Muslims
& Music
There is not a single verse in the Holy Quraan that forbids music, yet by picking faults on Qawali music, some people have deviously created divisions (fitna) in the Muslim community so as to eventually destroy Islam…. The Rabbiul Awwal Special takes a deeper look at music in the light of our Holy Scriptures
Music is like any language in that we can read, write and verbalize it. The only difference is that language is applicable to the intellect while music, like love and knowledge, is applicable to the heart and soul. Because it is connected to the heart and soul, music is something we feel and experience and it’s not something we can explain or understand.
Music is not restricted to musical instruments only. If we have to read the Holy Quraan or a naath in a melodious voice then we are actually making music. We are using musical notes.
If someone has to sing the musical notes “sa-re-ga-ma-pa-da-ne-sa” then a musician would be able
to play those notes on any musical instrument such as a keyboard, trumpet, guitar etc. So if we read anything in a melodious voice then a musician would be able to copy our melody. In other words our mouths are like musical instruments and we can beautify what comes out of it by making it melodious.
The Prophet Salal-lahu Alayhe wasallam has said: “Allah had not sent any Prophet without sweet sound.” He also said that if a man recites the Quraan with sweet sound, Allah hears his recitation more than one hears the songs of his female singers.
Singing Allah’s praises is also mentioned in the Quraan 110:3 and “…and we subdued the hills and the birds to hymn (singing praises to Allah) along with Dawaud (AS)” 21:79 (Pickthall translation). (see also note 2733 in the Yusuf Ali translation). Birds will sing Allah’s praise not like the way we do with our mouths, but more like the way we do with musical instruments.
Singing or reading a naath in a melodious voice is a part of music.
When it comes to musical instruments then the Holy Quraan mentions the blowing of the trumpet to cause the world to end and also to resurrect the dead later. This is the power of melody… the world listening to it would just shut down and when the other tune is played then the dead takes on life.
Our Spiritual Guide (RA) gave the following example to show how natural and pure it is for humans to like music: A child is free from prejudice and is pure. When a child listens to music one would notice that a child responds to it no matter what language or what song is being played. He explained that this is so because the soul of the child is reminded of the occasion when Allah asked all the souls: “Am I not your Lord?” When they heard His melodious voice and when they heard the heavenly hymns sung by the angels, they danced in ecstasy.
Yes! Music is naturally associated with dancing. Together, under the right circumstances, they take a person to ecstasy so that he may experience pure joy. It is for this reason that the Aulia Allah recommends the movement of the head and the swaying of the body when making the Zikir of Allah.
There are some types of “Zikir” that are conducted while people move or shall I more appropriately say, dance in a circle to the “Zikir” of Allah. The Rumi silsila is known for the whirlwind dance where listeners to “sama” whirl in circles while listening to music. The whirling dervishes.
Imaam Gazzali (RA) in his opening paragraph on music states:
“Heart is the seat of secret wealth and it is the invaluable mine of jewels… Melodious songs take out what is hidden in heart and creates wonderful feelings.”
These feelings are described elsewhere in his book as “Wajed” or ecstasy. Heart as we all know, is associated with love, and music brings out these feelings of love. Music is the balm of the heart and the ritual of lovers who are filled with emotions on hearing the name of the Companion.
In this same chapter, Imaam Gazzali proves, using hadith, that it is permissible to play music to motivate warriors in battle, to play music during the festive periods such as Eid, marriage etc., to sing songs that make one seek repentance for his misdeeds etc.
He also states that it is forbidden if it brings about evil such as inciting drinking, or inciting fornication. He even discusses the hadith where the Prophet Salal-lahu Alayhe wasallam is reported to have said that he was sent down to destroy musical instruments. This hadith is to be taken in context, ie. With regards to wine drinking.
In short, if music is played to lead us astray (Like music in a disco) then it is forbidden, but if music is played on happy occasions and if it teaches us good and reminds us of Allah, then it is permissible.
Everything in Islam is judged according to intentions, even good deeds. If we do good deeds with bad intentions, then these deeds are useless.
The late doctor, Moulana Abbas Khan, quoted the following verse from the Quraan showing the impact that Qawalie has on the listener:
“…because among these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant. And when they listen to the revelation received by their messenger, thou will see their eyes overflowing with tears, for they recognize the truth: They pray: “Our Lord! We believe, write us down among the witnesses.” Sura Al Maida 5:83
It would be unfair to present a one-sided view on music, because the truth about the matter is that there are varying views by great Islamic scholars with regards to the permissibility of music. Just as one can quote hadith and Islamic scholars stating that it is forbidden, one can just as easily quote hadith and other great scholars stating that it is permissible.
Perhaps the state of this affair is as it is because the benefits of qawali music cannot be explained, but it can only be experienced, and that too by disciples of a spiritual guide of the Chistia Order. What is important however, is that both views need to be respected. It is relatively too small an issue when compared to our similarities. It is a petty issue when we compare it to the challenges that we are facing in these modern times. It is a futile issue because no one is going to win this argument. All we will be able to achieve by arguing and fighting over this matter is disunity, and this is a great sin.
Remember, shaitaan loves to cause disunity amongst us and it’s easy to end up fighting, but to unite and build relationships is difficult and this is what Islam teaches, to be a united—’ummah.’ So let’s stop this ‘bidat’ story, and try to build bridges instead.
If we cannot reach consensus on this issue, and we most likely will not, then why do we not leave this decision to Allah and stop using this to create divisions amongst ourselves?
“Whatever it be wherein you differ, the decision thereof is with Allah. Such is Allah my Lord: In Him I trust and to Him I turn.” Al Qur’an, 42:10
End.
Some famous Muslim musicians are listed below:
Ustaad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mohammed Rafi, Ustaad Bismillah Khan, the Sabri Brothers, and many more.
Author: Mohammed Hassan Gaffoor.
You can contact him on WhatsApp: +27 84 910 1486
Follow our YouTube, TikTok and Instagram to see what we’re up to.
Home.