Noise pollution – this is not funny!

I was sitting here and preparing lessons for my Second Life class tonight when some neighbours started playing extremely loud music. I had the feeling I was sitting right next to the loud speakers. I don't like much of the popular music anyway. So, being forced to listen to it made me very angry and as it didn't stop, I decided to find out who was causing me this "pain".

It was the neighbours two houses further down the street. I asked politely if they could turn down the volume a bit as I couldn't concentrate on my work. Their reply was "But we are having an engagement party tonight on the street and we are only testing the sound." Oh, my God, they are going to do this for hours tonight?! And I have an online lesson in Second Life!

I asked my sister whether this was normal and she said "Unfortunately yes." They are allowed to party on the street and make such noise until 0.00 :(( How can people start out their lives together by annoying their neighbours?? Or is it only me who is annoyed?

There were such parties in the past, I remember, but then it didn't seem as noisy as now with such powerful amplifiers. Or maybe I have changed. Most such engagement or wedding parties take place now in düğün salonu, special halls for such purposes. Even then, the music is so loud that you can hear it in the neighbourhood. And the worst thing of all is that people take their little kids to these events. These little kids have to endure this torture to their ears for hour sometimes. Somebody should make people aware of the risks. Would it stop then?

I'm sorry, I really am a tolerant person but this is an issue that makes me very angry. It's hot outside but I will have to go upstairs (where it is warmer) into my small office and close all windows and doors to at least reduce the noise a bit so that my students will be able to hear me. I am not looking forward to this.

A chorus of muezzins

Yesterday morning, I woke up to a chorus of muezzins calling to prayer (azan or adhan) in canon. This was so beautiful. Now, you will say, what is so unusual about that? Don't you have muezzins' calling for prayer five times every day? Yes, we do. And this is one of the reasons I like about living here. This is much nicer than having to check for the times on a calendar.

However, some years ago (I don't know when exactly), they decided it would be better to unify the call for prayer. So, now, there is only one muezzin, though each time a different one, who calls from the main mosque, the Ulu Cami (see picture) and this is heard all over the city through the loud speakers of the mosques. OK, I agree, this is not such a bad idea, mostly because you get to hear different styles of adhan. In the past, it also happened that a sleepy muezzin (who was usually the imam of the mosque) was out of tune or some might have even overslept and started late :). But somehow this was nice, very endearing. It was your imam after all.

I wonder how it is in other Muslim countries. Unified or individual adthan? Are there still places where they do not need to use loud speakers? Do you have any memories connected to the call of prayer?

Click to see source of picture.