A foreign woman went viral after going on a rampage in Gili Trawangan\nhamlet, North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, having been disturbed by the\nsound of Quran recitation (tadarusan) on the first night of Ramadan. The\nincident drew a range of responses from religious authorities and\ngovernment officials.<\/p>\n
In a video circulating online, the woman was seen shouting in front\nof a prayer hall (musala) whilst residents were reciting the Quran using\na loudspeaker. Head of Gili Trawangan hamlet, Muhammad Husni, said the\nwoman felt disturbed by the recitation sounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat she took issue with was the tadarusan activity, because she was\ndisturbed by the speaker sound,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
According to Husni, the woman then entered the prayer hall to stop\nthe residents\u2019 activity. She even damaged the microphone being used for\nthe recitation.<\/p>\n
A confrontation ensued, with the foreign national getting into a\nverbal altercation with residents. During the incident, one resident\nsustained scratch wounds.<\/p>\n
After her outburst and damaging the microphone, the woman returned to\nthe villa where she was staying and allegedly took a resident\u2019s mobile\nphone. When residents went to the villa to retrieve the phone, the\nforeign national brandished two machetes and threatened them.<\/p>\n
MUI Urges Restraint<\/strong><\/p>\n The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) responded to the incident. MUI\nSecretary-General Amirsyah Tambunan called on all parties to exercise\nrestraint and prioritise mutual respect.<\/p>\n \u201cAll parties must exercise restraint (imsak), especially those who\nare fasting. Those in the surrounding area should also restrain\nthemselves and not become emotional or aggressive, as matters can be\nconveyed in a wise and prudent manner,\u201d Amirsyah told reporters on\nSaturday (21 February).<\/p>\n He stressed the importance of maintaining a conducive atmosphere\nduring Ramadan. He said communities conducting Quran recitation also\nneed to maintain devotion and orderliness to create a sense of security\nand fellowship.<\/p>\n \u201cBeautiful, melodious and serene voices are needed for religious\noutreach during the month of Ramadan, which is full of mercy,\nforgiveness and blessings from Allah SWT,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Amirsyah also reminded of the importance of tolerance in community\nlife. Additionally, he hoped that visiting foreign nationals would\nunderstand local customs and wisdom.<\/p>\n \u201cSo mutual tolerance (tasamuh),\u201d he said. \u201cForeign visitors as guests\nmust understand local customs and wisdom.\u201d<\/p>\n Ministry of Religious Affairs Clarifies Speaker Regulations\nDuring Recitation<\/strong><\/p>\n The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) also responded to the\nincident, affirming that regulations on loudspeaker use already\nexist.<\/p>\n \u201cThe use of loudspeakers actually already has guidelines in a\nMinisterial Circular to promote peace, order and shared comfort,\u201d said\nHead of the Ministry\u2019s Public Relations and Communications Bureau,\nThobib Al Asyhar, on Saturday (21 February).<\/p>\n The regulations are set out in Circular Letter No.\u00a0SE. 05 of 2022\nconcerning guidelines for loudspeaker use at mosques and prayer\nhalls.<\/p>\n Under these regulations, there are two types of loudspeakers: indoor\nand outdoor. Indoor speakers are directed within the mosque or prayer\nhall, whilst outdoor speakers are directed outside.<\/p>\n Outdoor speakers are used, among other purposes, for broadcasting the\ncall to prayer (azan). Meanwhile, Quran recitation should use indoor\nspeakers.<\/p>\n \u201cThe use of loudspeakers during Ramadan, whether for Tarawih prayers,\nRamadan sermons\/lectures, or Quran recitation, shall use indoor\nspeakers,\u201d the circular states.<\/p>\n The Ministry urged the public to follow these guidelines. Thobib said\nQuran recitation should ideally use indoor speakers in accordance with\nthe circular.<\/p>\n PBNU Pushes for Local Speaker Regulations at\nMosques<\/strong><\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) called on local\ngovernments to create regulations on loudspeaker use at places of\nworship. PBNU deemed such regulations necessary to ensure public\ncomfort.<\/p>\n \u201cThere should indeed be regulations at the local level, such as a\nRegent\u2019s Regulation, to ensure that religious life in the community can\ntake place in a harmonious atmosphere,\u201d said PBNU Deputy Chairman Amin\nSaid on Saturday (21 February).<\/p>\n \u201cIncluding the use of loudspeakers at places of worship. It could be\nregulated, for example, that the call to prayer may use far-reaching\noutdoor speakers, whilst Quran recitation should only use indoor\nspeakers within the mosque or prayer hall,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n He said regional heads have the authority to create such regulations,\nthough they must take various considerations into account.<\/p>\n \u201cRegional heads have the authority to make such regulations,\nnaturally by taking into account input from religious organisations and\nlocal religious figures,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n PBNU Chairman Ahmad Fahrur Rozi (Gus Fahrur) said Quran recitation\nwith loudspeakers is a good means of religious outreach. However, he\nreminded that its implementation must observe proper etiquette.<\/p>\n \u201cIt must not cause disturbance (mudharat) to the community around the\nmosque,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cEspecially late at night, outdoor speakers should be used sparingly.\nAfter 10pm, it is recommended to use only indoor mosque speakers so as\nnot to disturb people\u2019s sleep,\u201d he added.<\/p>",
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