Mich city may approve Muslim prayer call

[Sergeant Bob]

Hamtramck may approve Muslim prayer call

Longtime residents say proposal is affront to city

By Ron French / The Detroit News


HAMTRAMCK — Along with pierogi and paczki, Hamtramck may soon be known for its Islamic calls to worship.

The City Council is expected today to pass a noise ordinance amendment permitting mosques to issue the traditional call to prayer over loud speakers.

It’s another sign of change in this traditionally Polish community of 23,000, which has become a magnet for immigrants of all colors and creeds in recent years.

For decades, Hamtramck has been predominantly Polish. But in recent years, store signs in Polish have been joined by signs written in Bengali and Arabic.

Now, the request by the Bangladeshi al-Islah mosque for permission to air the Arabic call to prayer via loudspeakers five times a day has revealed tensions among the groups.

“They can believe whatever they want to, but I’m against them pushing their content into my head like brainwashing,†said Joanne Golen, 68, a lifelong Hamtramck resident. “There are seven mosques in the city, and I’ll be in the middle of all of them.â€

The five daily calls to worship last about two minutes. The recorded calls are broadcast over loudspeakers at mosques in Dearborn, which has one of the largest concentrations of Arab-Americans in the country.

“I don’t think people in the city of Hamtramck are going to be annoyed,†said Imad Hamad, regional director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, based in Dearborn. “It’s not a loud noise.â€

Though the calls to worship are in Arabic, Golen said she’s offended by words that praise Allah.

“He’s not my true God,†Golen said. “I can’t stay locked in my house with cotton in my ears every time they do it.â€

“Hamtramck should live up to freedom of religion and religious expression, and celebrate our rich diversity and tolerance,†Hamad said.

You can reach Ron French at (313) 222-2175 or rfrench@ detnews.com.
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Hamtramck (pronounced hamtramick)

The City Council is expected today to pass a noise ordinance amendment permitting mosques to issue the traditional call to prayer over loud speakers.

Is this a violation of "separation of church and state"

Is this the same as church bells?

Would the city council approve of Budhists loudly broadcasting chants all over the city?

I do think it that beyond being a major annoyance, it is an attempt to change the culture of the city in the name of "Diversity".

 

[roscoe]

Much ado over nothing. I doubt Joanne Golen understands Arabic, so it is unlikely she will be brainwashed. If churchbells are legal, why not this?

I personally love the sound of churchbells, and the Muslim call to prayer. Either would be a vast improvement over the jackhammers, traffic, airplanes, and sirens we get around here.

Golen should check her theology, also - God and Allah are the same.

 

[Mizzoutiger]

I don't care

As long as I get to blast a Van Halen song 5 times a day at my church... The First Church of David Lee Roth

 

[OF]

Heheheheheh. LOL!

- Gabe

 

[BowStreetRunner]

its just like letting church bells ring
no biggie
BSR

 

[telewinz]

Why not? Can't be any worse than the Salvation Army bell ringing at Christmas.

 

[Drjones]

Why not? Can't be any worse than the Salvation Army bell ringing at Christmas.

The City Council is expected today to pass a noise ordinance amendment permitting mosques to issue the traditional call to prayer over loud speakers.

 

[Drjones]

By the by:

I thought that truly "traditional" prayer calls are not amplified.

 

[PATH]

Generally you don't need amplification in Arabic countries. The cry carries well from height in the desert and other areas in middle east. I guess in urban area you might need amplification.

 

[USMC_2674]

Path,

As someone who has lived in the Middle East extensively... the prayer call is almost ALWAYS amplified. Every mosque I've seen has amplified it's calls.

 

[PATH]

I stand corrected. I was under the impression that they were not. In any case www.islam-online.net has the muslim take on the issue.

 

[warmi]

It is NOT like letting church bells ring.
It is more like having Pat Rebertson voice preaching over loudspeakers 5 times a day.

 

[Kharn]

I dont know Arabic, so I'm not sure which of these 6 times are the five prayer times: source link

A P R I L

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fajr SHorwwQ DHuhr `ASr MaGHrib `ISHaa'
Date Day Dawn Sunrise Noon Afternoon Sunset Evening
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Thu 4:35 5:50 12:10 3:45 6:31 7:46

It appears that at least one will be before 6am. Not my idea of fun for people living nearby that will be disturbed by the loud speakers.

Kharn

 

[Mizzoutiger]

I think a rousing rendition of "Jump" or "Panama" would be just the thing to start off the day if blasted at predawn hours.

 

[longeyes]

Not a religion problem; rather, a nuisance law problem.

 

[P5 Guy]

5 times a day every day. That ain't church bells on Sunday!

 

[Barbara]

Church bells go off at various times..here, most places at noon, some places on the hour. The calls are about the same length of time, if I remember correctly.

I think its kind of cool..and anyone who's ever been to Hamtramck knows it ain't going to be the worse thing anyone hears on any given day, that's for sure.

 

[benewton]

No problem that a shotty won't fix, so far as I can tell.

Then to, loud speakers aside, there's the city council...

But, like I said, not a problem if you've the shotty in hand.



Seems to me it's getting to be about that time.

 

[mvpel]

If it's not loud enough to wake people up, with the Arabic exhortation at the first call of the morning, "Prayer is better than sleep," then what's the point?

Here's the translation of the muezzin's call:

Allah is most great. Allah is most great.
Allah is most great. Allah is most great.
I testify there is no god except Allah.
I testify there is no god except Allah.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
Come to prayer! Come to prayer!
Come to success (in this life and the Hereafter)!
Come to success!
Allah is most great. Allah is most great.
There is no god except Allah.

 

[Aikibiker]

I blieve that getting woken up at dawn after only a few hours sleep would definately make me cranky.

I hope no one tries that around here.

 

[Barbara]

Besides, how is this different from playing Christmas Carols on city streets? My town plays Christian songs and no one cares.

 

[Barbara]

I blieve that getting woken up at dawn after only a few hours sleep would definately make me cranky. I hope no one tries that around here.

Now that I can relate to.

 

[CGofMP]

Based on MVPEL's translation I'd say that it crosses the line. Unless they are willing to let churches broadcast prayers via loudspeaker in ALL denominations this is flat out wrong.

In addition, this is noise polution of the first order. If they are gonna regulate leaf blowers and loud music in general, thn this too should remain prohibited.

I'd no more want to hear this tripe screamed into my living room than I would a hail mary or a commercial for Van Halen's last greatest hits album.

Your ability to make noise ends where my ears begin.

 

[Barbara]

Are you suggesting we blow away the carollers next Christmas? All that religious noise blowing around and then they want cocoa and cookies on top of it!

I guess it just seems like people are jumping on it because its Muslim noise and not Christian noise.

And seriously about Hamtramck. Gack. No sane person would go there, and if they did, they'd better be praying to someone somewhere.

 

[Aikibiker]

Barbara said:

I guess it just seems like people are jumping on it because its Muslim noise and not Christian noise.

Would this be the same muslims that want to kill you and I if we do not convert to their religion? At least the Christians haven't done that for a few centuries.