On Tuesday, Mayor Eric Adams of New York City unveiled guidelines that remove the need for special permits for mosques to publicly broadcast the Muslim Call to prayer on Fridays and at sunset during Ramadan.
This change aims to promote inclusivity and accommodate important religious practices.
New guidelines will be overseen by the police department’s community affairs bureau, working with mosques to ensure adhan broadcasts adhere to proper sound levels.
The mayor’s office mentioned that houses of worship can amplify sound by up to 10 decibels over ambient noise.
“For too long, there has been a feeling that our communities were not allowed to amplify their calls to prayer,” Adams said, according to CBS News. “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 without a permit necessary.”
Adams expressed that under his leadership as New York City’s mayor, Muslim residents “will not live in the shadows of the American dream while I am the mayor of the city of New York.”
While the adhan is a common sound in predominantly Muslim nations, its occurrence is rare in the United States.
The adhan declares the greatness of God and the role of Prophet Muhammad as his messenger. It urges men, while women aren’t mandated, to attend the nearest mosque five times daily for prayer, an essential aspect of the Five Pillars of Islam.
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