In the heart of Bhopal, a fresh controversy is brewing at the historic Hamidia College, this time not over academics or administration, but over the noise of loudspeakers from a mosque adjacent to the college premises. The college authorities have raised dual concerns: not only is the volume of daily prayers and Quranic recitation affecting students’ ability to study, but questions have also been raised over the ownership of the land on which the mosque stands.
This is not just another case in isolation. Across India, the use of loudspeakers at religious places be it temples or mosques, has long been a subject of debate. With increasing urban congestion, growing sensitivity to noise pollution, and clashes between faith and civic norms, governments in several states have introduced strict guidelines regulating the use of amplified sound. The case at Hamidia College is a reflection of this broader national tension.
For the Hamidia College administration, the issue is straightforward: students’ education is being disrupted.
But the issue has grown more complex with the institution also raising legal and administrative questions about the mosque’s existence on the land adjoining the college. Is the mosque authorised? Does it have clear ownership documents? These questions are now part of a broader administrative inquiry.
“Students First” vs. “Religious Practice”
In a recent video meeting with the Additional Chief Secretary of the Higher Education Department, Anupam Rajan, Hamidia College Principal Dr. Pushplata Chouksey expressed serious concerns regarding disruptions through loudspeaker announcements from a nearby mosque. She pointed out that students have been constantly disrupted during exams, including competitive examinations such as NEET, by the Azaan and other announcements.
One of the gates of the mosque leads directly into the college campus, and hence, there is a free flow of outsiders within the education campus, as noted by Dr. Chouksey. This, she alleged, is not only hindering the academic environment but also endangering campus discipline and security.
Dr. Chouksey also mentioned the existence of a Dargah next to the college, which is said to be private or family property by some. But loudspeakers and microphones are also being employed there, claimed to disrupt classwork.
The college principal urged the administration to make it clear whether the land upon which the mosque and Dargah sit is legally owned by the college. “If it is established as college land,” she declared, “we should be allowed to develop it as a sports ground. We have already relocated the NCC wing in that direction to restrict disruption. But administrative clarity and intervention are needed.”
Political Temperature Rises
The controversy quickly escalated into a political flashpoint.
BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma strongly defended the college administration. Referring to Supreme Court guidelines and the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, Sharma said, “If loud prayers during exams are causing disturbance, then the Maulvis need to voluntarily lower the decibel levels. It is not right to spread an environment of fear or intimidation through congregations. Any interference in education will not be allowed.”
Sharma also criticised the silence of the Congress party and accused them of double standards. “If they really believe in secular equality, let them allow loud prayers at Indira Bhavan, the Congress headquarters,” he had said in a sarcastic tone. He accused the opposition of giving importance to vote bank politics rather than students’ welfare and educational integrity.
“Let the children, our daughters and sons, learn in peace. Education must not be disrupted. Witnessing anarchy being created in someone else’s home while maintaining yours tidy is not righteousness,” Sharma said.
Opposition Retorts
Reacting, Opposition Leader Umang Singhar said, “Azaan does not take place between college hours. It takes place in the early morning, a time when no exams are held,” he said.
Sandwiched between political gunfire and pragmatic campus issues, the college administration claims its number one priority to be academic concentration and student well-being. “We can only raise issues,” Dr. Chouksey explained. “It is the responsibility of the government to take action.”
The controversy has rekindled public debate regarding the use of loudspeakers in places of worship, particularly when they are adjacent to schools.
In the recent past, it has been observed that Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and other nations have progressed towards controlling mosque sound systems to avert public disturbance, this controversy in Madhya Pradesh brings India’s own secular and plural framework into question.
Not only are exam scores at risk, but also the balance between religious freedom and public order in a multicultural democracy.
