The Truth about Music

[Bint e Aisha]

 

Over the centuries, many Ulama have cautioned the Believers about the dangers of listening to music. Whilst many Muslims have listened, others have chosen to dismiss these warnings and advices.

 

I intend to discuss the harms of music on the Believer’s body, heart, mind and soul, using reasoning from The Noble Quran and Science. For those brothers and sisters who are still listening to music, I urge you to read on and to take heed to what is being said.

 

Firstly, we need to understand that Islam is a way of life. The Believer’s heart radiates the noor of Iman as he submits himself to the commands of Allah Ta’ala. Allah Ta’ala is All Wise and All Knowing. He has sent us the Noble Quran and the Sunnah of our beloved Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam as guidelines for us to live by. It is through the wisdom of Allah Ta’ala that mankind has been either permitted to or forbidden from carrying out certain actions. Mankind has been blessed with a choice to either comply or digress from the orders of The Most Merciful; of which both paths carry consequences. Our knowledge is limited, therefore it would be best to follow the laws of Allah Ta’ala and the guidance of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, so that we may please Allah Ta’ala and attain Jannah.

 

We begin by looking at music from an Islamic point of view. Cursed is that person who purchases the music, even if he does not listen to it. I urge the parents and caregivers in the homes to be strict with your subordinates and family members regarding music. Parents need to understand that through financing the haram of music in any form, they may be punished by the Almighty. Allah Ta’ala has said in the Noble Quran :

 

“And of mankind is he who purchases idle talk (Lahw Al Hadeeth) to mislead from the path of Allah without knowledge, and takes it by way of mockery. For such there will be a humiliating torment.” – Quran (31:6)

 

Furthermore Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam has forbade the listening to music as it corrupts the believer. Allah Ta’ala has also mentioned in the Noble Quran that his curse is upon those who deviate from Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam’s orders:

 

“And let those beware who oppose the Messenger’s commandment, lest some fitnah should befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them.”- Quran (24:63)

 

Music rusts the heart of the believer and in turn, breeds hypocrisy. Music is highly suggestive on both conscious and subconscious levels. An example is that of ballads (love songs), which trick the listener into believing that he cannot live without the object of his affection. Furthermore the songs portray the illusion that the desired individual is perfect and that life is not worth living without her affection. This creates kufr and shirk, as none is perfect but Allah Ta’ala. We have not been given permission by Allah Ta’ala to decide when our lives should end. Only upon evaluating the lyrics to many of these songs, do we realise the sins that we commit in listening to them.

 

Science has also proven that music has detrimental effects upon the listener. It has been shown to alter the moods of the listeners. It bypasses the reasoning centre of the brain and evokes feelings in the individual. Tolerance to music develops over time, and the listener requires a longer duration of listening time or an increase in pace. The music acts as a tool serving the goals of Shaytaan, drawing people into sin and ultimately Jahannam. Ballads have been known to induce a state of relaxation, however this is short lived. Prolonged exposure to this may induce a sense of depression or melancholy. In the case of rock or pop, the increased pace, intensity, high volume and choice of lyrics have been associated with aggression, violence and even suicide.

 

Music appeals to the carnal and base desires of human beings. Drugs, alcohol and illicit relationships are promoted, whilst honesty and religion are dismissed. This in turn leads to people acting upon impulse and without regard for consequences. It destroys the moral values of young men and women by destroying their modesty and chastity from a young age. Arguments have been put forward that music is beneficial. However, it has been compared to the likes of wine and gambling. In small doses, there is a temporary superficial benefit of calm, but the harms of music far outweigh the benefits. Music is addictive and detrimental., therefore it is forbidden.

 

I believe that the underlying cause of the destruction of this generation is through its addiction to music.

 

The western media portrays the lives of musicians and performers as being glamorous and substantial. But how many times have we seen in the media, that the performers adopt distasteful habits, are arrested, abuse others, end up in prison or experience degrading deaths? Others become the objects of great controversy and hatred by their once-so-called ‘fans’. Why? Because Allah Ta’ala has cursed those who choose to indulge in this sin.

 

After dissecting the horrible truth about music dear brothers and sisters, I urge you to stop listening to this tool of Shaytaan. Make taubah. Recite excessive Istigfaar and adopt the Sunnah of our beloved Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. Make a firm resolution to give up this abhorred habit. Giving up music IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE. It can be done. It has been done.

 

Shaytaan has no hope in the mercy of Allah Ta’ala whereas, we as Muslims have hope in the Most Merciful. Replace the music with beautiful recordings of the glorious Quran Karim and taste these words with your soul. Feel the words of Quran on your lips and listen to it as you read out aloud. It shall surely stir your soul in a pleasant manner and leave you satisfied.

 

*Jamiatul Ulama KZN*