MUSIC
A Fake Message of Peace

Haytham bin Jawwad al-Haddad

The view of scholars towards music
Numerous scholars have declared consensus (Ijmaa’) on the prohibition of using musical instruments which suggests at the very least that the opinion which permits using musical instruments is unreliable.

The list includes scholars such as al-Tabari (d.311 A.H.), al-Nawawi (d.676 A.H.), Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdasi (d.620 A.H.), al-Qurtubi (d.671 A.H.) and Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728 A.H.).

The famous Sahaabi (Companion) Hadhrat Abdullah Ibne Mas’ood (RadhiAllaho Anho) held that listening to musical instruments gives birth to disbelief and hypocrisy in one’s heart.

Imam Al-Awza’i (d.157 A.H.), a very famous scholar of the second generation, narrated that the righteous Caliph Hadhrat Umar bin Abdul‘Aziz (d.101 A.H.) sent a letter to one of his governors with the words, ‘…and your presentation of musical and woodwind instruments is an innovation in Islam. I had resolved to dispatch to you someone who would shear the hair on the back of your head, such vile hair!’

Likewise, Imam Malik (d.179 A.H.), who resided in Madinah al Munawwarah — the home of the vast majority of the Sahaabah of the Prophet Muhammad (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) stated, ‘Only the very sinful amongst us listen to music’. Imam Malik’s opinion was in fact a Madinian opinion, which reflected their consensus: a source of authority if not legislation. Can it be reasonably argued that while so many early scholars greatly detested using musical instruments, there were those who believed it was acceptable? This cannot be the case and is precisely the reason why some scholars negate the opinion (of allowing music) being attributed to any of the early scholars.

The famous scholar Hadhrat Ibn Hajar al-Hanbali (RadhiAllaho Anho), (d.795 A.H.) stated, ‘Whoever attributes the opinion permitting music to any of the scholars who are respected in legal issues has surely erred.’

Music: the message of peace and love?
One of the liberal Muslims with western thoughts writes in his article stated, ‘In the midst of all this, it is upon all conscious and responsible artists who look beyond the commercial to work in refining arts and music. Apart from entertain-ing audiences, music is a powerful medium to communicate values and social messages. In these times where heinous crimes against humanity are being committed, we as artists – Muslims or non-Muslims, British or non-British -– have a duty to use this medium to bring some sanity to this world of unrest, fear, violence, terror and war. Human life and dignity are values that should be cherished and championed by all’.

Those who erroneously support such an idea go even further and compare their music to the poems of Hadhrat Hassaan Ibne Thaabit (RadhiAllaho Anho), the famous Sahaabi who would use his poetic skills to defend the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam), and the Islamic values which he propagated. The idea that music is a powerful medium to communicate values and social messages is merely an emotional and unscholarly view. However appealing this idea may seem, we must understand that it is far from reality. We must consider the power in Hassaan’s poetry and the reasons why the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) not only endorsed but also encouraged him to defend Islam. The strength of Hassaan’s poems lay in the denotation of his rhythmic and eloquent words; this is what makes a poem effective. There are no legal issues with regard to Muslims practicing the art of poetry. One dreams of Muslim poets eloquently articulating and defending Islam and its values.

However, the discussion here is focused on the use of musical instruments which are normally accompanied by bodily movements. Furthermore, music may be a weapon, but a counterproductive one, for embedded within it is a culture of permissiveness and liberalism. Many non-Muslims concede this fact and have undertaken research analyzing the connection between music, behavior and crime.

There is no comparison between the power of comprehendible and eloquent words and insignificant sounds. This method of argument to promote idealistic concepts is akin to Christian use of flowery language and idealism in order to promote that which cannot be defended using rational arguments. Attempts by some Christians to sugar-coat theological inconsistencies failed and turned people away. One can say that the public have lost faith in the methodology of using music to propagate messages of love and peace as they have realized that it lacks practicality. Furthermore, these methods have led many people to the conclusion that they are being duped in order to keep the focus away from the root cause of problems.

