Allahabad High Court: Only Human Voice Allowed For Azaan, Not Loudspeaker

Allahabad: The Allahabad High Court (HC) has ruled that azaan can be recited by a muezzin from minarets of the mosque only by human voice, without using any amplifying device or loudspeaker.

Such recitation — Islamic call to ritual prayer — by human voice cannot be stopped under the pretext of violation of guidelines issued by the state government to contain the spread of coronavirus, the court made it clear.

The bench also said that a loudspeaker cannot be used for azaan without prior permission of the district administration, reports Hindustan Times.

“We are of the opinion that azaan may be an essential and integral part of Islam but its recitation through loud­speakers or other sound amplifying devices cannot be said to be an integral part of the religion warranting protection of the fundamental right enshrined under Article 25, which is even otherwise subject to public order, morality or health and to other provisions in part III of the Constitution,” the court ruled.

“It cannot be said that a citizen should be coerced to hear anything which he does not like or which he does not require since it amounts to taking away the fundamental right of other persons,” the bench added.