How the
Loudspeaker Became Permissible: An Examination of Its Religious Acceptance
The journey of the loudspeaker from
being considered haram (forbidden) to halal (permissible)
within certain religious communities, particularly in Pakistan and India,
highlights the complex interplay between technological advancements and
religious interpretations. This article investigates the initial resistance to
the loudspeaker by religious scholars and its eventual acceptance as a critical
tool in the dissemination of religious teachings, using historical developments
and key scholarly decisions.
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Any Noise disturb you! and any disturbance can harm you |
The Early Use of
Loudspeakers and Their Perception
The loudspeaker was first used for
public speeches by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson after World War I. This
innovation in sound amplification was initially viewed with skepticism, as any
form of noise was considered a disturbance, potentially harmful to individuals
and society. This early mistrust reflected broader concerns about the intrusion
of modern technology into traditional lifestyles.
A Brief Timeline
of Loudspeaker Development:
- 1861: Johann Philipp Reis installs a speaker that could produce
clear tones on his telephone, although the sound remained faint.
- 1876: Alexander Graham Bell receives the first patent for a
loudspeaker capable of producing intelligible speech.
- 1877: Werner von Siemens builds an electromagnetic coil-based
speaker from Bell's design, but it fails.
- 1877: Thomas Edison patents a system for amplifying sound in the
early phonograph using compressed air and horns to enhance volume.
- 1898: Horace Short patents a compressed air loudspeaker,
producing better sound than previous designs.
- 1898: Oliver Lodge creates the first experimental moving-coil
loudspeaker.
- 1915: Peter L. Jensen and Edwin Pridham design the first
practical moving-coil loudspeaker.
- 1924: Chester W. Rice (General Electric) and Edward W. Kellogg
(AT&T) patent moving-coil technology, using permanent magnets and
induction to move a diaphragm and produce sound waves.
- 1924: The Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company introduces the first
all-electric home phonograph equipped with a dynamic loudspeaker.
- 1924: Walter H. Schottky and Dr. Erwin Gerlach invent the ribbon
loudspeaker using diodes.
- 1930s: Ribbon loudspeakers are improved by adding drivers for
better amplification.
- 1937: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) introduces the Shearer Horn
system, using dual compression drivers to produce high-frequency sound.
- 1943: Altec Lansing invents duplex drivers and introduces the
famous "Voice of the Theatre" 604 speakers.
Reception of the
Loudspeaker in India and Religious Opposition
When the loudspeaker reached India, it
faced immediate resistance, as many religious scholars were unaccustomed to
modern innovations. The prominent Islamic scholar, Maulana Ashraf
Thanvi, initially declared the loudspeaker haram. His rationale
was rooted in the notion that the loudspeaker, much like the gramophone, was
associated with entertainment and could potentially lead to morally
questionable uses.
However, the utility of the
loudspeaker, particularly in disseminating religious sermons to larger
audiences, began to garner attention. For instance, voices transmitted through
loudspeakers could reach thousands of people over long distances, making it an
effective tool for religious leaders. The matter was eventually brought to the
attention of Nandan Lal, a science teacher who challenged the
opposition from religious scholars by highlighting the practical benefits of
the technology.
Before the loudspeaker, the telephone
had already been declared permissible (halal) by scholars, while the
gramophone was considered haram. The loudspeaker’s introduction
sparked a similar controversy, as it was initially seen as a device akin to the
gramophone. This perception led to widespread debate and the loudspeaker's
entry into what can be described as a "trial period" in Indian
religious discourse.
The Arrival of
Radio and Amplified Religious Skepticism
The arrival of the radio in India
compounded the tension surrounding the loudspeaker. Many religious leaders,
including Maulana Thanvi, were ready to condemn it as well. A fatwa was issued,
stating that listening to music on the radio was haram, and by
extension, using the radio for religious content was also forbidden if the same
device was used for music. This reasoning reflected the deep suspicion of any
device that could transmit entertainment, fearing it would corrupt religious
purity.
In contemporary terms, this reaction
mirrors the ongoing debate about digital platforms like YouTube, where scholars
argue that the same platform used to broadcast religious content also hosts
content deemed inappropriate by traditional standards. Maulana’s fatwa at the
time could be compared to a modern-day ruling against platforms that promote
both sacred and secular content.
Shifting
Perspectives: Letters to Radio Pakistan
As reports of loudspeaker use in
mosques across the Arab world began to reach India, the opposition among the
religious community started to soften. Religious scholars wrote to Radio
Pakistan, seeking guidance on whether the loudspeaker could be considered
permissible in Islamic practice. In response, the experts at Radio Pakistan
clarified that the loudspeaker merely amplified the human voice without
altering its substance. This distinction played a crucial role in changing the
narrative.
By 1951, the use of
loudspeakers for religious purposes was officially declared halal.
