Ministry Of Religion: Minister Yaqut Doesn't Compare Azan Sounds With Dogs, But Gives An Example

Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (Photo via Ministry of Religion)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Religion has corrected the statement of the Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas which is now being widely discussed by the public. The Ministry of Religion said that Yaqut Cholil Qoumas was not comparing the sound of the call to prayer to the sound of a dog.

"The Minister of Religion is not at all comparing the sound of the call to prayer with the sound of a dog, but the Minister of Religion is giving an example of the importance of regulating loudspeaker noise," said Acting Head of the Public Relations, Data and Information Bureau, Thobib Al Asyhar, in Jakarta, Thursday, February 24.

According to Thobib, when asked by reporters about Circular Letter (SE) Number 05 of 2022 concerning Guidelines for Using Loudspeakers in Mosques and Musala during his working visit in Pekanbaru, the Minister of Religion explained that living in a pluralistic society requires tolerance. So it is necessary to have a common guideline so that the harmonious life is well maintained, including the regulation of any loudspeaker noise that can make you uncomfortable.

"In that explanation, Gus Minister gave a simple example, not in the context of comparing one with another, that's why he mentioned the word eg. What Gus Yaqut meant was that for example, Muslims live as a minority in a certain area, where many people keep dogs, it will definitely be disturbed. if there is no tolerance from the neighbors who maintain it," he explained.

"So the Minister of Religion gave an example, sound that is too loud, let alone appears at the same time, can actually cause noise and can disturb the surrounding community. Therefore, there needs to be guidelines for the use of loudspeakers, there needs to be tolerance so that harmony in society can be maintained. So with the guidelines for the use of loudspeakers, the majority of Muslims actually show tolerance for others. So, harmony in society can be maintained," he said.

The Minister of Religion, continued Thobib, did not prohibit mosques from using loudspeakers during the call to prayer. Because, it is part of the symbols of Islam. The circular issued by the Minister of Religion only regulates, among other things, the sound volume to a maximum of 100 dB (decibels). In addition, set about the time of use is adjusted at each time before the call to prayer.

"So what is regulated is how the speaker volume cannot be loud, 100 dB maximum. It is regulated when they can start using the speaker before and after the call to prayer. So there is no prohibition," he said.

"And guidelines like this have existed since 1978, in the form of an Instruction from the Director General of Guidance for Islamic Society," he said.