MUSIC AND ISLAM : AN IMPORTANT SUBJECT OF STUDY :

Since long time it has been a subject matter of controversy whether Music is allowed in
Islam or not. In Sufism, there are several branches in Islam. Some Sufism branches of
Islam use music in their spiritual ceremonies and practice. Chishtiya Sufism branch is the
one which use the music widely in the Mehfil-e-Sama . In Mehfil-e-Sama, the devotional
sufi songs, Praising songs for Allah, Prophet (sav) and friends of Allah are sung by the
religious sufi singers.

Before we discuss about validity of Music in Islam, we must take into consideration these
verses of holy Quran: [5:87] O you who believe, do not prohibit good things that are
made lawful by Allah, and do not aggress; Allah dislikes the aggressors. [38:27] We did
not create the heaven and the earth, and everything between them, in vain.
[7:32] Say, "Who prohibited the nice things GOD has created for His creatures, and
the good provisions?" Say, "Such provisions are to be enjoyed in this life by those who
believe. Moreover, the good provisions will be exclusively theirs on the Day of
Resurrection." We thus explain the revelations for people who know.

Islam is great and broad religion. It is a religion of broad minded people. Islam cares for
the nature, natural things and natural feelings. Islam therefore allows for food for nafs
(self desires) too. Islam asks to control the self desires and never says to kill self desires.
As for example, law of marriage is introduced in Islam so that the necessary self desire of
sex can be satisfied in a halal way. While there is a provision in Islam for giving food to
nafs, there is every reason to believe that the provision for food to ruh, that is, music,
must be there. Music is food for ruh. It is not a food for nafs. One can realize the fact that
a weeping little kid can be made silent by using sweet music or by simple musical tone
voice of the mother. The kid can even be made to sleep by slow sweet music as the kid
gets intoxicated by the music. This intoxication and stopping cry of a kid is a good proof
that music is a food of ruh. In religious books, it has been mentioned that if a kid weeps
so much and does not stop crying, recite third kalema (la haula wa la quwwat). Saitan
forces the kid to weep. So, the opposite property ( stop-weeping property of music) must
be anti-saitanic. Hence, the basic property of music is sacred. But this sacred thing can be
worsened if used in night clubs and bars in the same way as the diamond is made dirty if
dropped in mud.

Hazarat Khwaza Moinuddin Chishty Sanjari(RA) was one of the great friends of Allah in
Chishtiya silsila (branch). There are number of great friends of Allah called as saints, in
Chishtiya Silsila. These saints were all time great aalims (Scholars) too. They used
musical sama-e-mehfil to praise the beloved. These scholars must be followed. How can
the present day scholars (aalims) question about mehfil-e-sama organized by great friend
of Allah known as deputy of Prophet (sav), Khwaza Moinuddin Hasan Chishty Sanjari
summa Ajmeri (RA) who gave Iman to nine millions (ninety lakh) people and admitted
into Islam? We must follow such an all time great friend of Allah who was definitely a
great scholar too. The tomb of this friend of Allah is in India.
What a surprising thing is that some aalims (scholars) of present time is going to argue
against music used in Islam. This clearly indicates that they might not have learnt the
precious books written by Chishtiya saints as for example “Rahatul Qulub, Fawaaidul
Fawaad, Kashful Mahzub of Data Saheb etc.

Though there are number of evidence in Islamic books for validity of Music, the logical
and thoughtful insight gives us marvelous guidance that music in Islam is Halal and
allowed in Islam. In Quran there has been mentioning “Don’t you think deeply, there are
numerous signs in his creation for your guidance” The thoughtful insight gives the
following guidance for the Music.

(1) Example Of Glass or Bottle:

The Empty Glass or Bottle is not Halal nor Haram. Its Haram or Halal depends on the
liquid filled in it. If halal liquid like pure water is filled, the glass will become halal. If
wine/liquor is filled in the glass, it will become haram. The Glass or Bottle itself works as
a supportive vessel or supportive agent for its user to help him use the liquid. Similarly is
the case of Music. Music and Musical instruments are supportive agent for its user. It will
become halal if used to praise Allah and Allah’s friends but will become haram if used in
wine bars, night clubs and dance parties.

(2)Example of Kitchen Knife:

The kitchen knife is halal if used to cut vegetables and meat of the kitchen but the same
kitchen knife will become haram if some body innocent is killed through it. The knife
itself is not halal or haram. It works as a supportive agent to the user to cut the
vegetables. Similarly is the Music. Music is supportive to the singer. If singer is singing a
praise song for Allah, Prophet (sav) and friends of Allah, with the music, the music will
act as a supporter to the singer. How the supporter of Allah’s song can be haram?

I am sure, no scholar of Islam of the present time would be able to give ruling against
Music after looking these arguments. It may be considered as a miracle shown by
Chishtiya saints of Islam that I, the sinful person, is able to reply to present day aalims
(scholars) who speak against Music and try to raise finger against notable famous
Chishtiya Silsila.

