UAE | Heritage and Culture
Ringtone menace upsets worshippers in UAE mosques
Shattering the solitude of prayer halls with grating ring tones and buzzing phones is a common occurrence, Muslim worshippers from around the UAE say.
- By Nasheet Jaffer Khan, Community Solutions Editor
- Published: 23:28 September 6, 2008
- Friday prayer in the Naif area of Deira. Worshippers are often disturbed by cellphones ringing in the mosques.
- Image Credit: Vazhisojan/Gulf News
Dubai: Shattering the solitude of prayer halls with grating ring tones and buzzing phones is a common occurrence, Muslim worshippers from around the UAE say.
Mohammad J. Fears, an American expatriate residing in Ajman, blames insensitivity and "a blatant lack of respect towards fellow worshippers" when referring to people using mobile phones in mosques.
He said: "These days, it is not uncommon to hear at least one mobile phone ring during the course of prayer."
Talking loudly
"Additionally, more and more people can be heard talking loudly on their phones, while still inside the mosque. It ruins our concentration and is very irritating."
When Fears did try to raise it with some of the perpetrators, he was met with apologies and in a few instances simply ignored.
He said: "I pray five times and face this issue at least on three or four of those occasions every day. Prayers are supposed to have a calming effect, but by the time I am done and walk out, the result is just the opposite."
All requests made by Ebrahim Seddiqi, a Dubai resident, to switch off mobile phones in the mosque were either ignored or treated with cold disdain.
He said: "Some people would cancel their calls or put their phones on silent while still in the middle of prayers. I did try to approach someone once and he got angry and asked me not to interfere. Where do such people draw the line?"
Though most of those causing the disturbances are adults, the offenders also include teenagers and young children.
"Some youngsters play games and type out short text messages during the sermon [khutba] that precedes prayers, while others talk continuously and at times use language that borders on profanity.
"It is too disturbing," said Kamran Munawar, a Sharjah resident.
Things took a turn for the worse and Munawar eventually discontinued going to the mosque in his area and opted for another.
He said: "I don't pray all five times and whenever I can, I prefer to pray at the mosque. But in situations like these, I have no choice. I need to concentrate."
While some residents believe that the problem could be resolved if mobile phones were banned during prayers, others insisted that signage stating the same would help.
"Mobile jamming devices would be a great idea, as phones would no longer be functional due to a lack of signals.
"This would definitely discourage people from taking their phones to the mosque in the first place," Seddiqi said.
Almost all felt that the ultimate responsibility lay with the Imam leading the prayer, as it was his duty to discourage violators from causing disturbances.
Imam Osman Al Hamoud of Al Saliheen mosque in Dubai, agreed. He said: "It is absolutely disrespectful to have a song playing as a ring tone during prayers.
"Anyone who faces this issue could complain to the Department of Islamic Affairs and Awqaf. However, the bigger issue is the fact that some people do not make a conscious effort to have their mobiles in silent mode and not disturb a fellow worshipper."
General warning
Fears suggested that a general warning before the start of any prayer could be a plausible solution.
Aijaz Khan, a Sharjah resident, felt the issue could be resolved if some people would just make an effort to be civil.
He said: "If people think they are so important and cannot miss a single phone call, they should pray at home. Think about it - how are you going to answer that call anyway, if you are in the middle of a prayer?"
Do you think the use of mobile phones should be banned in mosques? Tell us what you think.
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