The Muslim call to prayer will ring out more freely in New York City under guidelines announced Tuesday by Mayor Eric Adams, which he said should foster a spirit of inclusivity.

Under the new rules, Adams said, mosques will not need a special permit to publicly broadcast the Islamic call to prayer, or adhan, on Fridays and at sundown during the holy month of Ramadan. Friday is the traditional Islamic holy day, and Muslims break their fast at sunset during Ramadan.

The police department’s community affairs bureau will work with mosques to communicate the new guidelines and ensure that devices used to broadcast the adhan are set to appropriate decibel levels, Adams said. Houses of worship can broadcast up to 10 decibels over the ambient sound level, the mayor’s office said.

  • @[email protected]
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    212 years ago

    Are they using bells then?

    I’d be annoyed if I lived near a Christian church that had a megaphone telling people to come pray, but bells at least seem less intrusive.

      • @[email protected]
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        162 years ago

        Do you know what’s not loud? Configuring alarms in your phone. Wonder if these people have thought about it.

      • @[email protected]
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        102 years ago

        Maybe just personal preference for me then, but I find it’s easier to ignore as it registers as background noise.

        Someone blasting music or a speech would absolutely drive me up the wall though.

        • Flying Squid
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          92 years ago

          I’m wondering if you grew up hearing them and that’s why. You’re far more likely to tune out an intrusive noise that you’re very used to.