By New York City has introduced an exciting new initiative that will allow mosques throughout the city to broadcast the call to prayer, known as the adhan. This special announcement comes just in time for Fridays and the evening prayers during the sacred month of Ramadan. New York City is now following in the footsteps of other cities like Minneapolis, which have already adopted similar practices.
Mayor Eric Adams expressed the significance of this move, saying, “For far too long, our communities have felt restricted when it comes to amplifying their calls to prayer. Today, we are simplifying the process and making it clear that mosques and places of worship have the freedom to broadcast their calls to prayer on Fridays and during Ramadan without needing a permit.”
Under the new guidelines, mosques in the city can broadcast the call to prayer between 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm every Friday. Additionally, they are allowed to broadcast the adhan during the evening maghrib prayers throughout the entire month of Ramadan.
This news has been met with overwhelming positivity by members of the Muslim community in New York. Many consider it a significant blessing. Mohamed Bahe, the senior liaison to the Muslim community at the mayor’s office, shared his sentiments, saying, “To be able to hear the adhan every Friday while we’re walking to the mosque during one of our holiest days is of immense significance to our children. Many of us who grew up in Muslim countries remember this tradition fondly. We’ve missed it, and now, thanks to the mayor’s office and the mayor himself, our younger generation can experience the same beautiful tradition.”
The call to prayer, also known as the Adhan or Azan, is a sacred practice in the Muslim faith. It typically involves the broadcast of the call over loudspeakers or public address systems from places of worship to call Muslims to prayer.
The New York Police Department has clarified that this new legal guidance confirms that the call to prayer is permitted in New York City and is not prohibited, even in neighborhoods with sound restrictions. This move represents a significant step towards inclusivity and religious freedom in the city.
