Religious Affairs Ministry Issue 6 Instructions on Mosque Speaker
25 August 2018 14:06 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs issued a circular letter regulating loudspeakers and the sounds produced by mosques. The discussion on the volume of mosque`s loudspeakers is trending following the Medan District Court sentenced Meiliana to 1 year and 6 months jail time over a blasphemy case.
The sole reason why Meiliana was taken to court is due to her harmless complaint to a neighbor on the loud noise blustering out of a mosque located exactly in front of Meiliana’s house in Tanjungbalai, North Sumatra.
The Ministry’s letter identified under B.3940/DJ.III/HK.00.07/08/2018 on August 24, entitled “The use of loudspeakers in Mosques, Langgar, and Musholla” requested the religious spots to refer to the instructions of the director general of Muslim guidance.
Read: Chronology of Tanjung Balai Blasphemy Case against Meiliana
Here are the six government instructions on sound levels produced by mosques:
1. The maintenance of loudspeakers in mosques should be handled by experienced people with skill sets in the field. This is to avoid droning sounds, hums, and other noises that would potentially spark antipathy toward mosques.
2. The people operating the loudspeakers must possess a melodious and good voice and is not discordant. This is to avoid people from feeling bothered and not sympathizing to the activity.
3. Fulfills several required elements such as not raising sound levels while conducting a prayer.
4. Except the adhan calling to prayer, the people that will be able to hear the sounds should be in a condition where they are prepared to listen to the noises such as not in the times when the people sleep, rest, and take a prayer.
Read: KontraS Presses for Meiliana to Receive Justice
5. Corroborating to the Prophet’s requirement, the sound of an adhan must be raised. But the government reminds that the quality of the sounds must fulfill basic qualities such as being melodious and easy on the ears.
6. This instruction also talks about the appropriate time to announce a prayer’s adhan, such as the subuh prayer at dawn. Activities such as an Al-Quran reciting session or an early morning session other than praying should only utilize indoor speakers.
RYAN DWIKY ANGGRIAWAN
