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Hidayat Orujov: Some persons try to conceal their shortages reciting azan with loudspeakers â€“ INTERVIEW

Hidayat Orujov: Some persons try to conceal their shortages reciting azan with loudspeakers â€“ <font color=red>INTERVIEW </font>

03 November 2009 15:56 (UTC +04:00)

-Reports have recently spread that azan has been restricted, banned. How true are these reports?

-The State Committee has taken a stance on this issue. I want reiterate that the reports that azan has been banned or will be banned are groundless. Actually, these reports are false, I would even say slander. Attempts are made to confuse the society and sometimes mass media is deliberately involved in this process. Azan has always been and will be called out in Azerbaijan. No one should doubt it. But it is necessary to call out azan without disturbing people. Unfortunately, some persons do not want to obey this principle coming from the essence of Islam. It should be admitted that people have been recently disturbed by the azan called out with the loudspeaker. Reciting azan with loudspeakers in some sacred places, mosques located near densely-populated territories, educational institutions and hospitals causes disturbance and casts shadow on the essence of Islam. Taking this into account, we talked several times with akhunds and imams of the mosques about it. But the measures did not produce the expected results and made it necessary to solve the problem in the mosques.
In order to ensure the convenience of the people, prevent casting shadow on the humane essence of Islam, it is considered expedient to call out azan without loudspeakers. The recommendation given by the State Committee to the mosques concerning azan is based on it. But some â€œreligiousâ€ groups try to introduce this recommendation as ban of the azan and use it against the government agencies, particularly the State Committee.

- Does the public community, particularly healthy believers, support the recommendation on azan? Do you expect strong reaction of the society?

- We are sure in the societyâ€™s normal attitude to this issue. If it was not so, there wouldnâ€™t be recommendation on azan. Indeed the recommendation on azan is an expression of societyâ€™s common will. It is a logical result of a protest by population against the loud-calling of azan. The State Committee couldnâ€™t remain indifferent to the hundreds of complaints about that. Not only ordinary citizens, but hospitals, orphanages and education centers were among the complainants. Even some educational centers asked to sound azan for afternoon prayer. We can understand such addresses. There are mosques in Baku neighboring with the orphanages. In this case, it is at least unfair to seek craftiness in the recommendation on azan. Someone try to introduce it as a step against Islam and religious traditions. Islam is humanist religion and doesnâ€™t justify disturbing of people under the veil of religion. It always takes the common interests of the people into consideration. Great Islamic scientists have concrete position on azan. They recommend not to sound azan if it disturbs ill people, children and old people. Real religious figures understand that and therefore observe the recommendations.
Unfortunately some people measure their â€œforcesâ€ with azan. They try to conceal their shortages under the loud voice of azan. There some mosques where they donâ€™t pray in the morning because there are not visitors, but sound of azan in those mosques is heard outside the city. It has simple explanation: they try to confirm their existence.

- Is there legal mechanism for regulation of these issues?

- Sure. There is a presidential decree on the norms of vibrations and noises, negatively impacted on the environment and human health. It approved the norms of vibrations and noises negatively impacted on the environment and human health. Some mosques are not meeting those requirements. Loud-speakers in some mosques got old and date of their use expired. Some mosques installed new loud-speakers in contrary to the norms. All these are taken into consideration in the recommendation to the mosques.