The Azan Controversy and the Zikir after prayers

The beautiful floating Masjid in Kuala Terengganu. (Not related to the story)

One hundred people gathered after yesterday Friday prayer in front of a masjid in Kerinchi to protest the protest of a non-Muslim resident about the loudness of the call for prayers or Azan.
(http://malaysiakini.com/news/153411)


I am a Muslim and this is my humble and personal opinion.

Our Prophet Muhammad SAW had always said, whenever you are in doubt about anything, go back to Al Qur'an and Sunnah.   When our beloved Prophet wanted to sign the Hudaibiah Treaty with the people of Makkah, the kafirs protested when our Prophet started the treaty with kalimah "Bismillahirrahmanirrahim".  Our Prophet accepted their protest because at that time what matters most were the content of the treaty.  The treaty allowed the Muslims to enter Makkah peacefully.


 I think we should practice the same tolerance here.   Turn down the loudness a little bit ( if it is really loud as claimed by them) and make it soothing to all, as part of our dakwah to them. The burning of the effigy was very unnecessary.

I have the same problem with the "zikir" after obligatory prayers each time I arrived late at the masjid or whenever i want to perform sunat prayers after the obligatory ones.  The Imam at most of the masjids here say the zikir after the prayers loudly using the internal speakers (and external speakers as well at some locations), so loud that it disturbs my focus ( kekusyukan) in my prayers.  For years, we have been taught by the same imams that it is 'haram', forbidden, if we were to read Qur'an loudly in the masjid as that will disturb  those who are performing the prayers.  But at the same time it is ok for them to say the zikir loudly when there are still  a lot of people performing the solat.

No wonder for those who had been to Makkah, they want to go there over and over again. Because it is very peaceful to pray in the Masjidilharam.  Not to mention the 100,000 times rewards compared with other masjids.

Let us show the beauty of Islam to the non-Muslims.