Listening to music

[Tango]

I have played in metal and punk bands since I was in my early teens but have gone through periods of cutting music out completely. If you really study music or are heavily involved in it, once you cut it out you can truly see the detrimental effects it has on you. It clouds your thoughts and consumes your mind. It can lead you to act in ways you normally would not and overall it disheartens the soul. I usually do not listen to it any longer unless I am in a social setting with those who have to have it on. Even then, the thought of "background noise" makes me uncomfortable.

Giving up music was challenging at first for me. As I said, I played in a lot of underground bands and also studied music theory and composition in high school and college. It was a big part of my life. However, in hindsight, it was a negative part and I am glad to have cut it out of my life for the most part.

 

[CosmicPathos]

Tango, what instrument were you playing?

Why do you think it was negative part of your past? What about your creativity? Creativity with which you expressed your inner emotions? I do, however, agree that band music or commercial music is not really an "art" but a means to get fame and some celebrity status.

 

[CosmicPathos]

Various Ahadith also clearly prohibit music and the use of musical instruments. Hazrath Abdullah bin Umar (R.A.) reports that once Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) heard the sound of the flute of a shepherd.

Interesting. But what could be so sinister about the rueful tune of a flute? Music coming from flute is just re-arrangement of sound waves by changing the distance between nodes of pressure waves coming from the lungs (you would know this if you know some physics).

 

[Tango]

Tango, what instrument were you playing?

Guitar, bass, and keyboards. I also play banjo, mandolin, and some violin but those were with my family who all play country and folk music. The metal/punk stuff was all electric guitar, bass, and I would play keyboards if a song needed them while recording.

Why do you think it was negative part of your past? What about your creativity? Creativity with which you expressed your inner emotions? I do, however, agree that band music or commercial music is not really an "art" but a means to get fame and some celebrity status.

Well, the major negative aspect was the music I enjoyed led me to various scenes and groups of people that I should not have been involved in. Drugs, sex, alcohol, etc. The actual music itself did not bother me until recently when I began to really focus on my inner self and spirituality. For me, however, the music I made was always a rejection against what I saw as the decadence and decay in the modern world. This inherently lent itself to extreme forms of music. To me, I was using music as an outlet to rebel against everything I hated about the world, which even included the various "activities" that took place within the scene. I realized, while I was an Orthodox Christian, that this sort of rebellion was not the correct means of alleviating the pains of modernity and became very iinterested in Orthodox ascetic practices. This led to a diminishing influence of music on my life and, since my conversion to Islam, it has become almost non-existent.

 

[CosmicPathos]

Well, the major negative aspect was the music I enjoyed led me to various scenes and groups of people that I should not have been involved in. Drugs, sex, alcohol, etc. The actual music itself did not bother me until recently when I began to really focus on my inner self and spirituality. For me, however, the music I made was always a rejection against what I saw as the decadence and decay in the modern world. This inherently lent itself to extreme forms of music. To me, I was using music as an outlet to rebel against everything I hated about the world, which even included the various "activities" that took place within the scene. I realized, while I was an Orthodox Christian, that this sort of rebellion was not the correct means of alleviating the pains of modernity and became very iinterested in Orthodox ascetic practices. This led to a diminishing influence of music on my life and, since my conversion to Islam, it has become almost non-existent.

Certainly good development. But what I gather is you drifted away from music because of the associated activities which did not fell well with you. And that is understandable.

But what about musicians who do none of those activities. All they do is practice, practice, practice. No drugs. No women. Nothing of that sort. We have an ancient flute that is 50,000 years old.

When birds sing, they also sing in beautiful musical voices. Music is around is in nature. When tides hit the rocks on the seashores, that also produces music. When wind blows throw dense trees and when the leaves rustle, that is also music. When wind blows against sand dunes, it also creates rueful musical sounds.

Why specific prohibition on the music that humans produce?

 

[Scimitar]

My fiance was a Musician - played cello and all that stuff. But after reverting to Islam, she gave it all up - and now, she still feels a pang of attachment everytime she hears a cello being played - but she has sacrificed something she loved because it is disliked in Islam, and therefore she will get her reward from Allah... this is what she believes. Sacrifice - an act which Allah loves.

Scimi

 

[CosmicPathos]

and yea I read her story on first page.

It is inspirational that being a musician herself she gave it up. You are one lucky man for having such a fiance.

 

[Tango]

Certainly good development. But what I gather is you drifted away from music because of the associated activities which did not fell well with you. And that is understandable.

But what about musicians who do none of those activities. All they do is practice, practice, practice. No drugs. No women. Nothing of that sort. We have an ancient flute that is 50,000 years ago.

When birds sing, they also sing in beautiful musical voices. Music is around is in nature. Why specific prohibition on the ones that humans produce?

