Mosques in Preston will be able amplify the Azaan or call to prayer for Eid.

Ramadan ended this week and some are marking the Eid festival on Friday (April 21) whilst others will celebrate on Saturday.

Having received a formal request from the Muslim faith representative on the Preston Faith Covenant Group, the council agreed to allow all mosques located within the authority boundaries to amplify externally the Azaan on the sighting of the new moon as part of the celebrations of Eid.

The council have requested that all mosques be sensitive to neighbouring residents and to ensure that the volume is set at a level that will not cause any undue disturbance.

The call to prayer was previously amplified externally during lockdown.

Chief Executive of Preston City Council, Adrian Phillips said, “We would like to pass on our best wishes to all Preston mosques, and for when it arrives, Eid Mubarak to our residents who will be celebrating this weekend.”

Muktar Master, the Muslim Faith Covenant representative for Preston said, “I am proud to live in a city where we are able to live and work together with respect for each other’s beliefs and customs. Amplifying the Adhan/Call to Prayer is symbolic of the support we have from the wider community and I wish everyone celebrating a very happy Eid Mubarak.”

Preston City Council was the first district council and the 12th place in the UK to sign up to a Faith Covenant back in June 2018, which aims to raise the profile of voluntary, community, faith groups and faith sectors in the city to empower, enable and promote cohesion and inclusion and mobilise social action.