The adhan, or the call to prayer, is an important reminder called from the minarets of mosques for Muslims to congregate and perform their prayers.
However, should calls to prayer be reserved for their respective religious buildings? Looking at the Hagia Sophia, the function of the building determines if there are any calls to prayer. In 2020, the Hagia Sophia called the adhan for the first time after 86 years of silence as a museum. It was only when the Hagia Sophia started functioning as a mosque that it began calling the adhan. Similarly, an actively functioning Christian church calling the Muslim adhan confuses the purpose of the church. The request for a church to function as a mosque disagrees with its purpose, and vice versa. 
In choosing to not call the adhan, is the Duke Chapel excluding the Muslim community?
Read Full Article »