In a groundbreaking move, New York City has issued new guidance permitting mosques (masjids) to publicly broadcast the Muslim call to prayer, known as Azan. This decision grants mosques the ability to amplify the call to prayer on Fridays between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., without the need for a permit, even in neighborhoods with sound restrictions.
The guidance also extends the permission to broadcast the call to prayer during the evenings of Ramadan, a holy month of fasting and prayer for the Muslim community.
During the announcement of the new guidance on Tuesday, Mayor Eric Adams expressed the city’s commitment to cutting bureaucratic red tape and allowing religious institutions, including mosques, to freely exercise their faith. He emphasized that mosques and houses of worship no longer need to apply for permits to amplify the call to prayer on Fridays.
The call to prayer, also known as Azan, is traditionally broadcast publicly through speakers or public address systems in mosques to summon Muslims for prayer, as stated in a news release from the city.
This initiative, initiated by the New York Police Department (NYPD), clarifies that the call to prayer is fully permitted in New York City, regardless of sound restrictions in certain neighborhoods. The release highlights that this historic decision aims to foster religious freedom and accommodation within the city.
