Cambridge council allows mosque to broadcast call to prayer during Ramadan
CAMBRIDGE — The Muslim call to prayer will be heard echoing from the Islamic Centre of Cambridge after council passed a temporary noise exemption bylaw at a special council meeting Thursday.
The temporary move will allow the mosque to broadcast the call to prayer, also known as adhan, through a loudspeaker twice a day during the month of Ramadan, which ends on May 24.
“Right now they can’t do their call to prayer within the mosque,” said Coun. Jan Liggett who brought forward the motion following a request from the local Muslim community. That is because Muslims, like other faith groups, are not congregating in places of worship during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims and praying at a mosque is an important part of this month of fasting and reflection.
The Cambridge Muslim Society and Islamic Centre had requested to broadcast the call to prayer twice a day for five minutes at a time. It will occur at noon and 30 minutes before sunset each day until Ramadan ends.
“We do recognize this decision will come with complaints from our residents, however we also want to remind our community that it is temporary. It is about kindness during this time which for all of us is a difficult time,” Liggett said.
Bylaw officers will work with the mosque to determine an acceptable volume to broadcast the call to prayer.
Liggett said historically, churches would ring church bells as a call to prayer, and this is no different.
Coun. Nicholas Ermeta said the city should consult with other religions to see if this is something they would also like to do and pushed for a deferral that was later voted down by council.
“The one thing that bothers me here. What other prayers are half-hour prior to sunset ... when trying to get kids to bed,” Coun. Mike Devine said.
Last week, Mississauga city council allowed the local Muslim community to broadcast the call to prayer for the remainder of the month of Ramadan. The decision was met with backlash from the community.