20 Adhaans given roughly at the same time, say the prescribed prayer after them all or say “salallahu 'alayhe wassallam” everytime the name of the Prophet (S) is mentioned.
Some people don’t stop at Adhaan, the other day I was trying to concentrate on the Friday sermon inside my Mosque yet the Ahl al-Bid’ah sect from the next neighbourhood insisted on chanting a shirk-filled Naat to me from their Mosque over their loudspeaker, the best option is to ban all loudspeakers so I don’t have to listen to shirk during Friday service.
The loudspeaker is not neccesary for hearing Adhaan. The Prophet (S) and his Companions (R) who were far more pious than me, you or anyone else and managed just fine without loudspeakers at a time when there weren’t as many Mosques and they were further spread out and there were no clocks or timetables to help them.
If anything calling Adhaan through a loudspeaker is counterproductive and scares people away from the religion instead of calling them towards it.
May the Peace & the Blessings of Allah be upon the Prophet, his Aal and his Companions.
. :ban: recommended.