The scholarly consensus emerged that amplifying the call to prayer (adhan) and
sermons was not only permissible but a valuable tool for reaching larger
congregations.
The "Great
Voice" of the Magnavox Loudspeaker: A Simplified Overview
When discussing the history of
loudspeakers, one key figure is Peter L. Jensen, born in Denmark in
1886. Jensen began his career as an apprentice to a Danish engineer named Valdemar
Poulsen, and after several years of working together, Poulsen sent Jensen
to the United States in 1909 to help develop the Poulsen Wireless Telephone and
Telegraph Company.
The Beginnings of
Magnavox
In the U.S., Jensen met Edwin
S. Pridham, an electrical engineer. Together, in 1911, they set up a small
research lab where they experimented with Poulsen’s radio transmitter. They
made some changes to the transmitter by using thicker wires and adding a copper
coil between the magnets. However, these adjustments did not capture much
attention.
Eventually, they added a gooseneck
horn from an Edison phonograph to the device. This modification led to
the invention of the first practical moving-coil loudspeaker, which
they named Magnavox (meaning "great voice" in
Latin). Although earlier versions of loudspeakers existed, this was the first
that worked well enough to be used in real-life situations. Jensen and Pridham
intended to sell the Magnavox as a public address (PA) system.
First Public
Demonstration
On December 10, 1915,
Jensen and Pridham conducted the first public demonstration of their
loudspeaker at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Afterward, they
held another event outside San Francisco City Hall, playing music
and broadcasting a speech by California Governor Hiram Johnson.
These demonstrations marked the loudspeaker’s initial success.
By 1919, the Magnavox
loudspeaker gained national attention when it was used during a speech by U.S.
President Woodrow Wilson. Pridham helped set up the system, and Jensen
stayed near Wilson to ensure everything worked smoothly. The loudspeaker
allowed Wilson’s voice to be heard up to a mile away, proving its
effectiveness.
The Growth of
Loudspeaker Use
By the 1920s, loudspeakers
had become widely popular, being used in radios, phonographs,
and theater sound systems. Today, they are found in various places,
such as cars, hearing aids, concert halls,
and theaters.
While the basic design of the
loudspeaker has remained the same, improvements in materials and shapes have
made them more efficient and reliable. These changes have enhanced sound
quality and expanded the use of loudspeakers in modern technology. For example,
researchers from Ultrahaptics and the Universities of
Bristol and Sussex used sound waves from loudspeakers to create the
world’s first sonic tractor beam, which can lift and move small
objects. This technology could revolutionize medical procedures by enabling the
movement of microsurgical instruments inside living tissue
without direct contact.
Improving
Loudspeaker Technology Through Simulation
For loudspeakers to provide clear and
loud sound in large areas like shopping malls and offices,
high sound quality is essential. Today, we can use computer simulations to
improve loudspeaker designs. Instead of building and testing many physical
models, engineers can now test designs in a virtual environment. For
example, Riccardo Balistreri at QSC Audio Products used
simulations to improve the design of PA loudspeakers, allowing for more
efficient testing and faster improvements.
New Approaches to
Loudspeaker Design
While the basic mechanism behind
loudspeakers hasn’t changed much, advances in digital technology mean
that improvements may soon be necessary. Researchers used COMSOL
Multiphysics (a powerful simulation software) to test a new electrostatic
membrane design. They created arrays of membranes that can reproduce the
sound created by an acoustic transducer (a key part of a loudspeaker). This
research shows how simulations can help develop new loudspeaker designs to meet
the growing needs of modern technology.
Modern Challenges
and the Proliferation of Loudspeakers
Today, loudspeakers are a common
feature of mosques across Pakistan and India. However, their widespread use has
introduced new challenges. In densely populated neighbourhoods with multiple
mosques, it is not uncommon for several loudspeakers to operate simultaneously,
causing confusion about which sermon or call to prayer to follow. This has
created a communal dilemma that reflects broader issues of urban living and
technological management.
Interestingly, the introduction of
foreign technologies, developed by Western inventors such as Bell, Siemens, and
Edison, has brought unforeseen consequences to societies that maintain a
delicate balance between tradition and modernity. While these inventions were
designed to enhance communication, they often sparked debates and resistance
within religious and cultural frameworks, as seen in the case of the
loudspeaker.
The journey of the loudspeaker from
being condemned as haram to becoming an integral tool in
religious practices highlights the tension between tradition and technological
innovation. Initially viewed with suspicion due to its perceived association
with forbidden forms of entertainment, the loudspeaker gradually gained
acceptance as its utility for religious purposes became undeniable. This case
underscores the ongoing negotiation between modern technologies and traditional
religious frameworks, as societies grapple with the challenges and
opportunities posed by advancements in communication.
As Pakistan and other Muslim-majority
countries continue to confront the complexities of technological integration,
the example of the loudspeaker serves as a reminder of the broader societal
negotiations that take place at the intersection of faith, culture, and
modernity.
