Mumbai Mosques Turn to Mobile App for Azaan Amid Loudspeaker Ban
Half a dozen mosques across Mumbai have adopted an app called Azaan Online, developed by Muslim IT experts from Tamil Nadu
Mumbai, the capital of India’s Maharashtra state, has witnessed a significant shift in how mosques deliver the Azaan (Islamic call to prayer) following restrictions on the use of loudspeakers.
In response to the ban enforced by the city police, several mosques have started using a mobile application to broadcast the Azaan to worshippers in real-time.
The initiative emerged after police warned mosques that loudspeaker use beyond permissible sound limits (55 decibels during the day and 45 at night, as per Bombay High Court guidelines) could lead to action. Consequently, mosques like Mahim Juma Masjid temporarily disabled their loudspeaker systems and switched to lower-volume box speakers, which do not reach as far.
The app helps maintain the spiritual connection, particularly for elderly residents and those living near the mosques who previously relied on loudspeakers to hear the azan.
According to the Indian newspaper The Hindu, half a dozen mosques across Mumbai have adopted an app called Azaan Online, developed by Muslim IT experts from Tamil Nadu. This app allows registered mosques to deliver the Azaan directly to the smartphones of worshippers residing nearby, who can listen to the call to prayer in real-time.
To use the app, both mosques and individual users need to register. Worshippers are required to enter their location and mosque name, enabling them to receive the Azaan notification and audio on their mobile devices at the appropriate prayer times.
The move comes in the wake of a campaign launched by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirit Somaiya, who associated the use of loudspeakers in mosques with noise pollution. Somaiya claimed that his efforts led to the removal of over 1,500 loudspeakers from mosques across the city.
In opposition to this campaign, Muslim scholars took the matter to the Bombay High Court, which ruled in January 2025 that the limited use of loudspeakers in mosques does not constitute noise pollution. The court specified that sound levels up to 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night are permissible.
Despite the court’s decision, police reportedly pressured mosque administrators to discontinue the use of loudspeakers, prompting many to opt for the mobile app as a more viable solution.
The campaign and restrictions on loudspeakers in Mumbai mosques began in April–May 2025:
- Mosque committees filing to the Bombay High Court noted that police actions started in April 2025, including issuing notices under noise pollution rules, cancelling licenses, and seizing speakers.
- A formal police circular issued on May 11, 2025, mandated the removal of all mosque loudspeakers and stricter licensing requirements.
- So, the ban—in practical terms—kicked off in April 2025, with a key enforcement step solidified by the May 11 circular.
This development highlights how technology is being used to maintain religious practices while navigating legal and social challenges in India’s urban centres.
