Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud told a podcast audience that complaints about an amplified mosque call to prayer are "not an issue" when decibel readings comply with local rules. Residents say some broadcasts begin as early as 5:30 a.m.; one neighbor recorded levels above 70 dB over 30 days and has reported the matter to police and city council. The city ordinance sets limits of 55 dB at night and 60 dB during the day, and loudspeaker use is banned between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Neighbors say fear of being labeled Islamophobic has kept some from speaking out.
Dearborn Mayor Says Amplified Call to Prayer Is 'Not an Issue' Amid Neighborhood Complaints
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud told a podcast audience that complaints about an amplified mosque call to prayer are "not an issue" when decibel readings comply with local rules. Residents say some broadcasts begin as early as 5:30 a.m.; one neighbor recorded levels above 70 dB over 30 days and has reported the matter to police and city council. The city ordinance sets limits of 55 dB at night and 60 dB during the day, and loudspeaker use is banned between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Neighbors say fear of being labeled Islamophobic has kept some from speaking out.
12:47 PM, 11/18/2025Politics
Dearborn mayor responds to complaints about mosque loudspeaker broadcasts
Dearborn, Mich. — Mayor Abdullah Hammoud addressed recent neighborhood concerns about a local mosque broadcasting the Islamic call to prayer (adhan) during a Nov. 3 episode of the "Not From Here" podcast, saying the issue is "not an issue" so long as sound levels meet legal limits.
Residents reported that amplified calls began as early as 5:30 a.m. and raised the matter at a September city council meeting. In response, Hammoud said the city has conducted decibel measurements at local mosques and that readings were "within threshold, all within legal limit." He added that the adhan has been part of Dearborn life "since the 1970s."
"We also have to uphold our constitutional rights to freedom of religion," Hammoud said. "If you have a serious concern, I have to uphold the law across all boards."
Podcast host Jaafar Issa noted the timing of complaints ahead of elections; Hammoud did not directly engage that suggestion but reiterated that the practice has long existed in the city.
Noise rules and residents' measurements
The city noise ordinance cited by the mayor sets a maximum of 55 decibels in residential areas at night (after 10 p.m.) and 60 decibels during the day (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.). The ordinance also forbids loudspeaker use between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Longtime Dearborn resident Andrea Unger told reporters she recorded the call to prayer for 30 consecutive days and said the sound consistently exceeded 70 decibels. Unger said she has repeatedly reported the issue to the police department and city council over the past two years without resolution.
Some neighbors, she said, fear speaking up because of concerns about being labeled Islamophobic. "We're not Islamophobic, we're not anti-Muslim, we are not anti-Jewish," Unger told reporters, adding that residents simply want to preserve the character of their community.
Hammoud noted that most mosques in Dearborn do not broadcast the dawn (Fajr) call and compared the adhan to other longstanding community sounds, such as church bells. Reporters contacted the mayor's office for additional comment.
What to watch next
City officials can review citizen decibel data and municipal readings to determine whether any enforcement action is warranted. The conversation highlights a broader balance between protecting religious freedom and addressing neighborhood noise concerns.