Saudi lowers the volume of mosques to appease public

An aerial view shows the Grand Mosque complex in the holy city of Makkah on October 4, 2020 [AFP via Getty Images]

Saudi Arabia’s Islamic Affairs Ministry has defended its decision to limit the volume of loudspeakers used by mosques to only one third of their capabilities.

The move comes in response to complaints from the public, the Islamic Affairs Minister Abdullatif Al-Sheikh said in an interview uploaded to Twitter. The complaints, the official said, included parents saying their children were unable to sleep. He went on to claim that those who denounced the decision were “enemies of the kingdom” who “want to stir public opinion”.

On it’s Twitter account the Ministry of Islamic Affairs said: “Loudspeakers are a modern phenomena and many scholars have said they are haram.”

Al-Sheikh added that those who wish to pray do not need them.

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