format_quote Originally Posted by
Maarya
:sl:
people say that u shouldn't listen to sami yusuf coz he uses instruments. what do u guys think?:?
salam.
well we've discuss this before but as you are a new i will tell you :)
Songs or music per se are not prohibited in Islam. It has been reported that the Prophet (pbuh) stopped Abu Bakr (ra) when he tried to stop girls from singing and playing a tambourine, on a day of celebration. The Prophet (pbuh) told Abu Bakr (ra) to let the girls celebrate and enjoy. On the other hand, the Prophet (pbuh) is also reported to have condemned the singers and musicians. If seen in the proper context, these two directives of the Prophet (pbuh) are not contradictory.
History tells us that the Arabs were very fond of holding musical gatherings where they used to drink alcohol and their slave girls used to sing and dance for them. Such gatherings obviously had a bad effect on the morals of the audience. It was because of this reason that the Prophet (pbuh), whose basic message was to remind the people of the day when they shall face their Creator and shall be made to answer for all their deeds, condemned such gatherings. On the other hand, where music and singing were just an occasional show of the festive spirit of the people, they were not disallowed by the Prophet (pbuh).
On the basis of the above explanation, it may be said that any activity, which has a bad effect on the morals of a person must be refrained from. It was actually because of this reason that the Prophet (pbuh) condemned such gatherings and the activities that were commonly held there. Therefore, listening to songs and music that do not negatively affect the morals of a person, are not disallowed in Islam.
My dear brother, Islam does not prohibit any entertainment as long as it does not have a bad effect on the desired ethical and moral standards of the individuals. Man, it must be remembered, is being tested in the life of this world. Only those individuals who try to cleanse their souls from all sin shall succeed in the ultimate life. The process and method of cleansing our souls is to fill our hearts and souls with the remembrance of our Creator and our Lord. A person who has fully understood this fact cannot let any entertainment take hold of him to the extent that it makes him negligent and unmindful of his Lord and Creator. Music and all other entertainments are not disallowed in Islam, but a true Muslim never lets any of these activities make him unmindful of his duties towards his Lord as well as his fellow human beings.
w.salam