ABU DHABI // Things sounded different last week in Abu Dhabi. The iqama call, which plays over loudspeakers some 20 minutes after the call to prayer, signalling the beginning of the congregational prayer, was cancelled. The General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowment (Awqaf) says the decision is intended to stop people running to the mosque at the last minute. Instead it hopes to encourage them to walk slowly and purposefully at the sound of the athan. The ruling has caused controversy throughout the city's Muslim community. Some disagree with the decision to drop the call, saying it changes their daily routine. Others support the move, arguing the iqama serves simply as a secondary reminder to pray and is not necessary for conscientious worshippers. One who would like the iqama to remain is Sheikh Sayed Ali al Hashemi, adviser for judiciary and religious affairs at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs. For him, the importance of the iqama is that it has been passed down through generations of Muslims since the time of Prophet Mohammed. "From the Sharia perspective the iqama is sunnah [a customary practice, first performed by the Prophet] and the rituals of our religion should be made public," he said. "If people are used to hearing the iqama over the microphone then the priority should be to keep it that way." For Sheikh Hashemi, relaying the iqama call through loudspeakers from the minarets should not be seen as anything other than a benefit to the community. "Whatever a person's religion, hearing the mention of Allah's name brings peace to the soul. So I don't think either the athan or the iqama bother people." Awqaf, in a statement this week, noted that the Prophet and his contemporaries did not deliver the congregational call from the minarets. Instead they were delivered quietly inside the mosque for the benefit of those worshippers already there. Awqaf also explained that the iqama calls in Abu Dhabi could still sound in individual mosques, but at a reduced volume. A teacher of new Muslims, who asked that her name not be used, said the hadiths, or the words and deeds of the Prophet Mohammed, state that the iqama was always played quietly in the mosque simply to signal to the congregation that the prayers were beginning. "As this was the way of the Prophet, then it is the correct decision to cancel the iqama broadcast," she said. "It means Awqaf are taking things back to basics." Another supporter of the change, Dr Falih Handhal, a researcher in history and heritage, said the sounding of the athan was sufficient for sincere believers. "I think it is a good idea to turn the iqama down," he said. "You don't have to shout a lot to announce the prayers. The athan is enough. After that people should pray by themselves. I do not object to hearing any calls, but I know of people who think Islam is a noisy religion, so I'm sure some people do." Awqaf would not comment on whether it had received individual complaints, instead maintaining that its decision would benefit the congregation, assuring they get there on time. Mohammed al Shaer, a senior engineer with Etisalat, said he prayed at his mosque so regularly that he was not aware the broadcast call had ended. He did not welcome the news. "The iqama is very useful for those occasions when you are in the car or walking and perhaps running a little bit late. It's a sign the prayer is starting and you need to hurry. "I strongly recommend they put it back to the way it was." For Mr al Shaer that change represented a diversion from the "correct" religious path. "I have lived my whole life in this country and I don't want to see any more steps in the wrong direction," he said. "We need to promote our culture and our religion as much as possible." Imane, a housewife from France, who lives in Abu Dhabi with her husband three children and asked that her full name not be used, said ending the call might cause people to delay their prayers. "The gap between the athan and iqama differs depending on the time of day," she said. "We need to hear the iqama at home to make sure the family prays at the right time." The stronger objection came from a da'iya, or preacher, who asked to remain anonymous. He said there was a special prayer which could be said between the two calls and which granted the believer extra blessings on the Day of Judgement. If people cannot hear the iqama, this prayer might be missed, he said. However he did concede that Awqaf must have been well-informed about their ruling. "The Authority knows better than I," he said. "This is just how I feel." Kiashe Pugh, a Muslim American and mother of five, said she did not think the cancellation of the iqama was a negative decision. She called it a "psychological dependence" rather than something necessary for the practice of her religion. "The athan is the sound that tells us to get ready for prayer. It might not be such a bad thing because if we can't hear the iqama it will force us to be more conscious of the athan." She also pointed out that Awqaf's decision would not affect women in the same way as men because they were not obliged to go to the mosque. "The only thing I would say is that it would have been better if they had announced it because, usually, I use the two calls to know when to wake the children for morning prayers. I go in at the sound of the athan but if they are not up by the iqama, then I know it is time to get moving. I might have delayed their prayers over the last few days because I wasn't aware the iqama had been turned down." Although there is currently no indication of this ruling being enforced nationally, Awqaf is a federal organisation. So while the iqama broadcasts continue in the rest of the country, these too might soon be silenced. Almost certainly however, opinions about it will not. aseaman@thenational.ae