In response to restrictions on loudspeaker usage, six mosques in Mumbai have embraced technology to maintain their connection with worshippers. They have adopted a mobile application called Online Azan, which streams the Islamic call to prayer directly to smartphones in real-time. Developed by IT professionals in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, the app is available on both Android and iOS platforms and allows users to receive the azan from their chosen local mosque.
Fahad Khalil Pathan, the managing trustee of Mahim Juma Masjid, highlighted the necessity of this digital shift, especially during Ramzan and other key religious periods when public announcements are restricted. He noted that following a police crackdown on loudspeaker use, officers visited the mosque and warned that continued usage could result in legal action. Consequently, the mosque temporarily turned off its loudspeakers and turned to the Online Azan app as an alternative.
The app helps bridge the gap left by quieter internal speaker systems that lack the wide reach of traditional loudspeakers. Through the app, worshippers—especially the elderly and those nearby—can maintain their spiritual rhythm by hearing the azan in real-time, just as they used to.
Users can easily register on the app by selecting their locality and nearest mosque to receive timely azan notifications. In just three days, around 500 residents near Mahim Juma Masjid have signed up, and six mosques are now connected to the app’s India-based server. This tech-savvy approach not only respects noise regulations but also ensures the spiritual needs of the community are met, showcasing how faith and innovation can coexist harmoniously.
