Google using John Lennon's lyrics to Imagine to commemorate his birth!

As-Salāmu `Alaykum (السلام عليكم):

Google used the John Lennon song Imagine above its search engine to commemorate his birth.
(9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980)

What do you think about the impact of this song and the lyrics? The first verse regarding there is no Heaven الجنة(Janna) is Kufr (Disbelief) but is that the message?

Imagine lyrics: http://johnlennon.lyrics.info/imagine.html

What effect does popular culture have on Muslims and what are the tools to shield Muslims from any harmful effects.

Practicing Muslims already know the prohibition of Music so there is no need to continue to repost the below fact.

Surah Luqman 31:6

6. And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e.music, singing, etc.) to mislead (men) from the Path of Allah without knowledge, and takes it (the Path of Allah, the Verses of the Qur'an) by way of mockery. For such there will be a humiliating torment (in the Hell-fire).
(Ph.D. & Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan)

Sahih Bukhari Volume 2, Book 15, Number 72:

Narrated Aisha:

Abu Bakr came to my house while two small Ansari girls were singing beside me the stories of the Ansar concerning the Day of Buath. And they were not singers. Abu Bakr said protestingly, "Musical instruments of Satan in the house of Allah's Apostle !" It happened on the 'Id day and Allah's Apostle said, "O Abu Bakr! There is an 'Id for every nation and this is our 'Id."
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This thread was submitted with the best intentions and the best construction should be used when reading and submitting a constructive response.

Jazakumullahu Khair

I know it is nitpicking, but he did not say that there was no heaven. He was simply asking people to imagine a world where people did not fight over religion or governments or possessions, therefore imagine that there are no countries, no possessions, no heaven or hell.

The message of the song is simply one of trying to imagine a world at peace.

"Imagine" was released at 1971 and became one of the most popular songs in the world. Now after 39 years, there is no any effect of that song lyric to Muslim ummah.

the root problem is, without religion, who really gives a **** ?

Lennon was a lunatic, I didnt like him at all.

While those particular lyrics have had virtually no effect on the world. Perhaps we need to look deeper at music in general and it's impact on all of mankind.

It is pretty well established music sells products. Nearly every commercial has some sort of ditty or song associated with it. At what point does music become a method of brainwashing instead of a simple memory clicker to sell a brand of toothpaste? How much impact do things like National Anthems have on instilling a sense of nationalism among people. How much do patriotic songs contribute to a country becoming an aggressor or people accepting aggression?

Do song lyrics have an effect on developing moral values? Can music lead people away from Islam? Why is music such an integral part of so many religions?

I have no answers, just dropping a few thoughts to think over.

Can music lead people away from Islam?

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Sure. It could also lead people to Islam.

Music is a tool like any other. A hammer can be used to hurt someone or it could be used to build someone a home. The tool itself is neither good or evil.

Lennon was a lunatic, I didnt like him at all.

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I kinda agree with the first half. I think his grip on how reality works was tenuous at best. While I applaud his desire for peace, the methods he thought would help to achieve that peace were a joke and completely out of touch with how the real world works.

i remember an old black eyed peas peace song called "where is the love" which i think was their debut single. at the time being, young and naive, i thought this band was onto something and they might make a difference to the world. next song of theirs is straight back to the old gangster rap. something i always despised. the single was no.1 for quite a while.

in retrospect it appears the song simply played on human emotions to sell....