Sound Horeg and the Governance of Urban Noise in East Java: A Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah and Wasatiyyah Perspective

Abstract

In this study, we analyze sound horegin East Java province in terms of Islamic law based on the maqāṣid al-sharīʿahconcept involving urban areas like Surabaya, Sidoarjo, Kediri, and Madiun along with rural or semi-urban areas including Tapal Kuda by incorporating both the normative approach relying on the Qur’an, hadith, and jurisprudential literature and socio-legal approach by using social media as a source of empirical evidence. It is found that sound horegis used for entertainment purposes widely among people in the province and generates economic benefits at the same time; but the high decibels of sound pollution have negative consequences such as potential harm to health, conflicts within the community, and moral wrongdoing in light of Islamic ethics. From the perspective of maqāṣid al-sharīʿahand wasatiyyah, there exists an intrinsic conflict between the welfare of the community and the safeguarding of the essentials of life, indicating that there is a need for regulation in East Java.