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jaffa · Joined: 25 Oct 2012 Posts: 403

I don't hear the 4am one, thank god, but when they start up in the afternoon I stick on Led Zepellin.

sicklyman · Joined: 02 Feb 2013 Posts: 930

I wonder about the prevalence of recorded calls to prayer these days. I distinctly remember one fine day in downtown Amman in the 1970s when, instead of the call to prayer, the opening strains of Yellow Submarine floated across the city before the cassette (and no doubt whoever was responsible) was hastily ejected...

mahdi1432 · Joined: 22 Aug 2013 Posts: 43 Location: Ar-Riyadh, KSA

PC Parrot · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2014 11:05 am Post subject:

Here's an interesting use of the loud-speaker.

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi-arabia/saudi-woman-uses-mosque-megaphone-to-call-for-help-1.1321714

fledex · Joined: 05 Jun 2011 Posts: 342

When I first came to the middle east, it scared and puzzled me. Now, it's a thing of beauty, like the rooster crowing in the morning. My work requires me to wake a little before the call and I hate waking to the alarm, but I feel a sense of comfort once the prayer call starts.

Jcray21 · Joined: 09 Feb 2014 Posts: 11

plumpy nut · Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 1652

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

08mansoor · Joined: 29 Sep 2012 Posts: 22

"True, but the blasting loud-speakers aren't exactly like church bells. What's wrong with doing the calls the way they use to do it before loud speakers."

Plumply nut, they use the loud speakers to have people hear the call to prayer. So that they could respond to it throughout the days and nights. Speakers are clearly needed, because without it I doubt anyone will be able to hear it from a distance, due to the cars and traffic and living in better constructed buildings, compare to the past. I think in rural areas the people probably would have no need for loud speakers.[/quote]

Jcray21 · Joined: 09 Feb 2014 Posts: 11

lcanupp1964 · Joined: 12 Dec 2009 Posts: 381

In the year 2014, we have tons of tech-based products that could tell anyone wanting to know what time the call starts and finishes - like after 1400 years, they don't know. For example, one can buy a clock that auto-adjusts the time to 100th of a second. One could place a "call-to-prayer-clock" on any wall that sets off the chant at the five correct times. People can use software on a computer, or cell phone that can tell anyone when the call is to the second. People can have call to prayer systems installed in their cars. Coke and Samba Bank could "partner-up" and give out small clocks, or watches for free with their logos on them that can activate the call at the right times (could also vibrate as a way to not disturb people who don't wish to hear it). Every store in every mall across KSA can use a light system that flashes when the call starts and finishes. On each tower, on every mosques, they could place a beautiful light, or laser that can flash (quietly!!!!!) when the call starts. They could use something called “imagination” (what’s that word, teacher!!??) and join this century. To be frank (although that’s not my name), if several things were not so darn intrusive to me, I might try and learn more about the religion.

It is a good way to control the masses like sheep though. The loudspeakers can also blast over the people trying to watch American Idol on their computers/TVs.

Church bells in Europe and North America also served as a community service, waking up people that had to milk the cows, or get ready for work. 500 years ago, clocks and watches were very expensive and very few people owned any time pieces. The local churches were the keeper of time for each local area. In addition, there were no time zones back then and even in small towns, there were many time differences. It could be 12 noon on Maple drive, while it was still 11:45am across town. In this region, the call was also a way for people to know the times of the day as well as providing a community-based service.

Now that clocks are very cheap/accurate, every part of the world runs on the same 24-hour time system, and we have the tech, I don't understand why the 1950's style loudspeakers are still being used. Does the crackle of the electronic hum and the guy clearing out his snot remind grandpa of a simpler time?

mashkif · Joined: 17 Aug 2010 Posts: 178

All I will say is that going up a high tower and screaming thence that your "god" is the biggest is incredibly childish, simpleminded, and weak.

And as for those who rave about the "beauty" of the adhan, they may want to know that the standard adhan heard through Saudi Arabia is actually pretty lame. The most beautiful one I ever heard was from a Shi3a mosque in Bahrain. THEY know how to rock that adhan!

mashkif · Joined: 17 Aug 2010 Posts: 178