I am very, very new to Islam so I am not sure if I should comment on this, I don't want to talk about something that, religiously, I am not sure of. However, personally, and from my prior experiences, I believe it would have something to do with the "disctraction" of music. Music can have very strange effects on people and can bring forth all kinds of emotions, but ultimately, it serves as a distraction. And in the case of Islam, it is a distraction from Allah, subhanu wa ta'ala, which keeps us from acting correctly or keeping Allah in our minds.

Again, I am very new so I apologize if what I am saying contradicts anything. Those are my personal thoughts.

 

[CosmicPathos]

Tango, I understand.

But partaking in daily life also distracts us from Allah swt. Solving algebra questions also for that brief moment of time get us involved in thinking about maths and forgetting about Allah! Or even reading books distract from zikr of Allah swt. Or any other life activity, unless we make a conscious effort to do zikr of Allah. So I am not sure if distraction argument is a good argument.

But I do agree that music can bring forth weird emotions out of humans. But then watching a beautiful woman on the road can also bring out the worse in humans but we dont ban beauty but rather say its a creation of Allah swt! So on and so forth.

 

[Hulk]

But what about musicians who do none of those activities. All they do is practice, practice, practice. No drugs. No women. Nothing of that sort. We have an ancient flute that is 50,000 years old.

When birds sing, they also sing in beautiful musical voices. Music is around is in nature. When tides hit the rocks on the seashores, that also produces music. When wind blows throw dense trees and when the leaves rustle, that is also music. When wind blows against sand dunes, it also creates rueful musical sounds.

Why specific prohibition on the music that humans produce?

For me, "nature" music is not the same as "human" music. Granted humans are part of nature as well :statisfie. The difference though is that our music would actually take up a significant amount of our memory as compared to nature. It's not that I am trying to go against music, I myself am a six stringer, but we have to criticise every aspect of what we want to inspect even though if we like it. I'm sure you take this approach as well seeing as you are/were a metalhead yourself.

I believe there are definitely musicians who are righteous muslims, they don't partake in things like haram consumption, and all that stuff. But.. being a musician comes with a little baggage. It makes you kind of arrogant, at least that was the case for me and I believe for others as well. The first time you go on stage and perform is already some form of fighting your modesty, and then there are the praises you get.

Music is certainly a very interesting subject because of its ability to "hold" people. Are there good music and bad music? Certainly. I think a large part of it comes down to the listener. A friend of mine told me that he went to a CD shop to check out the songs and this lady in a mini skirt recommended a Maher Zain cd to him. It's so strange! On one hand, Maher Zain might be a righteous muslim with the intention of expressing or sharing his love for the deen through music, on the other hand that is not what others might interpret out of it.

I suppose one way to look at it is to treat a song like a story or narration, it can be subject to an individual's sole interpretation.

Even after we discuss the place of music itself in our deen we still have to think about the permissibility of "instruments".

Maybe a guitar is prohibited but what if a voice makes the sound of a guitar? Would that be prohibited? It is a discussion I would love to have as long as everyone can keep it civil and honest, and of course recognise that we are not scholars but merely learners(inshaAllah).

 

[Marina-Aisha]

music is the hardest for me,i always listen to music i even deteted all on my ipod then i just downloaded all again....

 

[Hulk]

music is the hardest for me,i always listen to music i even deteted all on my ipod then i just downloaded all again....

May I suggest, If you do end up downloading it again then at least you can try narrowing down the genre that you listen to? I am guessing that you listen to them while you are on your commute, or is it when you are at home?

Don't listen to any song with pitbull

 

['Abd Al-Maajid]

Sis, in this hadith what are the arabic words used for musical instruments? Are not our vocal cords also musical instruments?

And I dont consider illegal sex, wearing of silk or drinking of alcohol as lawful. So does this hadith apply to me as I believe in 75% of it?

You should believe 100% of it.
I believe that music is haram, I often tell myself before listening to music that it is haram and if the dajjal appears anytime in my lifetime then I am doomed.

 

['Abd Al-Maajid]

Don't listen to any song with pitbull

Oh! come on, who listens to that crap anyway.

Most of the mainstream artists are crap, it's all about fame for them.

At least one can make an exception and skip listening to female artists, because I read a hadith somewhere that Prophet saws specifically mentioned 'songstress'. I cant find it right now. :hmm:


And I must say that someone from this forum helped me discover the true music...

 

[BadOlPuttyTat]

Odd, music is not so serious for me. Music brings up little emotions simply because i am unemotional :hmm: . Anything distracts you from Allah or making salat. This applies for TV more then music honestly as it takes away your sense of time. But i am very observant of time and i dont find issues with this. Just so you people know music is not a addiction, not even close its a cheap commodity for people now a days. Right now I am listening to Despised Icon and will finish it with some Mussorgsky classics and i will end it with some Edvard Grieg . Afterwards ill pass out asleep lol.....starting now :statisfie.

 

[Hulk]

Oh! come on, who listens to that crap anyway.
Most of the mainstream artists are crap, it's all about fame for them.
At least one can make an exception and skip listening to female artists, because I read a hadith somewhere that Prophet saws specifically mentioned 'songstress'. I cant find it right now.
And I must say that someone from this forum helped me discover the true music...

