A Turkish audio engineer’s journey to perform Umrah in 1997 turned into a remarkable decade-long mission to improve the sound system of Masjid-e-Nabawi in Madinah.
Ahmad Tekin Topuzdag, a specialist in audio engineering, noticed that the mosque’s sound system suffered from excessive echo, feedback and unclear audio. These problems made it difficult for worshippers to hear the Imam’s recitation clearly in different areas of the mosque.
Rather than ignoring the issue, Topuzdag approached mosque officials and offered his technical expertise. He was initially allowed to test his ideas in one section of the mosque. The results were encouraging, leading to a much larger responsibility.
Over the following ten years, he worked to upgrade the mosque’s audio system, replacing and adjusting microphones, speakers, cables and other equipment. He also helped improve sound distribution across different areas, reduce unwanted echoes and ensure that the Imam’s voice could be heard more clearly during prayers.
His work extended beyond Masjid-e-Nabawi to include the sound system at Masjid al-Haram in Makkah. The project required careful planning because of the size and architectural features of the holy mosques, which presented unique acoustic challenges.
Before returning to Türkiye, Topuzdag also shared his knowledge by training Saudi engineers and technicians to maintain and manage mosque audio systems.
What began as a technical problem he noticed during a religious journey eventually became a long-term contribution to two of Islam’s holiest sites. His story demonstrates how professional expertise, initiative and dedication can create a lasting benefit for millions of worshippers.
