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Late Show articles and videos – Music

Music

Obedience of Allah and Submission to Him

• Sensitive topic for some people – but the truth needs to be heard, whether we like it or not.

What we will cover tonight inshallah is:

• What is Music? And what it means in our society today.
• The Music industry, the corporates who control it.
• What Islam says about it.
• Musical instruments and the ‘duff’
• The Lyrics.
• The effects of Music on our youth. Role models etc
• English, American, Bollywood, Lollywood, X factor etc
• The alternatives to music? Nasheeds, Naats, Qawali? Pros and cons.
• Pop culture and Muslim boy bands?
• Quran vs Nasheed.
• Conclusion

What is Music?

• an art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions in significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and color.
• the tones or sounds employed, occurring in single line (melody) or multiple lines (harmony), and sounded or to be sounded by one or more voices or instruments, or both.
• musical work or compositions for singing or playing.
• the written or printed score of a musical composition.
• such scores collectively.
• any sweet, pleasing, or harmonious sounds or sound: the music of the waves.
• appreciation of or responsiveness to musical sounds or harmonies: Music was in his very soul.

The Music Industry

The music industry is driven by profits. The six major corporations that dominate the music industry, Capitol-EMI, CBS, MCA, PolyGram, RCA and Warner, are experiencing problems, partly because of the refusal to allow new acts to become popular over a longer period of time.

The prohibition

The Noble Qur’an – Luqman 31:6

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).

Ibn Masood (ra) said about this verse “I swear by the One other than Whom there is no God that it refers to singing [ghinaa].”, and he repeated this three times. Ibn Abbaas (ra) said it refered to ‘singing and the like’ while Jaabir (ra) is reported to view its meaning to signify singing and listening to songs. Many taabi’oon such as Mujaahid, Ikrimah, Mak-hool and Umar ibn Shu’ayb viewed it as a censure of music and song.
Hadith – Bukhari (#787) [Also related by Tabari]

Sa’id ibn Jbayr reported that Ibn ‘Abbas said about the verse:  ”And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks” (31:6), that, “ldle talks means singing and the like.”

The Noble Qur’an – Al-Isra 17:64

“And Istafiz [literally means: befool them gradually] those whom you can among them with your voice (i.e. songs, music, and other call for Allah’s disobedience)…”

Hadith – Bukhari 7:494

Narrated Abu ‘Amir or Abu Malik Al-Ash’ari that he heard the Prophet saying, “From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks, and the use of musical instruments as lawful.  And (from them), there will be some who will stay near the side of a mountain, and in the evening their shepherd will come to them with their sheep and ask them for something, but they will say to him, ‘Return to us tomorrow.’ Allah will destroy them during the night and will let the mountain fall on them, and Allah will transform the rest of them into monkeys and pigs and they will remain so till the Day of Resurrection.”
The Noble Qur’an – An-Najm 53:57-62

The Day of Resurrection draws near, None besides Allah can avert it, (or advance it, or delay it).  Do you then wonder at this recital (the Qur’an)?  And you laugh at it and weep not, Wasting your (precious) lifetime in pastime and amusements (singing, etc.).  So fall you down in prostration to Allah, and worship Him (Alone).

• ‘Ikrimah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: it was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas that al-sumood [verbal noun from saamidoon, translated here as “Wasting your (precious) lifetime in pastime and amusements (singing)”] means “singing”, in the dialect of Himyar; it might be said “Ismidi lanaa” [‘sing for us’ – from the same root as saamidoon/sumood] meaning “ghaniy” [sing]. And he said (may Allaah have mercy on him): When they [the kuffaar] heard the Qur’aan, they would sing, then this aayah was revealed.
• Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Allah says (interpretation of the meaning) “Wasting your (precious) lifetime in pastime and amusements (singing)” – Sufyaan al-Thawri said, narrating from his father from Ibn ‘Abbaas: (this means) singing. This is Yemeni (dialect): ismad lana means ghan lana [sing to us]. This was also the view of ‘Ikrimah. (Tafseer Ibn Katheer).

Songs which are accompanied by musical instruments or which contain words of love or provoke desire, are undoubtedly haraam.

The prohibition on songs as they exist nowadays, because they include immoral and indecent words, and they include things in which there is nothing good. Indeed, they are full of idle talk and provocation of desire, sexual urges and promiscuity, and softening of the voice in such a way that it tempts the listener to evil. May Allaah help us and you to do that which pleases Him.

The Duff

Use of the “duff” (simple drum) is permitted in Islam for a practical purpose (such as establishing a simple beat for exercise, rowing, and other labors), but not to be done by a Muslim for entertainment or idleness. In such instances, it must not be played as music, such as by enhancing rhythm, whistling a tune and whatnot. Ibn al-Qayyim said in Ighaathat al-Lahfaan (1/256) that the prohibition against the use of instruments refers to “all kinds of things used for entertainment.”

According to the Sunnah, females can sing and beat the duff on the two ‘Eids (specific Muslim celebrations) and to announce a Muslim wedding amongst themselves, and their voices shouldn’t be raised loud enough or near enough to be heard by the men.

Narrated Urwa on the authority of Aisha

“On the days of Mina, (11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah) Abu Bakr came to her while two young girls were beating the tambourine (daff) and the Prophet was lying covered with his clothes. Abu Bakr scolded them. The Prophet uncovered his face and said to Abu Bakr, “Leave them, for these days are the days of ‘Id and the days of Mina.”

[Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol.2 Hadith No.987]

The Noble Qur’an – An-Najm 53:57-62

The Prophet came to me after consuming his marriage with me and sat down on my bed as you (the sub-narrator) are sitting now, and small girls were beating the duff* and singing in lamentation of my father who had been killed on the day of the battle of Badr. Then one of the girls said, “There is a Prophet amongst us who knows what will happen tomorrow.” The Prophet [saaws] said (to her),”Do not say this, but go on saying what you have spoken before.”

