ALBAWABA New York City took a significant step towards fostering inclusivity and embracing its diverse religious communities as Mayor Eric Adams announced new guidelines regarding the public broadcast of the Muslim call to prayer.
Under the newly introduced rules, mosques within the city will no longer require a special permit to publicly broadcast the Islamic call to prayer, known as the adhan.
This melodic call will be allowed on Fridays and at sundown during the holy month of Ramadan, in a bid to accommodate the religious practices of the Muslim community.
On Tuesday, New York City unveiled updated guidelines that permit mosques (masjids) to broadcast the Muslim call to prayer on Fridays from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. This permission extends even without the need for a permit and regardless of sound restrictions within city neighborhoods.
Fridays hold particular significance as the traditional Islamic holy day, and the adhan marks the time for communal prayers.
Additionally, during Ramadan, Muslims break their fast at sunset, and the adhan signals the time for the evening meal.
Mayor Eric Adams emphasized that the goal of these guidelines is to remove unnecessary barriers and to allow mosques to freely broadcast the adhan without bureaucratic hurdles.
The New York Police Department's community affairs bureau will collaborate with mosques to ensure that the broadcasting devices adhere to appropriate decibel levels, thereby preventing any potential noise-related issues. The maximum permitted sound level will be 10 decibels higher than the ambient sound level.
Adams stated during the announcement, "For too long, there has been a feeling that our communities were not allowed to amplify their calls to prayer. Today, we are cutting red tape and saying clearly that mosques and houses of worship are free to amplify their call to prayer on Fridays and during Ramadan