The Noise Dilemma
Ahead of this controversy, “Sanskriti Bachao Manch” in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, raised the issue of loudspeakers during Ramzan. Chandrashekhar Tiwari, convenor of the organisation, said that “the sound of the loudspeakers on mosques is very loud. People are demanding that loudspeakers should be played only at the prescribed level. We have no objection to loudspeakers inside mosques, the overhead mics should be removed. The administration should treat loudspeakers of the religious places equally, otherwise loudspeakers will be played during “Aartis” during Navratri”.
The state president of Sant Samiti also came out in support of Tiwari. Mahant Anilanand Maharaj had said- “This is the time of examinations. There is a Supreme Court guideline regarding loudspeakers. There are also instructions from Dr. Mohan Yadav. The administration itself is flouting the rules. The government and administration should ensure to follow the guidelines strictly.”
The growing application of loudspeakers in mosques has raised a several issues, mostly related to noise pollution and its negative impacts on public health. Research shows that long-term exposure to high decibel noises can cause hearing impairment, sleep disorders, and increased stress levels among residents who live close to mosques.
Notably, the World Health Organisation (WHO) advises that residential areas should not exceed 80 decibels of noise, but most the loudspeakers go beyond this and cause discomfort as well as posing potential health risks.
Evolution of loudspeakers in Mosques
Speaking historically, in the 1970s, when loudspeakers became commercially available for the first time, most conservative religious leaders were skeptical about the technology. Loudspeakers were initially known for playing movie songs, and clerics referred to them as the “devil’s voice” (Shaitan Ki Awaz). They disapproved of loudspeakers.
Nevertheless, as time went on, the Muslim world saw the utility of loudspeakers in religious practices. With increasing populations and urbanisation, amplified sound during the call to azan was seen as necessary.
Nowadays, the utilisation of loudspeakers in mosques continues to be debated, weighing religious tradition against noise pollution and community cohesion concerns.
Islamic scholars on loudspeakers
Interestingly, scholars and Islamic researchers have often pointed out that the use of loudspeakers is a modern addition, not a religious obligation. In fact, certain Islamic scholars and schools of thought discourage their usage if it disturbs others, especially non-participants. In a detailed 2022 research document by Jamia Hamdard’s Centre for Islamic Studies, it was noted:
“The essence of salah (namaz) is in its sincerity and presence of mind. Amplification through loudspeakers, if causing friction, may negate the spirit of peaceful prayer.”
In India, Darul Uloom Deoband, has repeatedly clarified through its fatwas that the use of loudspeakers is not an essential part of Islamic worship. In Fatwa No. 1395/1395/M=1430, the seminary stated that if loudspeakers are causing inconvenience to others, especially non-participants, they should be turned off. “Islam does not allow inconvenience to others in the name of worship,” the fatwa noted.
The globally respected scholar Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, in his book Fiqh al-Awlawiyyat (The Jurisprudence of Priorities), stressed that when religious practice and public interest come into conflict, Islam advocates for balance and non-harm. He argued that disturbing others through religious sound is not part of Islamic ethics and that the faith places strong emphasis on ease and community harmony.
A similar position was taken by Sheikh Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz, former Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, who issued multiple rulings restricting the use of external loudspeakers in mosques. According to his fatwas (Fatwa Compilation, Vol. 3, p. 124), only the Azan (call to prayer) should be broadcast through loudspeakers, while sermons (khutbahs) and full prayer recitations should be confined to indoor sound systems to avoid unnecessary disruption.
A 2022 study published by Jamia Hamdard’s Indian Journal of Islamic Studies, titled “Sound in Islam: Between Sunnah and Social Ethics”, emphasised that loudspeaker usage is a technological innovation and not rooted in Sunnah. The paper concluded that, in urbanised and plural settings, loudspeaker use must be moderated to avoid infringing upon the rights of others. The research invoked the Islamic legal maxim “La darar wa la dirar” meaning no harm shall be inflicted or reciprocated, to argue that any religious practice causing undue harm to others contravenes the ethical foundations of Islam.