* duff /daff- a one-sided drum made of animal skin.

The Noble Qur’an – Al-Ahzab 33:32
O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allâh), then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery, etc.) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honourable manner.

With regard to the tabl drum and other musical instruments, it is not permissible to use them with these nasheeds, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his companions (may Allaah be pleased with them) did not do that.

The Alternative

It is permissible, as an alternative to these songs, for you to listen to Islamic nasheeds which include wisdom, exhortation and words that promote enthusiasm and protective jealousy for Islam, and stir up Islamic feelings, and put one off evil and the things that lead to it, to motivate the one who “sings” the nasheeds and the one who listens to them to obey Allaah and deter them from sin and transgressing the sacred limits of Allaah, and encourage them to live life within the framework of sharee’ah and to strive in jihad for His sake. But he should not regard that as a “wird” that he must adhere to, or a habit in which he engages on a continual basis, rather it should be something that he listens to from time to time on appropriate occasions when there is a need for it, such as at weddings, when travelling for jihad, and so on, or when he is feeling listless and needs something to revive his spirits and encourage him to do good, or when he feels inclined towards evil so he listens to it to deter himself from it.

Even better than that is committing oneself to reasing a portion of Qur’aan on a daily basis, or a wird of dhikrs that are narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). That is purer for his soul and is more effective in bringing comfort to the heart. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Allaah has sent down the Best Statement, a Book (this Qur’aan), its parts resembling each other (in goodness and truth) (and) oft‑repeated. The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it (when they recite it or hear it). Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allaah. That is the Guidance of Allaah. He guides therewith whom He wills; and whomever Allaah sends astray, for him there is no guide”

[al-Zumar 39:23]

“Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allaah — Islamic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allaah verily, in the remembrance of Allaah do hearts find rest.

29. Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allaah — Islamic Monotheism), and work righteousness, Tûbâ (all kinds of happiness or name of a tree in Paradise) is for them and a beautiful place of (final) return”

[al-Ra’d 13:28, 29]

The way of the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) was to pay particular attention to the Qur’aan and Sunnah, memorizing it, studying it and acting upon it. Along with that they also had nasheeds and chants which they would recite, such as when digging the ditch and building mosques, and when travelling for jihad, and on other such occasions, without making that their habit or focusing all their attention on it; it was simply something with which they would relax occasionally or stir their emotions.

Poetry is also permitted, but it must not contain shirk (the major sin of associating a partner in worship with Allah, i.e. trinity, major or minor shirk, etc.).

You should remember Allaah a great deal (dhikr) and read Qur’aan; set yourself a daily wird to memorize and review. Also keep yourself busy listening to some lessons and lectures, because this is the best means of reducing the amount of nasheed you listen to, and making use of your time with something that is beneficial and useful.

The Quran vs Nasheed

It is very unfortunate that the one who listens to nasheed a great deal finds it difficult to read Qur’aan or even to listen to it; this is something harmful which should not be taken lightly. Even if the harm is only causing him to miss out on a great deal of reward, that is should be sufficient deterrent for the people of faith from becoming attached to nasheeds and always listening to them.

It is well known that if a believer spends an hour reading Qur’aan, thousands of hasanaat will be recorded for him, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever reads one letter of the Book of Allaah will have one hasanah for that, and a hasanah brings a tenfold reward. I do not say that alif-laam-meem is a letter, rather alif is a letter, laam is a letter, meem is a letter.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2910; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.

One hour is sufficient to read twenty pages of Qur’aan, in which there are no less than nine thousand letters.

How can a person let listening to nasheeds distract him from listening to the Book of Allaah and reciting it?

Strive to reduce the amount of time you spend listening to these nasheeds as much as you can, so that you only listen to them during weddings, Eid and so on, and make the best use of your time so that you may rise in status. Soon, by Allaah’s leave, you will find delight in reading Qur’aan, and the joy of worship and the sweetness of faith, with the words of the Most Merciful.
Muslim Behaviour at Nasheed concerts

The reason I am expressing concern is that just a few days ago at a venue in Central London, sisters went wild in the aisles as some form of pop-mania swept through the concert venue. And I’m not just talking about silly, little girls who don’t know any better; I am talking about sisters in their 20′s, 30′s and 40′s, who squealed, shouted, swayed and danced. Even the security guys who looked more like pipe cleaners than bulldozers were left looking dazed and confused as they tried to stop hijabi sisters from standing on their chairs.

Of course the stage groupies did not help at all as they waved and encouraged the largely female Muslim crowd to “get up and sing along.” (They’re called ‘Fluffers’ in lap-dancing circles!)

Muslim boy bands

Islamic boy bands like 786 and Mecca 2 Medina are also the subject of the sort of female adulation you expect to see on American Pop Idol or the X-Factor. Surely Islamic events should be promoting restrained and more sedate behavior.

Conclusion

Music usually intoxicates a person and takes one away from the path of Allah (swt). Music engages a person’s mind and takes him/her away from the remembrance of his/her Creator and from realizing and focusing his/her attention on the purpose of his/her creation. In musical songs, most of the times the listeners even appreciate illogical, incorrect and blasphemous matter and content. A person will realize this when he starts pondering over the meaning of many Hindi and English songs, lyrics and ghazals. Here we find that it is because of music that the person’s mind is intoxicated and the person deviates from the straight path. And Allah Knows the Best.

If music is not another plot of shaitaan to take us away form the remembrance of allah then I don’t know what is!

More articles on Music

Fatawa on Music

Nasheeds as pop culture

The reality of Music

September 4, 2009 - Posted by Abu-Tayeb Khairdeen | Uncategorized