Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam's tweets questioning the use of loudspeakers in mosques for azaan triggered a huge debate about sound pollution originating from religious places. In the cacophony of differing voices, hear Babu Khan, a Muslim man who has relentlessly waged a battle against loudspeakers in mosques.

Since 1992, 66-year-old Mohammed Ali alias Babu Khan has been fighting battle against loudspeakers atop mosques. Khan stays in one of the most communally sensitive areas in Mumbai - Behrampada. This locality has been at the centre of communal tensions in the infamous Mumbai riots of 1992, and it's here that he has successfully persuaded his community men and clerics against the use of loudspeakers.

A LONE BATTLE

Babu Khan persuades people by telling them how the use of loudspeakers is not Islamic.

"In Quran 'Allah Pak' says that "azaan" is a 'nida'. You just have to call people for namaz. That's about it. Till wherever the sound reaches is your responsibility, not beyond that. Hazrat Bilal used to give 'nida' from the mosque in Madina and it used to reach people, and the entire Madina used to congregate for namaz. In that time, there were no loudspeakers. Today's azaan is not happening as per the guidelines of Nabi (Prophet Mohammed). It is ruled by brain and not faith. Using loudspeaker is not right as per Sharia," Babu Khan explains with full conviction.

A devout Muslim, Babu Khan has so far succeeded in persuading seven mosques from areas like Behrampada and Tagore Nagar in Bandra to take off loudspeakers. He even successfully persuaded his distant relatives in 3 villages of Madhya Pradesh to do the same.

Initially reluctant, the ones around Babu Khan have now accepted his logic, but the battle hasn't been easy -- especially fighting against his own people. He had to move the Bombay High Court.

64 FATWAS TO PROVE HIS POINT

He fought his own case and even got 64 fatwas to prove his point. He further insists that his fight is not against the religion, but against the additional and unwanted practices attached to the religion.

"I told the court that use of loudspeakers in not part of Islam. Rather than any benefit, it is only doing harm to the religion. Even after hearing the azaan, 90 per cent of people do not turn up for namaz. Whoever comes only comes out of their own conviction. So what's the use of calling people over loudspeakers," he asks.

And ask him about the recent Sonu Nigam controversy, Babu Khan defends Sonu Nigam's stand with full conviction calling him Allah ka banda.

"I am not fighting the battle. Allah is making me do it. He has sent you, He asked Sonu Nigam to raise his voice. Allah showed him the way. Today muftis are issuing fatwas against him asking to shave off his head, garland him with footwear. Will Allah give such fatwas? Is he (Sonu) not an Allah ka banda?, says an angry Babu Khan.

Also read:

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Sonu Nigam tweets saying he stands by loudspeaker comment, slams those who couldn't tolerate his opinion

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