In a move blending tradition with technology, several mosques in Mumbai have begun using a dedicated mobile application, ‘Online Azan’, to relay the call to prayer directly to worshippers’ smartphones. This innovation comes in response to recent restrictions and heightened police scrutiny over the use of loudspeakers for religious announcements in the city.
The issue surfaced after police officers visited prominent mosques, including Mahim Juma Masjid, warning that continued use of loudspeakers could lead to legal action. To comply and avoid confrontation, mosques temporarily disabled their sound systems and sought alternative methods to maintain the spiritual connection with their congregations.
Online Azan App
Developed by a Tamil Nadu-based company with technical support from IT professionals in Tirunelveli, the Online Azan app allows mosques to stream the azan live in real-time. Worshippers can now listen to the call to prayer at home or wherever they are, simply by downloading the app, selecting their locality, and choosing their nearest mosque. The application is available on both Android and iOS platforms and is free for users.
The app has proven especially useful during Ramzan and other periods when public announcements are restricted. It also serves a larger community purpose by notifying users about prayer times, functioning much like a smart-watch alert. Once installed and configured, the app runs automatically, ensuring that the faithful never miss the azan, even if they are far from the mosque or unable to hear it due to sound limits.
The move to digital azan has been well received by the community, particularly the elderly and those residing near the mosques, who found it difficult to hear the call for prayers after loudspeaker use was curtailed. In just three days, over 500 residents near Mahim Juma Masjid registered on the app, and a total of six mosques in Mumbai are now using the service.
It is important to note that the Bombay High Court has not banned loudspeakers outright, but has set permissible sound limits—55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night. Many mosques have switched to lower-volume box speakers to comply with these guidelines, but the reach is not as wide as traditional loudspeakers. The Online Azan app fills this gap, ensuring that worshippers remain connected to their neighbourhood mosque’s prayer timings without disturbing others.
Community leaders and politicians have welcomed the adoption of technology. Mumbai Congress general secretary Asif Farooqui remarked that prayer is important, not the loudspeaker, and praised mosques for adapting to new innovations. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, who has campaigned against unauthorised loudspeakers, attributed the removal of around 1,500 devices in Mumbai to these efforts.
The Online Azan app, already used by around 250 mosques in Tamil Nadu, requires mosques to submit an application form, address proof, and Aadhaar details of the person giving the call to prayer for registration. Globally, such apps are common in countries like the US, UK, Saudi Arabia, and UAE, but in Mumbai, the shift is driven by regulatory pressures rather than convenience.
This digital solution highlights how religious practices can adapt to urban challenges and regulatory changes, ensuring that faith and tradition continue seamlessly in a modern, connected world.