Historically, even early Islamic jurists such as Imam Malik ibn Anas, founder of the Maliki school of thought, advocated for the principle of Maslahah Mursalah (public interest), which allows certain practices to be adapted or avoided if they pose harm to society. Although he lived before the advent of amplification, his principle remains relevant in evaluating whether loudspeaker use aligns with the greater good.
This raises a provocative question: If Islam itself does not mandate loudspeaker use, and if such practice infringes on educational peace, where should the line be drawn?
Different countries approach on Mosque loud speakers
Israel and Switzerland have banned the Azaan loudspeakers. This ban was enacted in response to concerns about noise pollution caused by the volume of Azaan loudspeakers.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs in 2021 limited the usage of mosque loudspeakers to only playing Azaan and iqamat. The government also required the volume to be lowered to one-third of its maximum capacity to avoid noise pollution.
Egypt has centralised the call to prayer in Cairo, broadcasting a uniform Azaan through a state-controlled system, minimising unnecessary noise.
The UAE Department of Islamic Affairs has implemented strict regulations, setting the maximum loudspeaker volume at 85 decibels. Residents are encouraged to report excessive noise violations.
In Bahrain, the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs announced that they would enforce a policy regarding the Azaan loudspeakers to “avoid disturbing noise” and “eliminate differences.” They then consulted with Sunni and Shia authorities to agree on calling the Azaan three times a day via a dedicated radio channel.
In Hamtramck, Michigan, United State of Ameria the Azaan loudspeakers are timed to minimize conflict by not being used before 6 a.m. and after 10 p.m.
Mosque loudspeakers in Turkey are only allowed for the Azaan and the Friday prayer sermon at a reasonable volume, not an excessively loud volume.
Indian judiciary on the use of loudspeakers
In Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Karnataka, district administrations have enforced decibel-level restrictions on religious sites. In 2022, Maharashtra Police had even removed over 1,000 unauthorised loudspeakers from temples and mosques alike, following public health concerns and court rulings.
In 2005, the Supreme Court of India had clearly stated: “No religion prescribes that prayers should be performed by disturbing the peace of others.” The apex court also mandated the regulation of sound amplifying devices between 10 PM and 6 AM, rules often ignored in practice.
The Allahabad High Court ruled in 2020 that loudspeaker use was not necessary for the Islamic religious practice of azaan. As per a Supreme Court judgment of 2005, loudspeakers are not allowed for religious and other programmes between 10 pm and 6 am.
The Waqf Board also issued a circular on March 17, 2021, to this effect to all mosques, with the directions to follow the Supreme Court’s judgment. Despite these regulations, enforcement remains a challenge in many regions. Many mosque administrators continue to operate loudspeakers at high volumes.
Every morning in almost every city and village in India that have mosques, they give the azan 5 times a day, especially in the morning azan is given at approximately. 5 AM without any restrictions in a loud voice with high volume, and everyone is unwillingly forced to listen to it.
Specific regulation is need of the hour?
Indonesia is an Islamic country ranked first in Muslim population and number of mosques in the world. In March 2022, the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Indonesia issued a circular regulating the volume level of mosque loudspeakers, limiting it to 100 decibels. This regulation aims to address community concerns regarding noise pollution while respecting religious practices.
India ranks third in Muslim population and second in the number of mosques in the country. Demography and societal structure of India is a blend of faiths and cultures. A country with a population of more than 130 crore which have over 20 crore Muslim,s why the other communities and followers of other religion are forced to listen to these Azans is it not a violation of their religious freedom?
In addition to the above two points, a question can be asked that how, by announcing on loudspeakers, that ‘no God is worth preaching except Allah’, not to mention five times a day, is not in sheer violation of section 153A, 295A, 501[1](C) and 505[2] of the Indian Penal Code, as it not only generates ill-will between different religious groups, but is also in opposition to numerous judgements against the use of loudspeakers which depicts a deliberate intent to outrage religious feelings of certain classes by insulting their religion or religious beliefs.
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