Bro I have seen people on my FB pride themselves on looking like pitbull! I mean I must admit it's not like he is bad looking or anything but the songs he are on are so annoying! And the lyrics, I once accidentally "understood" what he was saying while a song was on the radio and.. +o(

Its "music" like that that poison the minds of people, and the hilarious thing to me is when an obscene song gets censored. You know like when certain words are removed from the song. As though people can't understand what it still means! It's like watching an obscene movie with the obscene part pixelated.

I mean it "helps" to a minute extent but it still can poison the mind.

Odd, music is not so serious for me. Music brings up little emotions simply because i am unemotional . Anything distracts you from Allah or making salat. This applies for TV more then music honestly as it takes away your sense of time. But i am very observant of time and i dont find issues with this. Just so you people know music is not a addiction, not even close its a cheap commodity for people now a days. Right now I am listening to Despised Icon and will finish it with some Mussorgsky classics and i will end it with some Edvard Grieg . Afterwards ill pass out asleep lol.....starting now

I think music is one thing that different people might perceive differently as I mentioned above. The songwriter might go through hurtful life experiences or whatever to write a song and the listener might just listen to it and go "meh":hmm:. The same also goes with songwriters who can write a song "just for fun" and the person who listens can be greatly affected by it.

The issue is not so much as a momentary distraction but a lingering one, and not even merely that but also a subtle society shaping tool. I know it sounds a bit much but it's what I really believe. It has the ability to create a culture, which itself is a whole other ballgame.

We might not personally be affected but I believe that there are plenty out there who are.

I think TV is something worthy of discussing as well but I personally don't watch much TV so its hard for me to say much about it :hmm: but I am sure it contributes to the same thing music does though maybe in a different way.

To me personally music can be seen as a tool to subtly control your mood, for example if you are working out maybe you want to listen to the soundtrack of 300 to feel like a warrior.

I read a paper somewhere about using music as a tool to control your "mood". On some level it is interesting but it makes me wonder what about the people who don't realise that music has this effect and they think that the mood/emotions/thought they are having are from themselves?

 

[Ali_008]

I have given up music on the whole alhamdulillah, I don't even listen to the so called Islamic songs either. Of course, if there's just the voice and no musical instrument whatsoever then that is a different matter, but I'm refraining from even those rhymes as well. The reason for that is whenever I listen to any song, it gets stuck in my head, and starts playing on loop all day long. Consequently, it affects my salaah as I find the song still playing in my head when I'm in ruku, sujood, and in every position. It doesn't stop even when I'm reciting the Qur'an. I realized the joy of any song is not worth blowing up your aakhirah. That has been my motivation.

And a brother recently told me that those who refrain from listening to music in this world will get to listen to Dawood (AlayhiSalaam) singing in the aakhirah. He said there will be further rewards as well, but I'll tell you only one this because I haven't yet looked up the authenticity of this report.

 

[CosmicPathos]

It makes you kind of arrogant, at least that was the case for me and I believe for others as well. The first time you go on stage and perform is already some form of fighting your modesty, and then there are the praises you get.

Thanks for your input, Hulk.

But this arrogant argument is also not a good one, I must say. I know orthopedic surgeons, Internists, cardiologists ... and many of them are arrogant. High qualifications, worldly success, money, respect from patients and community, also brings with it the baggage of arrogance. But we dont shun medicine and doctors, do we ? Rather in times of need, we rush to them, even if they are kaafirs, gays, homos or atheists!

 

[Hulk]

. I know orthopedic surgeons, Internists, cardiologists ... and many of them are arrogant. High qualifications, worldly success, money, respect from patients and community, also brings with it the baggage of arrogance.

I have seen this on TV but I wasn't sure of how true it is until you said it. Interesting! Thank you for sharing bro. I guess I can't say much about it since I haven't been in the shoes of a surgeon before, I would say that a surgeon's job has benefit as compared to a musician but then again music has its benefits though not necessarily on the same level as surgical knowledge.

 

[~ Sabr ~]

I have given up music on the whole alhamdulillah, I don't even listen to the so called Islamic songs either. Of course, if there's just the voice and no musical instrument whatsoever then that is a different matter, but I'm refraining from even those rhymes as well. The reason for that is whenever I listen to any song, it gets stuck in my head, and starts playing on loop all day long. Consequently, it affects my salaah as I find the song still playing in my head when I'm in ruku, sujood, and in every position. It doesn't stop even when I'm reciting the Qur'an. I realized the joy of any song is not worth blowing up your aakhirah. That has been my motivation.

And a brother recently told me that those who refrain from listening to music in this world will get to listen to Dawood (AlayhiSalaam) singing in the aakhirah. He said there will be further rewards as well, but I'll tell you only one this because I haven't yet looked up the authenticity of this report.

How did you give it up brother?