Of course, some friends of Allah kept themselves away from Music due their own
personnel disliking of Music. They never meant Music was Haram. Their case was like
the food consumer who is at the food table where so many types of food are kept. Out of
that food, some food is liked whereas some are disliked by the food consumer, though all
of the food served to him was Halal. In this way, though the Naqshbandi Silsila saints do
not prefer to use Music, its great saint Khwaza Mohammed Baqibillah (RA), the sufi
master of Mujaddid-e-alfsani (RA) used to attend Mehfil-e-sama in which Music was
played. In Chishtiya Silsila, every saint used to attend mehfil-e-sama in which music is
used.

Hazarat Mumshad Dinwari (RA) was a great saint of Chishtiya silsila. He lived in
Baghdad. His was the eight saint in succession after Prophet Mohammed (sav) in
Chishtiya silsila. So, he was a great saint of the time of sheikh Junaid Baghdadi (RA). He
dreamed in the sleep in which vision of Prophet (sav) was seen. He talked with Prophet
Mohammed (sav). During his talks, he wanted to know if Prophet (sav) was pleased with
mehfil-e-sama or not as some people were commenting against it. The Prophet of Islam
(sav) replied that he was pleased with Mehfil-e-sama and further said that he (Prophet-
sav) used to attend the mehfi-e-sama in which some verses of Quran were recited prior to
start the mehfil-e-sama and after the completion of mehfil-e-sama. What a great thing that
our Prophet (sav) comes to listen mehfil-e-sama.

Khwaza Amir Khusro (RA) was the khalipha of Khwaza Nizamuddin Mehboob-e-Ilahi
(RA). He was a great poet and musician too. He was a regular performer of devotional
songs and music in the court of king Alauddin Khilji.

As per Quran, Surah Suaad, verses 18-19, Dawood(AS) used to sing in day and evening
the praise songs and he was supported in singing by mountains and birds gathered
intoxicated. It was a miracle given to Dawood (As). It was old time of Dawood (AS)
when Music was most common. Dawood (AS) lived hundred years. It is quite surprising
that Muslim scholars except Scholars of Chishtiya silsila; could not find out whether
Dawood (AS) was using musical instruments or not.

Our Prophet (sav) listened welcome song sung by girls of Madina at the time of Hijarat in
which the Daff (Musical instrument) was played. So, validity of musical instruments can
be given. As one musical instrument is allowed, other musical instruments are also
allowed.

Maulana Rumi (RA) said “this musical instruments-tabla, sarangi are supportive to the
praise song of my beloved, how these supporters can be haram? No way (never)”

While Dawood(AS) was singing, the musical instruments which might be used; were
supportive to him. Prophets dignity cannot be harmed by his supporters who supported
him. So, if we say, Dawood (AS) was using musical instruments, it will; by no means; be
understood that Dawood (AS) has been insulted. Dawood (AS) was Prophet and pious so
his music and musical instruments must be considered as pious and halal. So, some
aalims (scholars) say that to say that Dawood (AS) used musical instruments is an insult
to him and one must seek forgiveness for that. What a way of thinking of present day
scholars in spite of the fact they know that Chishtiya saints are used to listen songs for the
beloved with music. How do they dare to raise finger against great Chishtiya Sufis?

IMPORTANT: It must be noted that some verses are written in quran to speak to
disbelievers. Disbeliever’s music or amusement is haram. So, such verses must not be
used to prove that music is haram. In quran, there is no specific verse which prohibits
music. On the contrary, verses about Dawood (AS) show gesture to music. The following
verses are said in quran for disbelievers (qafirs).
(a)Allah addresses the disbelievers of the Quraish as follows, "Do you marvel at this
statement, and laugh and do not weep, while you amuse yourselves (proudly) in vanities?
Rather, prostrate before Allah and worship Him." (53:59-62)
(b) Allah SWT addresses Satan thus; "And excite any of them whom you can with your
voice. Assault them with your cavalry and infantry, be a partner with them in their wealth
and children, and make them promises. But Satan promises nothing but deceit" (17:64)
(c) And there are among men those who purchase idle talk in order to mislead others
from Allah's path without knowledge, and those who throw ridicule upon it. For such
there will be a humiliating punishment." (31:6) Here we should note that Idle-talk can be
any form of talk and not necessarily singing and music

CONCLUSION:
Music used in bars, night clubs and other haram works, programs or songs like the ones
which are sung by qafirs are haram. But the Music used to glorify Allah, to respect and
praise Prophets and friends of Allah is Halal. It must be noted that whatever talks of
religious books, sayings in hadis books or quranic verses which may smell against Music
or Musical instruments should be considered as Music or Musical Instruments used in
Haram work like wine-liquor gatherings, dance parties etc. Halal music is a good thing.