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Playing instruments of music is a Greater Sin.
It is Haraam to play instruments like guitar,
piano, tambourine, drums etc. Listening to
music is also a Greater Sin. Music as a Greater
sin is reported by Fazl ibn Shazaan from Imam
Ali ar-Reza (a.s.):
"And to be engrossed in musical instruments is
also a Greater Sin." |
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All the Mujtahids
are unanimous in their opinion that the
manufacture, sale and purchase of musical
instruments is Haraam and the income derived
from musical activity is also Haraam. The
transactions involving these (instruments) are
invalid. It is Haraam even to keep
instruments of music in one's possession. It
is obligatory to destroy them. This is revealed
in a lengthy tradition of Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.)
as recorded in the book "Tohafful Uqool".
Similarly, Shaykh Hurr al-Aamili records the
following tradition from Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.):
"The Almighty
Allah has prohibited the manufacture of all such
things that are exclusively used in Haraam ways;
& things that only create evil like pipe, flute,
chess & all types of instruments of gambling,
images, statues.
The manufacture of all such articles is Haraam."
Imam (a.s.)
concluded,
"Then even
learning to sing or play music and teaching it,
to sing and play music,
to be paid for these things or to be in any way
engrossed in these vices is Haraam." |
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Music -
According to the Traditions |
Some more
traditions prohibiting music are given below.
Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.) reports from the
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) that he said: "I
prohibit for you dancing and playing flute,
drums and tabla." (Al Kafi)
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) has also said,
"The Almighty Allah has sent me as a mercy to
the worlds, to guide the people. And He ordered
me to eradicate the playing of flute and other
instruments of music, all games of vice, idol
(worship) and all practices of the days of
ignorance." (Mustadrakul Wasael,
Chapter 79)
Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.) says, "A person
who has received blessings from Allah and while
having these blessings, he plays flute. It is as
if he has been thankless of the blessings."
(Wasaelush Shia)
Every moment of
our lives, we are enjoying Allah's unlimited
benevolence. |
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Music
Causes Shamelessness and Hypocrisy |
The Sixth Imam (a.s.)
has also stated, "The playing of violin
promotes the growth of hypocrisy in the heart
like water assists the growth of vegetation
(algae)." (Wasaelush Shia)
Imam (a.s.) also says,
"If
drums and cymbals are played at
one's house for forty days, Allah
will impose a satan by the name of 'faqandir'.
The satans will infiltrate into
every cell of the person's body.
With the spread of this evil, the
person loses all sense of dignity
and self-esteem. He will then not
care as to what he says or what is
said about him. Then, this satan
blows into this person. As a result,
he becomes utterly shameless. So
mush so that he is not concerned or
affected even if his women are
dishonored." (Wasaelush Shia)
It is usually
observed that the people in whose homes music is
played with regularity either using musical
instruments or by radio or cassettes are
absolutely shameless and wanton. |
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Musician
and the Song |
Muadda Ibne Ziyad
says, "I was in the company of Imam Ja'far
as-Sadiq (a.s.) when a person said, "When I go
to the toilet, I can hear the singing girls of
my neighbor. Sometimes, I remain (in toilet)
longer so that I may listen to more of it."
Imam (a.s.) said: "Desist from listening to
music and songs attentively."
Then this man further said, "Master, I do not
go to music gatherings! I only hear the sounds!"
Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.) said, "Have you
not read this Quranic verse...
"Surely,
the hearing and the sight and the heart, all of
these shall be questioned about that?"
(Surah
Bani Israel 17:36)
The man
replied, "I was not aware of this Ayat. I
regret my actions. I shall not do so in the
future. I repent for my past sins and I seek
forgiveness from my Lord."
Seeing his condition, Imam (a.s.) said,
"Get up ! Go and perform ghusl
and offer namaz and pray for
forgiveness. You have certainly
been involved in a deadly sin
and a terrible situation. You
have repented for it and I thank
Allah for that; and I seek
forgiveness of Allah for all
those things that He dislikes.
Certainly, Allah only dislikes
the evil things. Leave the evil
things to the evil people
because there are different
people suitable for different
things." (Al Kafi Chapter of
Music)
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Divine
Bounties (Barakat) are Removed |
Amirul Momineen
Ali (a.s.) says,
"Angels do not even enter a house that has
wine, drum, tambourine or a flute. Even the
prayers of the inhabitants of this house are
unacceptable. They are deprived of barakat."
