The Regina City Jamia Masjid is conducting a public survey to gather resident opinions on its outdoor broadcast of the Islamic call to prayer.
The initiative follows a wave of online debate and negative comments regarding the mosque's practice. By seeking direct community input, the mosque aims to address tensions and clarify the purpose of the broadcast within the downtown area.
On Friday, July 17, the mosque opened its doors to the public to facilitate the feedback process [1]. Dozens of people participated by filling out a two-minute survey throughout the day [2]. The survey was designed to gauge whether the call to prayer should continue to be broadcast externally [3].
Director M. Anisur Rahaman said the mosque is responding to a variety of community reactions. While some residents expressed mixed views, others provided significant backlash toward the practice [3, 4].
Rahaman said much of the friction was due to a lack of understanding about the faith. "Many of the negative comments appeared to be the result of misconceptions about the Muslim faith," Rahaman said [5].
The mosque continues to engage with downtown Regina residents to find a balance between religious practice and community harmony. The results of the short survey will help the leadership determine the future of the outdoor broadcasts [3].
“"Many of the negative comments appeared to be the result of misconceptions about the Muslim faith."”
This situation highlights the friction that can arise when traditional religious practices intersect with urban noise expectations and cultural misunderstandings. By utilizing a public survey, the Regina City Jamia Masjid is attempting a diplomatic approach to mitigate community conflict through transparency and direct engagement rather than legal or administrative escalation.
