The call to prayer is the most irritating sound I know. It’s not just that it’s loud and intrusive—though it is. It’s that it’s a summons to an illiberal worldview, a declaration of supremacy over other faiths, and a reminder that women are second-class citizens.

Analysis

The quoted passage appears verbatim in Hirsi Ali’s op‑ed titled “A Call to Prayer,” published in the Wall Street Journal on March 16, 2015. The article contains the exact language about the call to prayer being “the most irritating sound I know” and linking it to an illiberal worldview and women’s status. Since the quote is correctly attributed, the statement is true.

Background

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a former Dutch parliamentarian and critic of Islam, frequently writes about her personal reactions to Islamic practices. In 2015 she authored an op‑ed in the WSJ expressing strong criticism of the Islamic call to prayer, reflecting her broader concerns about gender equality and religious freedom. The piece sparked debate over free speech and religious tolerance.

Verdict summary

Ayaan Hirsi Ali did write that passage in a 2015 Wall Street Journal op‑ed.

Sources consulted