Thoughts on Music in Islam

ﺒﺴﻤ ﺎﷲ ﻠﺮﺤﻤﻦ ﻠﺮﺤﻳﻤ

The topic of music in Islam is a very sticky one. I have been meaning to write about it for a long time, but kept putting it off – as a revert I didn’t feel clear on what opinion I followed. But then I listened to a programme on CII radio this morning in which the harms of music were discussed. As much as I found it difficult to take in what was being taught – that music was haraam – I could not help agreeing that it would be better to take the safe road and abstain.

I can sympathise with many Muslims who raise their voices at the prohibition of music: “But surely music is ok if there is no lustful and violent lyrics? What about relaxing music with nature sounds? What about songs where they sing about lawful things, like saving the earth? What about good songs – even Islamic ones – when there are women singing? And classical music? Is that also supposed to be forbidden? How could Islam want to take all our fun away?....”

It does seem so doesn’t it? Many Muslims feel that as long as the music concerned has no bad lyrics or instrumental strains which tug at our passions, it is acceptable. It does sound reasonable enough. Yet there is such a thin line between what is allowed and what is not. Strictly speaking, music with good Islamic themes promoting virtue and faith are permitted. There must be no musical instruments except a hand drum (daff), and women cannot sing to a male audience – ruling out all recording on CD’s and radio, because the chance of men listening is very great.

Instead of getting into more tangled debates, perhaps we should ask ourselves why these various prohibitions on music have been put there in the first place. Music is a very potent influence and can lead to so many evils in society – hypocrisy of the heart, preference of music over recitation of the Qur’an, lust, violence, following fashions of the unbelievers, forgetfulness of Allah Ta’ala, our Nabi SAW and our Deen… It sounds frightening how easily we could slip; that Shaytaan could so easily deceive us as he promised Allah Ta’ala he would. Would we be included in the “chosen few” on the Day of Qiyaamah if we become lenient with some things? As it is said: Give the devil a crack in the door and he will put his foot in…

In my own life, I can vouch for the effects music has on the soul – it is extremely powerful. When I suffered from depression, I found an outlet in listening to music, but it did little to heal my pain; it just externalised my passions, perpetuating what I felt. It is a very palpable force – one which could be quite dangerous at times. Listening to rock or heavy metal music – it makes one aggressive and violent; listening to romance – one feels lust or sentimental longing; listening to patriotic music – one could become nationalistic, which could possibly even lead to racism in extreme cases. Listening to passionate music, one could become passionate. In the end, the harms seemed to outweigh the benefits of listening to relaxing music.

After all the confusion I had on whose opinion to follow, I found myself becoming more clearer on the controversial issue of music when I heard the Moulana on the radio programme relate the following: that we give up the enjoyment of music in this life for the sake of pleasing Allah Ta’ala.

When I heard this it reminded me of what the Qur’an taught about alcohol and games of chance: that there is both good and harm in it, but the harm far outweighs the good, so abstain (cf. Sura Al-Baqarah 2:219). It is said that in Jannah there are several rivers, one being of wine which would not intoxicate us the way it would on earth. We would be wearing silk – not only women, but men as well – and we would be eating and drinking out of gold utensils. In other words, we would be enjoying all those things forbidden to us in this life: wine, silk (for men), gold and silver utensils. We would give these up in this life for the pleasure of Allah SWT, and receive an even greater reward; one which is free from all harms. In Jannah, wine will not harm us, there will be no zina (lust and fornication) or drunkenness, there will be no jealousy and rivalry. The pleasures will not lead us to sin, as they could do in this life.

All the things Islam has taught were forbidden or disliked – alcoholic drinks and other intoxicants, excessive luxury like silk for men and gold and silver utensils, casting aside the hijab, as well as music – were all for a very good reason: to protect us. It is true that there would be some benefit in them, but it is also true that the harm would be greater. Allah Ta’ala, as our Creator, knows how we love pleasure, but also how it could lead us to excess and distract us from remembering Him.

We are put here on earth as a test: how will we fare? Will we remember, hear and obey our Lord? Or will we just dismiss His warnings as insignificant? Will we justify ourselves by saying that we are individuals and can control our passions before they harm the greater society? Or will we realise that all these laws are for the good of all society? As beautiful and relaxing as music can be, it is worth it to give up the small benefits for a greater reward in the Aakhirah.

Islam is a Deen which considers the ‘other’, the Shari’ah is a Law which is aimed at the collective good of all society, rooting out anything which could lead us to sin and forget our Creator. We as individuals may feel a little frivolity is harmless – but will our children grow up one day, follow our example and commit it in excess? Or will others around us be influenced, imitate us and go off the Straight Path? It is not worth the risk. It is better to be safe than sorry…

And Allah knows best.

I make du’aa that Allah Ta’ala guide us all to collective consideration; to unselfish sacrifice and to a greater Imaan and Taqwa, ameen.

Salaam

Saadiqah

(*