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Why All Music With Halal Lyrics Allowed?
If my memmory serves me better, I remember that Ghamidi Sahib’s stance is that all music with halal lyrics is allowed and nothing is prohibitted except immoral lyrics. If I am mistaken, please delete this question.
If this is true. I feel like something is not right. I feel like some basic and simple music may be halal, but when it comes to hard metal, upbeat dance music and many other types, I feel are no different than mild alcohol or mild drugs. The affects on brain seem to be the same as loosing some control and feeling of euphoria and behavioral changes.
Based on this, it seems right when some other scholars only support basic music, such as flute, Duff, etc., as allowed in Islam.
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19 Replies
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Why All Music With Halal Lyrics Allowed?
updated 1 year, 9 months ago
5 Members
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19
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Here is one of numerous studies on Music.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00048/full
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Please see the following for Ghamidi sahab’s stance regarding music and fine arts in general:
and
Discussion 39704 • Reply 39720
Halal and haram are not arbitrarily determined in Islam. To understand the principles of determining halal and haram, please refer to:
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Faisal bhai,music with immoral words would be discouraged on Sadde Zariya principle?and not regarded as full blown Haraam?
Am I right?
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Immoral words will fall under one of the five categories mentioned in Quran verse 7:33 (discussion referenced above).
Please don’t consider the principle of sadd-e-zariya (preventive measure) as referring to something less serious. Sadd-e-zariya only refers to the reasoning behind something being haram – not it’s severity. Even God makes certain things categorically impermissible on the basis of sadd-e-zariya. For example, the entire injunction of hifz-e-furooj (gender interaction) is based on the principle of sadd-e-zariya.
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Got it,thanks
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I understand most of the Ghamidi Sahib’s arguments, but I still want to explore. Let me give you an example..
What if I consume alcohol through an injection. Drugs are taken by injection. Drugs are inhaled too. So these items do not fall under foods. So per Ghamidi Sahib’s argument cant be Haram.
If you say these are still haram because they become source of immorality or behavioral issues. The hard music is equal to consumption of drugs by ears and skin. The point is that it encourages immorality, reduces control and modifies behavior. Isn’t that sufficient to call it prohibitted?
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I’m not sure which argument of Ghamidi sahab you’re referring to making drugs and alcohol halal. These things are not halal and Ghamidi sahab has never argued for their permissibility.
Any music that encourages immortality will be impermissible too. I don’t understand your point about “reduces control and modifies behavior.”
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Sorry for not being clear. Ghamidi Sahib did not say drugs are Halal, but he says other than foods there are 5 things that are Haram. Drugs inhaled or taken through skin are not food but Haram because of behavioral issues. Hard metal music is taken through ears and skin and have the same results as mild drugs.
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I am talking about music without necessarily with lurics.
Here is a quote from Pediatrics..
“Heavy metal music-listening has also been associated with increased depression, delinquency risk behavior,63–65 smoking, and conduct problems”
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Sorry I do not want to go on and on. Thank you for sharing info.
To me there is more weight in argument that dance music, hard metal and some other types is prohibitted.
It is obvious why these types are used in bars and clubs because it enhances certain tendencies.
On the other hand light music is used in restaurants and relaxing environments.
So in my mind light music with clean lyrics is halal.
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In reference to the study that you shared, please understand that correlation does not imply causation. Secondly, the study finding that you shared above about heavy metal music doesn’t exclude immoral music.
The yardstick for halal and haram has been provided to us by God in Quran verse 7:33, and we should stick with that. If someone wants to be extra careful about something it’s definitely their prerogative.
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Asalamoalaikum Mr. Faisal Haroon,
On this topic, I remember Ghamidi Sahb mentioning in a couple videos that musicians should avoid certain “dune” when playing instruments. For example, he mentions this point in the following video at around the 3:52 mark. Do you know what this is referring to?
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He’s not saying to avoid certain tunes (dhun); what he’s saying instead is to pay attention to the words. If the words don’t have anything impure or immoral then there’s no absolute prohibition for any of the fine arts including music.
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Okay, I see. JazakAllah!
