Thats a really good reply. Although I agreed with Sr. Yvonne Ridley on several points in her initial article, there was a lot of things she said that she could instead have not said. With regards to Br. Sami Yusuf, although i don't agree with him on music being halal, he has a valid point in saying there is ikhtilaf amongst the scholars, there is no clear concensus.
Some will ban music outright, even most nasheeds,
some say nasheeds are ok as long as only duff is used,
some say its ok as long as no stringed instruments,
some say music is allowed as long as the substance of the song is islamic, ie talking about the greatness of Allah SWT or sending Blessings on the Prophet SAW,
and then there are even some who say all music is allowed as long as it doesn't talk about inislamic things like drugs girls etc
Anyway these are the observations i've come accross on common opinions held by various scholars. So Sami Yusuf has a valid point saying we should respect the difference of opinions, as difference of opinions are allowed amongst scholars, it is how the various madhahib arose, and even during the time of the Prophet SAW on various occasions the Sahaabah differed on issues, and the Prophet SAW would say to both differeing groups you both are right, showing clearly difference of opinion is allowed. So if we don't agree with Sami Yusufs views we should still have adab and respect the opinion he is following. Too often i hear scholars say "Music is haraam, if someone tells you music isn't haraam he is lieing to you" Subhanallah accusing other scholars of lieing on such issues
Anyway my own opinion is there is doubt in this matter so why not take the safe option. islam has given us so many options, that we don't need to take from doubtful matters when he have clear halal alternatives. Artists like Kamal Uddin don't even use a duff, masha'allah he only talks about the greatness of Allah and sends blessings on the Prophet SAW. In his albums he also includes du'as and verses from the Qur'an, so when we have a clear halal alternative, why take the doubtful matter?
However, Sr Yvonne did have good points in her initial arrticle that too many people are focussing on nasheeds and not enough on Qur'an. Nasheeds is almost taking over and enetering out hearts, wheras it should be the Qur'an in our heart, and nasheeds should only be used sparingly now and then. i know myself i am too guilty of this. I hope though this doesn't turn into rebuttals over the net, and Sr Yvonne makes a reply, then Br sami makes another reply and it keeps going. it's not very good for unity purposes to be arguing over such little issues. Instead maybe they should just speak to each other in person, or communicate by email rather than in public. Besides, i don't think Sr Yvonne can really say anything in reply to Sami Yusufs reply, it's insha'allah a closed amtter now
