Re: Music is Haraam
Thank you to Osman, Ansar Al-'Adl and Saladin for the links. I found the link Saladin gave to be a particularly helpful guide to understanding the Islamic position regarding music. (Although I'm now convinced there is not
one Islamic position, but many variations on a theme.)
Ansar Al-'Adl said:
Greetings Callum,
Okay, to clarify it is not neccessarily a form of music's chronological position which makes it better or worse. I just pointed out a trend that modern music is getting worse from an Islamic perspective, although this is not true in every case as you pointed out. So many forms of music today are more obviously haraam, but again it still depends on the content.
I now see what you're saying here. The first presentation of this idea that you gave made it seem like a definitive ruling: "Music gets progressively worse, always." I now see that this is really more of a general view, with perhaps a few particular exceptions.
Where is the agreement? The vast majority of muslims would agree that content which is profane and encourages sinful behaviour makes the music haraam. The majority also agree that the singing of a female singer would make the music haraam as well since it would naturally arouse desires in men.
On the first point, it depends what you mean by profane, but I think for the most part we would agree. Most of the noise residing in the pop charts has more to do with commerce than music, which explains its need to rely on base instincts. Although there are some (few) extraordinary works of music being made at present, in my view the most interesting music is usually to be found in the past.
(On the point about female singers, it's interesting that any potential erogenous effect on women by male singers is overlooked...)
But seriously, there are many different types of female vocal music, from the commercial Britney Spears type, to the deep soul of Aretha Franklin or the operatic virtuosity of Maria Callas. While the first may be justifiably accused of arousing (actually
exploiting) male desire, with the other two, any man in the audience with ears would be too bowled over by the sound to even think about sex.
Many Muslims also suggest that music with an agressive tone or beat can alse be considered haraam because it reduce's one's reason and control over themselves (arguably).
Well, rock or dance music might be said to reduce a person's self-control
very slightly, but not usually to the point where it becomes dangerous.
Other Muslims suggest that any form of musical instruments used is not permissable unless it is percussion instruments. Some say that the only percussion instrument allowed is the duff (simple one hand drum). Then there are those who say that it is all forbidden.
There's clearly a variety of opinion here, which I suppose is good to see. As a (non-professional) musician, though, it upsets me to think that any appreciation of instruments could be discouraged in this way. Musicians are able to transmit tremendous ideas without any words at all. It's something remarkable to hear, and it's hard to believe there could something essentially morally wrong with it.
But I would still discourage any form of music since I can't fathom any Muslim who is a devout worshipper of God, yet listening to music.
Let me tell you a story about the most intelligent person I have ever met. He was a close friend of mine at university named Mohammed Mohammed, a Muslim from Sudan, whose family lived in Saudi Arabia. He had an excellent view on life, he had very few possessions, and most importantly was never short of friends. He introduced me to the ideas of Islam, and he and I would have religious debates until the early hours, when we should perhaps have been studying. We discovered we both had a liking for blues music, and particularly the guitarist B B King. In his room, Mo (as we called him) had, as well as his clothes, one book, and one CD. The CD was B B King, and the book, I need hardly tell you, was the Qur'an. He used to get pure joy from listening to the CD, but his main passion was the Qur'an. He used to organise groups of us to sit and listen as he explained the arguments about scientific miracles in the text and so on. Although some of us openly disagreed with much of his thinking, this did not matter to him. He was respected and loved by everyone who met him. He is now a successful doctor in the north of England.
Thanks for the links, Ansar, I'll check them out. I'm familiar with Cat Stevens, pre-reversion, but I'll be interested to hear what he's had to say since then.
I'm much closer to reaching an understanding on Islamic attitudes regarding music, but it's clear there's a huge cultural difference here.
Peace
, but such is life, and well just think about your akhirah...