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As far as all emotional triggers are concerned, it’s only “khamar” or intoxicants which are injested that are declared Haram. Its only these injestible intoxicants can make one actually loose control while triggering all kinds of emotion be it drunkardness, ecstasy, an emotional high, depression or any other kind of happiness/sadness etc etc. A lot of young and rebellious people do these drungs and/or are in bad environments and that particular kind of rock music which usually does have an evil message only enhances the effect they are feeling due to these Haram actions.
Hard metal/rock tunes in themselves can’t be compared to drugs. Sure it may cause adrenaline rush and trigger emotions but things other than music can have the same effect too like watching an intense sports match, watching people doing stunts, winning game or a competition, listening to a motivational speech or viewing scenery which fills one with energy.
If an individual feels that it’s the tunes themselves that are leading him to evil that’s just his own personal opinion and it’s advised for him to avoid it. With things like musical beats and tunes there is no one size fits all approach and it is very possible that a particular tune can incite person A to do Good and person B to do evil. In this case, no harm or sin on person A for listening to it but person B should avoid it.
The principle above can be applied to anything else in the world for example doing business which is equated to doing ibabat in some scenarios. I’ve personally seen majority of people who do business and are successful become arrogant, selfish and distracted from the path of Allah in pursuit of more and more material. However on the other hand I’ve seen a few successful business people who did not give into the evil temptations and dedicate their profit to philanthropy and helping others in need. Another example is acquisition of religious knowledge too. Some people become arrogant, authoritative and oppressive just because they have more religious knowledge than the layman but others like Ghamidi Sahib further humble themselves and dedicate their lives on truly educating people and empathizing with people.
In conclusion anything mubah or even sawab can lead one to evil hence the important thing is to just have mindfulness of Allah at all times to help yourself in avoiding this evil.
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Excellent answer Abdul Sattar Ahmed Sahib.
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Still wouldn’t you agree that music and certain kind of beats enhances emotions. This is the same impact as Alcohol or some drugs, such as Marijuana. Perhaps in addition these drugs also impair a person’s ability to control themselves from acting upon impulses, but more likely music also impairs a person’s ability to control impulses. Just like a sports event where people become violent. Similarly as mob mentality. If a mob reacts in acertain way, many good people and end up doing bad stuff and later regret it. Very similar to alcohol and drugs.
I am still not clear on distinction between impact of music, alcohol, soft drugs, sports event, mob actions, etc. To me they all have same impact on a person except for hard drugs or over consumptions of alcohol and soft drugs. That is where a person performs sins without awareness.
The difference perhaps is in awareness. Doesn’t it state in Quran not to consume alcohol and perform prayer so that you are aware of what you are reciting.
In think awareness is the key.
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Thanks Nadeem Sahib 😊.
2 aspects I want to highlight according to my opinion.
1st aspect is related to consumable things that are emotional triggers (Khamar) vs experience related emotional triggers. The thing with khamar is that you are consuming matter which goes inside your body and performs bio-chemical reactions which also triggers different harmones responsible for different emotions which you actually have no control over. These biochemical reactions from these substances 100% of the time have long term or acute harmful effects to the body. For example let’s take something light like weed (THC) while it gives stress relief/happy mood for a moment, you will experience bad side too like sudden withdrawal and long term anxiety depression and other mental health problems with prolonged use. Art forms like music, poetry, cinematography scientifically speaking also trigger harmones in ones body which in turn trigger emotions which is what art is meant to do in the first place. Difference between the 2 is that in consumables it’s the harmful bio-chemical reactions doing all the work and unnaturally triggering harmones due to which you literally speaking loose control over your own body and making you feel a specific emotion whether you like it or not. In the case of art forms it does release different harmones but you don’t loose control over your body. For eg you see a sad movie scene you will feel sad but you are still self aware and can choose to turn it off and forget about it easily. But if you are drugged with something to react with your body and it forcefully releases sad hormones you actually don’t have any control.
2nd aspect is related to subjective experiences of different individuals. Some people find night time terrifying others find it the most beautiful time of the day. Some people live to eat chocolate others can’t stand even looking at it. Same can be said about music. Personally I find hip-hop/rap beats (without vocal just pure music) to trigger negative emotions in myself and hence I avoid listening to it but then the same rap/hip-hop beats are like “rooh ki ghizah” to a good friend of mine and fills him up with positive vibes and energy. It should be left upto discretion of the individual to decide which art form leads him to righteousness and which leads him to evil.
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