Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Centralised Call to Prayer at Centre of Egyptian Dispute | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat- The Egyptian Ministry of Religious Endowments, Monday, was the cause of further controversy amongst Al Azhar scholars regarding the legalising of a centralised call to prayer that will be put into effect shortly. Despite the objection raised by the local council for the Cairo governorate, the ministry said in a statement issued on Monday that “The idea of a centralized call to prayer was introduced to maintain the civilized image of mosques in Islam. Such a decision does not breach Islamic Shariaa especially that we obtained an official fatwa from the Egyptian Mufti that permits such action.”

Dr. Nasser Farid Wasel, Egypt’s former Mufti and member of Al Azhar’s Islamic Research Academy, welcomed the idea. However, Dr. Ahmad Abdul Rahim al Sayeh, professor of theology at Al Azhar University and also a member of the Islamic Research Academy, rejected the idea of centralising the call to prayer and said, “This idea conflicts with the vast area of greater Cairo.” He said, “Centralizing the call to prayer squanders the divinely rewards of Muezzins (the person who calls people to prayer).” He described it as a way to “preoccupy people.”