This is a comment on an article titled "Switzerland, Muslim community and the minarets," (The Jakarta Post, Dec. 11).
Khairil Azhar, I am a little surprised by your article saying some Muslims are bothered by the call to prayer (azan). It makes me think, are they really true Muslims? Or, what do you mean by a Muslim? As a teacher in an Islamic school, I believe you should know the essence of azan. It is not just a call for prayer (shalat) but it is also a sign of the existence of Islam (syiar) in the world.
You say in your article that "Prophet Muhammad preferred praying under a shady tree rather than chopping it down to build a mosque or a minaret". Can you tell me of any Hadith (saying of the Prophet) on this? And, if any, what is its level of validity?
Is it valid and strong narration (shahih) or just weak narration (dhaif) . or maybe a false one? As far as I know, during his life the Prophet prayed in the mosque all the time unless there was a special circumstance that stopped him going to the mosque. That was to show us (the ummah) the importance of praying in a group (Jama'ah) for Muslims.
In one verse of the holy Koran, the characteristics of true believers are described as those whose hearts are touched when the word "Allah" is mentioned. I believe you know about this. Of course for those who reject Islam, the azan is meaningless, but for you, who, you admit in the article, are a Muslim, the azan must be something that can touch your heart ... as a consequence, the issue of banning the spread of Islamic teaching through using loudspeakers or minarets must, or at least should, bother you a lot.
Therefore, on this occasion, as a brother in Islam, I would like to call for you to change your view on this matter.
Seh
Bahrain
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