Islam and Music?

Hey everyone,

One of the most often debated issues is music and Islam. There are like so many opinions as to what is permissible and what isn't. A Sunni will tell you one thing, and a Sufi will tell you another. A Muslim in the UK will tell you one thing, a Muslim in Bangladesh will tell you one. There are black Muslims who sing rap Islamic songs, and there those in the Eastern world who shun music of all kinds. It is no doubt a debatable issue.

I think for me, music is allowed, as long as it is within boundaries. There are two things that you cannot let happen with music. It should not distract you enough to keep you away from your prayers and your focus on God, and secondly, it should not contain lyrics that can contribute to a person's nature to be corrupt. I mean, I do not listen to music which glorifies sex and eroticism. I do not listen to rappers who talk about girls in a very degrading manner. They talk about girls as if they are objects created purely for men's desire. I hate those kind of songs. Then, I don't listen to those songs that can make you go into a trance. I remember watching a TV programme one time on Sufism, and the music and the chanting was so effective, that I almost literally went into a trance. So, I mean, everyone knows their boundaries and limits, and so everyone can be their own judge as to what they can and what they cannot listen. I basically don't listen to music that go against my principles of what's right and what's wrong. What may be unacceptable to me, may very well be acceptable to someone else, so my theory may not apply to you.

I am going to give you three examples. One is a Pakistani singer, Junaid Jamshed, who made pop music very popular in the early 90s. His one song, Dil Dil Pakistan has reached to such popular heights people sing it like it is the national anthem. He made a lot of music, and in the latte part of the 90s, when he split up with his group, he became extremely popular by going solo. Somewhere along the road, he found Islam, and thus started to keep a beard and wear trousers above his ankles. He continued to sing songs, love songs, on TV and stages whilst he had a huge beard. He claimed that he does not approve of music, and he was only singing now because he had a contract to fulfill. Yeah, like you uphold the contract higher than the Islamic ruling.

The other person, Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Islam), has shunned his life of a rock star when he became a Muslim. He went low for a while, and then re-emerged singing and making new music. In fact, the above website claims that his new song "holds the promise of a fantastic return to secular music." I had a chance to observe him talk one time when he came to my university campus. Half way through, he started singing some of his own songs, which he had produced when he was a Christian. Some of the more Islamic students actually got up and left the hall. They were offended. But Cat Stevens sang his songs, and even produces music. In fact, there are two songs that I have of him on my iPod: Mother Father Brother Sister and I Have No Cannons That Roar. They are amazing songs.

I am sure you all must have heard of Sami Yusuf as well. His song on the Prophet (pbuh) is extremely popular. In fact, the owner of the internet cafe from where I am typing this plays it all the time. Yusuf is another example of a Muslim, making songs with music. I remember when I was at the gym in Jeddah, and Sami Yusuf's song was playing on the TV. One of the guy there got really offended and actually left the room. He claimed that it was wrong for a Muslim to sing about the Prophet (pbuh) in like a proper song format with music and all. I was like, "well, if it is music that is not corrupting you in your nature, and is actually encouraging you to be more Islamic, what's wrong with that?" His reply: "it's music and its haraam!"

From Ahmed's article on the emergence of an Arabic pop video involving a Muslim girl, in a hijab, dancing along with the male singer in the video, got me extremely curious. What the girl's doing, is it right? Is it Islamic for her to be covered up and be involved in a video? Does this mean that there will be more pop videos with girls in hijab? Does this mean it would be easier for those girls in hijab to appear in videos? If she is wrong, how could the video be aired on all the Arabic music channels? I am not sure what the answer is, but I would love to know what it is!

Maybe you all can help me out!

Mansur