Dear pastors and imams, even the prophets slept!

By Eugene Enahoro ….

The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has commenced an offensive against noise pollution in the state. In most parts of the world the main sources of prolonged outdoor noise are machines, motor vehicles, aircraft and trains; however in Nigeria its churches, mosques and music hawkers.

According to LASEPA noise pollution reduces the quality of life in urban areas and our environmental laws specify a maximum acceptable noise level of 55 decibels in the daytime and 44 decibels at night. Those flouting the law are ignorant of the health implications. Doctors warn that exposure to noise is injurious to health, and the severity of injury increases with the intensity, frequency, and duration of noise.

The ill-effects of noise pollution fall into four categories: physical effects such as hearing defects and cardiovascular decease; physiological effects such as high blood pressure and ulcers; psychological effects such as sleep disorders and stress; and effects on work performance resulting in reduced productivity.

As a result of burgeoning Pentecostalism, Nigeria now has the largest number of churches per capita in the world. Many of them are creating noise pollution with their thunderous “praise the lord” and earth shaking “hallelujah” repetitions, so also are mosques becoming more consumed with public address systems and broadcasts of Arabic clauses. An increasing number of churches and mosques located in residential areas mount loudspeakers outside their buildings and hold “night vigils”.

Exactly how and when the practice of Islam and Christianity turned into a nocturnal activity is quite beyond comprehension. In African tradition darkness and night time gatherings are associated with diabolical practices, not godliness. Religious experts affirm that neither the Holy Quran nor Holy Bible instructs adherents of their religions to stay awake in all night prayers.

Regardless of the fact that there is no moral justification for inconveniencing others on account of religion, anyone questioning or daring to challenge the self-granted “right” of religious houses to disturb the peace is deemed “ungodly”. If truth be told all the noise has little to do with religion. No religion preaches public chaos. In developed nations places of worship are required to soundproof their facilities and non-adherents are not inconvenienced when they conduct their prayers. These are the very people who brought Christianity and Islam to us. However in our socio-cultural environment, impunity, disregard for the law and inconsideration towards others is commonplace. Excessive noise pollution has become part and parcel of our way of life because people do exactly as they please irrespective of inconvenience to others.

What we have done in effect is “Nigerianize” religion. It’s a culturally sensitive and spiritually explosive matter which needs to be handled with caution. Nevertheless, it’s to their eternal shame that so many churches and mosques are now categorized along with beer parlours, hotels and night clubs as public nuisances infringing on citizens’ right to peace in their homes and undisturbed sleep at night. It’s not a matter for sentiment. What isn’t right isn’t right regardless of whether it’s from Christians or Moslems, and it just isn’t right to convert residential premises into places of religious worship. Those involved may feel they are practicing religion but in truth their endless noise is a menace, and impunity which must be addressed.

Religion is a personal matter and in a multi-religious society like ours inconveniencing others because of your own personally created mode of worship is the most likely way of creating religious tension. Moslems are forbidden from inconveniencing people of other faiths and commanded to invite others to convert to Islam through their own behaviour, conduct and kind words. Noise pollution and disturbing night time peace hardly falls into this category. Even the Islamic call to prayer is meant to be brief. The Holy Quran stipulates that calls must be made at appointed times to inform the faithful that it’s time for worship. Due to modern technology loudspeakers are now used, however the calls themselves don’t last up to five minutes.

Read also: Pastor Adeboye: “The Richest Man in the World – by Femi Aribisala

Although all other activities inside mosques can be done without the use of external loudspeakers, unfortunately an increasing number of them are adopting certain habits normally associated with Pentecostal churches. During the recently concluded Ramadan it wasn’t unusual to hear public address systems at full blast reciting Arabic verses between 2am and 5am. Absurdly in many cases it would be a CD playing in a virtually empty building!

As for Christians, it’s unfortunate that “Churchianity” is taking over from Christianity. The whole basis of Christianity is consideration for others. The almost constant disturbance of a neighbourhood is the work of church’s proprietors. Noisy night vigils are indicative of an arrogance and inconsideration by those who convince themselves they are more devout than people who worship at the mosque or church on Fridays or Sundays respectively, and pray quietly in their houses. Very often, such vigils have more to do with financial reward than spirituality. There are 58 biblical verses relating to sleep, and several references to Jesus himself sleeping. In the Holy Quran there are sunnats of sleeping, as well as references to the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) sleeping on his right hand side.

Whatever the noise makers may think they are up to, practicing religion isn’t about raising noise levels, it’s about raising spiritual levels. As for the relevance of night time activities, the fact is that even the prophets themselves slept!

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