New York City has updated its rules, allowing mosques (masjids) to broadcast the Muslim call to prayer on Fridays from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. without needing a permit, even in areas with noise limits.
This change also permits the call to prayer, also known as the Adhan or Azan, to be broadcast during the evenings throughout Ramadan, an important month of fasting and devotion for Muslims.
Mayor Eric Adams announced these new guidelines, aiming to simplify processes and enable places of worship, including mosques, to practice their faith freely in the city. He emphasized that religious institutions don’t need permits to amplify their call to Friday prayer.
The Adhan, a call to prayer, is traditionally broadcast using loudspeakers in places of worship, gathering Muslims for prayers. The initiative, led by the New York Police Department (NYPD), clarifies that the call to prayer is allowed in New York City, even in areas with noise restrictions.
