UAE Kitten

[mood: neutral]
[craving: peace]
I posted this topic a few months ago in one of the forums, and I am bringing it up again due to its importance:
Once upon a time, “Athan” was something we heard 5 times a day whereever we are in the country..Today, however, the case is different..Not that the masjids stoped calling for prayers.. but there are ‘distractions’ that weren’t around few years ago, and I am talking about the media.. and the FM specifically.. When it first started.. there was a break for ‘Athan’ when it was time.. then later.. we began hearing some kind of flute playing.. (o’3neeyat al-athan as the kids used to call it *ast’3far Allah* but its true).. then today.. its completely ignored.. Yes.. No sign of any prayer times.. or that this stations is broadcasted from a respected muslim country.. Even if you don’t listen to FM, they still play it in public places like the Mall.. Loud music and dance songs during the Athaan, without even giving it the slightest bit of respect.. You hear “Jawad” screaming like a girl whoes pony tail is stuck somewhere, in what they call “music”, muffling away the calls for prayer and still people clap and sing along to his “noise”.. You walk in the Marina Mall, and suddenly its Ma’3reb, but you won’t guess until you go outside and see the orange sky, or look at your watch.. if you know the athan time.. But if you did neither, you would hear the FM playing normally as usual, or shops cramming out the music carelessly..
Did we reach a point, where our belief in Islam has been taken for granted?! What happened to the moments of silence and spirituallity as we hear the calls for prayers? Calls for prayers, five times a day.. how long does it take.. 5 mins? 7 mins? Can’t the music be turned off, if not down for these few mins..?! Can’t people pretend to at least have respect??!
Maybe just like many of our values and beliefs, “Athan” is not considered trendy anymore..!? *ast’3fr Allah*
I can think of for now, is to at least advice people about it, and conserve the respect *if any is left*..Here are few points you can do to help:
1) Switch off the FM, radio or whatever music you have on during athan prayer- If they have no respect, at least you do..
2) If you are out in the mall, and you heard the athan, kindly ask the shopkeepers to turn down the music during Athan..
3) Try to spread the word about this to raise more awareness.. oo inshAllah Allah yrzggekom el-ajjar
p.s. This post does not target any specific FM station- you would know which ones I mean anyways.

[Final whisper: If you have any more suggestions...plz share..]