Vuvuzela Fatwa: United Arab Issues Religious Edict

by Jordan Yerman | July 9, 2010 at 11:19 am

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United Arab Emirates Decrees Fatwa Against Vuvuzelas

The United Arab Emirates' General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments has issued a fatwa against vuvuzelas (Fatwa 11625).

The decree, which forbids adherents from using vuvuzelas that are louder than 100 decibels, comes a bit late in the World Cup 2010 tournament, as only two matches remain.

What with overly loud vuvuzelas (i.e. all of them) being haram (forbidden by Islamic law), local business owners' plans to import the plastic horns has been shot down. Indeed, the edict was ordered as a response to the migration of vuvuzelas from South Africa to the Emirates, and the powers that be did not want the plastic horns to become a fixture at local soccer matches.

More on the UAE's fatwa (religious legal opinion) process here.

If they are loud enough to damage hearing, vuvuzelas are haram. According to fatwa number 11625, the horns can be used only in stadiums if they pose no harm.

"However,” the ruling declares, “importers and traders ... must ensure that its power is not over 100 decibels so as to avoid damaging people’s hearing.”

The vuvuzela, being a simple plastic horn, has no controls: there is no manufacturer-guaranteeable volume limit.

The Emirates-based source above does not mention what the punishment, if any, would be for anyone caught blowing an "overly noisy" vuvuzela.