The management of the National Mosque in Abuja is set to introduce simultaneous interpretation for Friday Sermons, allowing worshippers to listen to the sermon in their preferred languages using earphones.
Professor Is-haq Oloyede, the Secretary General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), made this announcement on Tuesday at the NSCIA headquarters.
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The initiative follows the unveiling of five newly appointed Imams for the mosque.
Oloyede, who is also a member of the mosque’s management board, explained that the current method of delivering the sermon in multiple languages is time-consuming and limits the effectiveness of the sermon. “We translate the sermon into four languages-English, Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo. We are moving to a level where we will stop doing the translation,” he said. He added that the extended time spent on translations often lengthens the Khutba, reducing the sermon’s impact.
Under the new system, worshippers will be required to bring their headphones to the mosque and tune in to the sermon in their preferred language. “This is where we are moving to, by God’s grace,” Oloyede stated.
To ensure a smooth transition, the mosque management plans to introduce a sensitisation campaign, although the exact launch date for the initiative has not been announced.
Oloyede also took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of maintaining silence during the sermon, a practice that aligns with Islamic teachings. “It is an offence in Islam for people to make noise while the sermon is ongoing,” he noted. “We want to appeal to worshippers to come prepared with earphones and refrain from causing any disruption.”