(Wasaelush Shia)
Hazrat Imam Ali ar-Reza (a.s.) has said,
"To listen to a musical instrument is one of
the Greater Sins." (Mustadrakul Wasael) |
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The
Blackened Face of the Musician |
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.)
has stated,
"A
person who possesses a sitar, on
the day of Qiyamat will be
raised with a black face. His
hands will be holding a sitar of
fire. Seventy thousand angels
with maces of fire will be
hitting him on the face and the
head. The singer will arise from
his grave, blind, deaf and dumb.
The adulterer will be similarly
raised. The player of flute will
also be made to rise in this way
as will be the drum player."
(Mustadrakul Wasael)
It means that
all such people will appear on the field of "Mahshar"
(on the day of reckoning) as blind, deaf and
dumb. |
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A House
Where Music is Played for Forty Days |
Hazrat Imam Ali ar-Reza
(a.s.) remarks,
"A
person invites Divine wrath when
in his house instruments like
flute, drum and chess are played
for forty days. If this man dies
within these forty days, his
death would be of a sinner and a
transgressor. His place shall be
in Hell. And what a dreadful
place it is!" (Mustanad al
Taraqi)
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Music and
the Last Period of Time |
The traditions
concerning the signs of the last stage before
the Zuhoor of our Imam (a.s.) mention music:
"And you shall see that music
will be so prevalent that no one
will dissuade others nor will he
find in himself the need to do
so. And you shall see that music
would be openly played even in
the two sanctuaries (the city of
Makkah and Madinah)." (Mustanade
Naraqi)
This is what we
see in the present age where obscene music is
openly played in the markets, on the streets, in
shops and houses and even cars and no one
bothers to prevent it!
So far we have mentioned the punishment of the
hereafter for the sin of playing or listening to
music. Now, we shall discuss the evils of music
that affect life on earth. These evils too are
numerous. Scholars have compiled complete books
on this subject. For example we have the
following books in Persian, "Munazrah
Doctor-o-Peer", "Balahaee Ijtemai", "Mauseeqi-o-Islam",
etc. |
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Effects of
Music on the Nervous System |
Expert Doctors,
Scientists and biologists have defined two types
of nerves, the principal nerves and the arterial
nerves. The principal nerves stretch from the
neck to all vital organs. The arterial nerves
spread from the main nerves to all parts of the
body. The secondary nerves are connected to
outward parts of the body and convey the
messages to the brain. When the veins enlarge
the blood pressure decreases. Due to the
shriveling of blood vessels, the blood pressure
increases. When the blood pressure varies at
different parts of the body it affects the
health.
When the secondary nerves work they produce heat
whereas the functioning of the central nerves
produces the opposite effect. It is due to these
nerves that feelings of sloth, sleep,
thoughtlessness, forgetfulness, grief, sorrow,
fainting, unconsciousness and even death occur.
Obviously, when music can affect various nerves,
it can give rise to various maladies. Mental
diseases as well as physical ailments can occur.
These mental effects can destroy man's reasoning
capacity. It is for this reason that one who
listens to music is unable to perform work that
can be accomplished by a sane person.
Music creates vibrations in the body and these
are conveyed to all the parts of the body
through the nervous system. As a result of this,
indigestion occurs. Music affects the heart in
such a way that the heartbeats become irregular.
The blood pressure goes awry. All such ailments
make a person permanently ill. Consequently,
even modern medical science, in spite of its
astonishing progress, fails in such a situation.
Sometimes, the music is so intense that the
listeners lose their sanity. They become dumb
and various kinds of mental diseases occur. In
places where music is more prevalent, we find
that there are more neurotic illnesses. It is
for this reason that more mental hospitals are
to be found in Europe and America.
Dr. Adlen writes against music, "Even though it
seems pleasant, the effect of music is profound
upon the nervous system. Especially, when the
temperature is high, the ill effect of music is
more. This is the reason that ill effects of
music are more in the hot areas of Iran and
Saudi Arabia. The American people are so
disgusted with the bane of music that they have
united to demand from the senate a permanent ban
on music. It is a pity that the whole world
clearly perceives the evils of music and yet
adopts music as entertainment."
(Refer to the booklet; "Tasir Mausiqi bar
Asaab" Pg.3, 6,1 |
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