In response to restrictions on loudspeaker use, six mosques in Mumbai have adopted a new mobile app called Online Azan to broadcast the call to prayer (azan) directly to worshippers’ phones in real-time.
Developed by a Tamil Nadu-based company, the free app streams live azan audio from registered mosques, allowing Muslims to listen at home or in other quiet environments, especially during Ramzan when loudspeaker use is limited.
Fahad Khalil Pathan, managing trustee of Mahim Juma Masjid, explained the shift followed police warnings and a temporary shutdown of the mosque’s loudspeakers to avoid punitive action. The app now helps maintain the spiritual experience without disturbing nearby residents.
Users simply download the app, select their locality and preferred mosque, and receive live azan notifications. Over 500 residents near Mahim Juma Masjid have already registered in just three days.
Pathan clarified that the Bombay High Court has not banned loudspeakers but mandated sound limits of 55 decibels during the day and 45 at night. To comply, many mosques have replaced traditional loudspeakers with lower-volume box speakers.
Mohammed Ali, co-founder of Online Azan, said around 250 mosques in Tamil Nadu have registered with the app over the past three years.
Political reactions have been mixed. Mumbai Congress general secretary Asif Farooqui welcomed the technological innovation, saying, “Prayer is important, not loudspeaker.” Meanwhile, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, who campaigns against unauthorized loudspeaker use, claims his efforts have led to the removal of 1,500 loudspeakers in the city.
