Art and Culture Music 1.

(Allah has sent down the Best Statement, a Book, its parts resembling each other (and) oft-repeated. The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it. Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allah) (39:23). He connect that with mention of the doomed, those who turn away from the Qur'an and do not benefit from hearing the Words of Allah. Instead, they turn to listening to flutes and singing accompanied by musical instruments. As Ibn Mas`ud commented about the Ayah: (And of mankind is he who purchases Lahu Al-Hadith to mislead (men) from the path of Allah), he said, "This -- by Allah -- refers to singing.'' (And of mankind is he who purchases Lahw Al-Hadith to mislead (men) from the path of Allah without knowledge, ) Qatadah said: "By Allah, he may not spend money on it, but his purchasing it means he likes it, and the more misguided he is, the more he likes it and the more he prefers falsehood to the truth and harmful things over beneficial things.'' It was said that what is meant by the words (Tafsir Ibn Kathir) [Lawh Al-Hadith indicates idle talk]

But there are, among men, those who purchase idle tales, without knowledge (or meaning), to mislead (men) from the Path of Allah and throw ridicule (on the Path): for such there will be a Humiliating Penalty. (Quran 31:06)

2. And fool them gradually those whom you can among them with your voice, Lead to destruction those whom thou canst among them, with thy (seductive) voice; make assaults on them with thy cavalry and thy infantry; mutually share with them wealth and children; and make promises to them." But Satan promises them nothing but deceit. (Quran 17:64) It was said that this refers to singing. Mujahid said, "With idle entertainment and singing,'' meaning, influence them with that. Ibn Abbas said, "Every caller who calls people to disobey Allah.'' This was the view of Qatadah, and was also the opinion favoured by Ibn Jarir. (Tafsir ibn Kathir)

3. Narrated by 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. (Sahih Bukhari 69:494)

4. This hadeeth indicates in two ways that musical instruments and enjoyment of listening to music are haraam. The first is the fact that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: [they] permit which clearly indicates that the things mentioned, including musical instruments, are haraam according to shareeah, but those people will permit them. The second is the fact that musical instruments are mentioned alongside things which are definitely known to be haraam, i.e., zinaa and alcohol: if they (musical instruments) were not haraam, why would they be mentioned alongside these things? (adapted from al-Silsilah al-Saheehah by al-Albaani, 1/140-141) 5. It was narrated that Naafi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Ibn Umar heard a woodwind instrument, and he put his fingers in his ears and kept away from that path. He said to me, O Naafi, can you hear anything? I said, No. So he took his fingers away from his ears and said: I was with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and he heard something like this, and he did the same thing. (Saheeh Abi Dawood). Some insignificant person said that this hadeeth does not prove that musical instruments are haraam, because if that were so, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would have instructed Ibn Umar (may Allaah be pleased with them both) to put his fingers in his ears as well, and Ibn Umar would have instructed Naafi to do likewise! The response to this is: He was not listening to it, but he could hear it. There is a difference between listening and hearing. Shaykh al-Islam (Ibn Taymiyah) (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Concerning (music) which a person does not intend to listen to, there is no prohibition or blame, according to scholarly consensus. Hence blame or praise is connected to listening, not to hearing. The one who listens to the Quraan will be rewarded for it, whereas the one who hears it without intending or wanting to will not be rewarded for that, because actions are judged by intentions. The same applies to musical instruments which are forbidden: if a person hears them without intending to, that does not matter. (al-Majmoo, 10/78).

(See also: Quran 53:59-61, Tafsir al-Tabari 21/40, Tafseer al-Sadi, 6/150, Sunan al-Bayhaqi, 1/221)

Apologist counter 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]

Narrated by Abu Musa That the Prophet said to him' "O Abu Musa! You have been given one of the musical wind-instruments of the family of David.' [Sahih Bukhari 61:568] Counter The exception extends only to the daff, that too only on particular occasions as determined by scholars (alMawsooah al-Fiqhiyyah, 38/169). The ahadith record only three exceptions: Eid (al-Bukhaari, 944), marriage (al-Bukhaari, 4852) and returning of someone who was away (al-Tirmidhi, 3690). Also to be noted is that daff playing is permitted for women Shaykh Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) made allowances for certain types of musical instruments at weddings and the like, and he made allowances for women to play the daff at weddings and on other joyful occasions. But the men at his time did not play the daff or clap with their hands. It was narrated in al-Saheeh that he said: "Clapping is for women and tasbeeh (saying Subhaan Allaah) is for men." And he cursed women who imitate men and men who imitate women.

Also it doesnt matter much what David was given because Allahs rules change. The example of prohibition of alcohol shall aptly justify this.

Conclusion Islam prohibits use of musical instruments except daff. There are explicit prohibitions on wind, percussion and stringed musical instruments. Theres no prohibition on singing without instruments though the songs must not talk about un-Islamic things. Indeed Muhammad himself was known to sing and war songs were exalted.

PRACTICALITY As on other matters, opinions among general Muslims vary. Some will accept only religious songs without instruments. Some will accept drums but no other instruments and yet others will allow any instrument as long as the lyrics arent un-Islamic or haram or associated with haram accts (as the music in parties where it may be accompanied with drinking/sexual activity). Well analyze perception of music among muslim communities under three headings: The use of music in war (i.e.-military bands), folk/traditional music and modern music.