In our current climate, how can music contribute to solving the many conflicts that exist in many parts of the world? It certainly has not brought some sanity to this world of unrest, fear, violence, terror and war. How will music contribute to stopping Western troops from attacking innocent people in Iraq and Afghanistan, or stop Israelis from shedding the blood of innocent women and children in Lebanon and Palestine? Such a view is utterly erroneous and we must free ourselves of using such fanciful idealistic concepts that have no relevance to reality. Let us take an intellectual and rational approach to the problems and their solutions.

The reality of this world is quite different from what we may hope it to be. We should be calling Muslims to arise and face the real challenges, such as taking a leading role in promoting correct principles and values, values such as freeing people from servitude of man to the servitude of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) alone.

Such an imperative undertaking requires maturity and seriousness to the extent that we should be willing to sacrifice our lives and wealth for the cause. Muslims must remember that this life is a test as we are informed in the Quraan:

‘Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the dominion, and He is Able to do all things; Who has created death and life, that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving.’ (Surah al-Mulk 67:1)

Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) also said:

’The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (i.e., a deceiving thing). (Surah Aale Imraan 3:185)

Hence, this life is essentially a conflict between truth and falsehood and even a cursory glance at history would visibly affirm this reality. A moral system should be based on a sense of what is good and evil, what is truth and falsehood. Peace and love form only a part of the reality, and thus, this discussion should not be limited to these values in isolation of others for that would certainly end with detrimental consequences. Any system that promotes these values without having power, strength and rule of law to protect and maintain them is nothing but a hoax. This is contrary to the reality of Islam and this should reflect in our literature and discourses. It is the practicality of Islam that will be convincing to people from all spectrums.

The debate is not limited to Music
An essential aspect of pop culture (including music) is the resulting of various evil effects which are usually overlooked in discussions. It is the norm however to analyze such effects within Islamic jurisprudence. It is sad to witness few leaders who claim to represent Islam and Muslims speak about music and its permissibility and citing examples of the music played at the beginning of news programs or what is occurs and is heard unintentionally in the street. Their discussions are usually limited to these simple cases; however, their views are frequently misunderstood as a justification for contemporary music. They correctly state that, ‘The obsessive fascination of fans towards any celebrity - be it in arts, music, politics, media, etc - to the point of hysteria and hero-worshipping is definitely unhealthy not to mention un-Islamic’.

One singer who affiliates himself with Islam states, ‘I definitely did not see girls dancing or behaving indecently in any of my concerts. To state otherwise is a gross exaggeration if not an outright fallacy’. Whereas when personally asked with numerous people about many so-called ‘Islamic concerts’ and their comments and views are in total contrast. Recently, I attended a major Islamic event, at the end of which there was an ‘Islamic concert’. I remained behind for a few minutes in order to observe; I could not believe what was being done in the name of Islam! Members of the opposite sex where freely mixing, so much so that they were sitting next to each other and their thighs were touching.

Once the ‘Islamic’ music began, the audience began to clap and their bodies to shake in their chairs. I decided to leave disgusted at what I had observed and met another brother who had also entered the hall with the intention to examine the ongoing of such concerts; he was surprised that I had departed so early on though the concert had not properly began. Muslim singers mention that music plays a major role in communicating ‘values and social messages’. Based upon what happens in such concerts, can they still argue that these noble goals are achieved? Furthermore, the youth exchange singers’ photos by e-mail and text message. They hang posters of these singers’ on their bedroom walls. They act with bad manners, pushing and shoving in order to reach their hero to attain his autograph, jumping and screaming as the singers make their way to the stage. This clearly resembles idolisation of the famous which contravenes the Islamic code of conduct. Our ummah is calling out to us to produce genuine men and women who can meet the hardships it faces and provide a future with hope and optimism for the establishment of servitude to Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) and welfare of our brothers and sisters; this cannot be achieved through fads and mere dreams of betterment and through incapacitating our youth via the escapism and harmful effects of music: a matter out-rightly rejected and deemed impermissible throughout our fourteen hundred year history.