Muslims around the world have exhibited anger and shock at the same time over the referendum in Switzerland banning the construction of new minarets. Some Muslims have even called for the banning of Swiss goods and breaking of all ties with Switzerland.
The referendum was voted into power after more that 57 % of Swiss voters voted in favour of the ban on new minarets. Muslim clerics around the world have described the vote as an attack on religious freedom that too in Europe, which is widely regarded as a continent which is democratic and fair.
A minaret is an ancient symbol of Islam. It’s simply a tower from where the imam (the holy priest) tries to call people to pray (not war). However there is so such mention that a minaret is necessary for prayer.
Muslims around the world feel that European countries are trying to take protective measures even when there is no need or threat. “A concept of European Islamization doesn't exist amongst Muslims”. This feeling has been gaining ground since the French ban on wearing the Islamic headscarf and the caricatures of Prophet Mohammed in the Danish newspapers.
However, though Muslims have been very vocal on the Swiss issue, there has been some introspection going on behind closed doors. Many people in Egypt are now beginning to feel that that the azan is more of a disturbance rather than a prayer call. Authorities are rushing through ideas and spending sleepless nights in order to find a solution to the problem before the religious ritual gets tarnished. After all everyone has a right to peace and tranquillity. Prayers should be conducted quietly without disturbing the other even of the same faith.
To counter this problem, the Egyptian government has come up with a proposal to have a unified call to prayer from the minarets in order to cut the chaos and confusion created especially by the thousands of untrained muezzins performing the azan over microphones and loudspeakers for five times a day, often out of sync.
A muezzin would announce the azan from one of the larger mosques and his voice would be beamed across to others through specially designed receivers.
This proposal too has been met with strong opposition as it is said to be un-Islamic to block someone from performing the azan. Also the jobs of thousands of muezzins are at stake.
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