Loud speaker in mosque

Loud speaker in mosque

I heartily endorse Mr. Sukaryan's letter (Mosque and
loudspeaker, The Jakarta Post, Nov. 5, 1994).

Of course, I respect the need for a call to prayer from the
mosques in this predominantly Moslem country--after all, in
Christian countries bells are rung to summon the faithful to
Church--but need it be so early and need it be so loud? I live
within about 200 meters of a mosque, and every morning I am waken
at 4 a.m. (or earlier) by a very loud and none-too-melodious call
to prayer. Thereafter, what goes on inside the mosque is also
proclaimed to the world outside, and the voices are very far from
melodious. As I get up at 5 a.m. on week days (at 9.30 a.m. at
week-ends), you may ask why I object to being awakened at 4 a.m.
But I do, because an extra hour of sleep that I lose is valuable
to me.

As for week-ends, ladies seem to take over in the later part
of the morning, say 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at a very high decibels.
But by then I am more or less awake, and if need be, I can seek
refuge in my CD/tape player! If all mosques could observe the
rules enunciated by Mr. Sukaryan, life would be a whole lot more
peaceful and enjoyable, not only for non-Moslems, but also for
Moslems who prefer to say their prayers in private at other times
and not go to the mosque.

RB SAWREY-COOKSON

Jakarta