AhlulBayt News Agency: One of Australia’s largest mosques has submitted a formal proposal to begin broadcasting the Islamic call to prayer, or adhan, in the Sydney suburb of Lakemba.
The Masjid Ali Bin Abi Talib, more commonly known as Lakemba Mosque, has requested approval from the Canterbury-Bankstown Council to install four external loudspeakers on its minaret. The purpose is to broadcast the adhan for approximately five to fifteen minutes every Friday ahead of the midday congregational Jummah prayer, the Daily Telegraph reported on Monday.
If granted, the proposal would make Lakemba Mosque the first in Sydney to issue the weekly call to prayer throughout the year.
Planning documents accompanying the application emphasize the area's religious demographics, noting that approximately 61.2 percent of Lakemba's population identifies as Muslim.
The documents state that “In Lakemba, the adhan is a familiar and comforting sound for many residents, marking the rhythms of daily life and fostering a sense of unity and shared faith.”
The mosque is situated in a densely populated residential zone that includes single-family homes, multi-unit dwellings, and some commercial properties. Under the council's planning regulations, the addition of the loudspeakers is allowed with formal consent.
The documents also compare the adhan to Christian practices, stating that “The adhan is a call of prayer similar to those of church bells on Sunday morning for mass.”
In Sydney's central business district, several churches, including the historic St Mary’s Cathedral, ring bells regularly, with some sessions lasting up to an hour.
An independent acoustic assessment conducted for the mosque indicates the call to prayer would comply with local noise limits—81 decibels in commercial zones and 68 decibels in residential areas.
The report noted that the adhan's limited duration and proposed sound control measures ensure compliance with local standards, which prohibit excessively loud or disruptive noise.
The council is currently reviewing the application.
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