, Art, Photography - Contemporary Issues

Art, Photography, and Music in Islam

Contemporary Issues Series - Lecture by Dr. Bilal Philips

Opening

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Most Merciful. I greet you with Islamic greetings. I welcome you to our program, Contemporary Issues, in which we continue to look at certain Islamic issues which have come under the spotlight of world attention, where some practices, some beliefs are questioned by Western civilization, really pointing out that these things are irrelevant and not logical, or they go against modern thinking, etc., etc.

And, unfortunately, some Muslims have, in ignorance, fallen into these traps and have become deluded by the arguments which have been presented. So we try to look at some of the issues and try to understand them. Some of the issues are issues where both Muslims and non-Muslims alike really don't understand why. Why does Islam take a position on this or that? And we hope to try to clarify these issues in our program.

Music in Islam

In this segment, we're looking at the issue of music from the Islamic perspective. Music—which most people are aware that there is something in Islam regarding music. To some degree, it appears that it is prohibited outright, or some people feel that Muslims are okay with music. In fact, musicians are okay. It's quite popular amongst Muslims.

In fact, even the guitar in Spain was developed by Muslims when they were in Spain.

The Natural Human Love for Music

Now, the actual issue involved here concerning music is that God has created human beings with a nature which loves music. We can see it with a mother singing for her child. Something like this, of course, Islam is not going to prohibit something which is part of the very nature of human beings, to prohibit it just for the sake of prohibition.

So, in fact, Islam does not prohibit music outright, but it prohibits the harmful aspects of it. Music is accepted within a particular framework, but outside that framework, it has been forbidden.

Prophetic Prohibition

The Prophet prohibited the use of wind and stringed musical instruments. In a very famous hadith in which he said:

"There will be people of my nation who will legalize fornication, the wearing of silk for men, the drinking of wine, and the use of musical instruments." (Sahih al-Bukhari)

This is a hadith which is recorded by Imam al-Bukhari. It is a very authentic hadith.

Furthermore, he said:

"Some people from my nation will drink wine calling it by another name. Merriment will be made for them by the playing of musical instruments and the singing of adult female singers."

This is also an authentic hadith which indicates the prohibition of the use of musical instruments in general, as well as that of adult female singers.

What Is Permitted

Now, folk songs which are sung by females who are not adults, to a mixed audience for example, or by males, accompanied by the (الدُّف - duff), which is like a small hand drum—this is something which has been made permissible.

The Prophet encouraged its use in weddings and festivals.

Recitation of the Quran

And in terms of the recitation of the Quran, it is encouraged to be in a melodious voice. The Prophet said:

"Whoever doesn't sing the Quran is not of us."

So, this element of music is accepted within the Muslim society, but that is kept within the bounds of certain festivals, festivities, the recitation of the Quran, etc. And it doesn't become like an obsession.

The Danger of Obsession

The intent is that it should not become an obsession in the society because these instruments have a tendency to captivate the heart. They captivate the heart in such a way that it becomes the means that people will find solace.

When they're down, they turn on the music. This is where, instead of turning to God, instead of reflecting on God, they get their solace in music. Music becomes a substitute. And they become attached to it in such a way that it becomes like an addiction.

The Argument for Music

And when we look at the element that produces music in the society, some people argue: "But it helps me to study." Some students will tell me that they study better when listening to music. And others have a variety of different explanations.

Evidence Against Music

The point is that if music were beneficial, then the musicians would demonstrate that benefit in their lives. What you see instead is that corruption—some of the most corrupt elements of society—are found amongst the musicians:

• The drugs
• The deviations in homosexuality
• All the corruption that's there
• People committing suicide

All this kind of thing is concentrated in the area of the musicians. Why? If this thing that they're producing is so good, then why don't they benefit from it?

Reality is that it, in fact, does carry an evil and a dark side, which produces that type of corruption amongst themselves, and in the end ends up corrupting elements of the society.

If you listen to the songs that are out there, they're promoting promiscuity and adultery and sin, and it's just loaded in the songs. Unfortunately, this is a very corruptive element in the society.

Images and Art in Islam

The other area of the arts is that of art itself, where Islam, like Judaism, prohibited the use of pictorial representation of living beings.

Islam prohibits it. It's in the Mosaic Law, and it's part of the tradition of the Prophets, and the Prophets maintained it. Although, in reality, one may find examples of image-making in later Muslim states that developed whether it is in Spain or Mughal India or Safavid Persia or the Ottoman Empire—the reality is that this was something quite severely prohibited according to Islamic law.

Severe Prophetic Warning

The Prophet Muhammad had said:

"Those receiving the most severe punishment on the Day of Judgment are the image-makers."

The Origin of Idolatry

And from the explanations given to us by the Prophet ﷺ, idolatry began amongst the descendants of Adam through the making of images.

The Prophet said that in the time of Prophet Noah (Nuh), there were some righteous individuals who, when they died, Satan came to the people and suggested to them to make statues and name these statues after them to remind them of the goodness of these people.

And the people did so, and they placed these statues in the places where they used to gather. And in that generation, the people, whenever they saw the statues, it reminded them of the good of those people and it encouraged them to do good.

However, when that generation died out, Satan came to a later generation and suggested to them that, in fact, their ancestors, their grandparents, etc., were in fact worshipping these idols. And that it was because of their worship that their crops were successful, the rain came and they had good crops, cultivation was very healthy, etc.

And with that delusion of these lies which were promoted at that point in time, people fell into the trap of idolatry.

Why Images Are Forbidden

So the issue of creation of images of human beings is forbidden fundamentally because of this. And if we look at those people involved in idol worship throughout the world, the vast majority of the idols which they worship are idols of living beings.

Few people worship idols of planets or trees, etc. Most of the idols that we're talking about are living beings—whether it's a human being with an elephant's head, or a monkey's head, or whatever, or it's a fish, or a dog, or whatever. People worship idols that are made in the form of human beings or animals.

And so it has been prohibited across the board.

The Modern Argument

Now some people may say: "Well, what's the harm, really? What about people making... We've grown out of this idolatry business, but we want to make it for the purpose of our own enjoyment and entertainment, etc."

Well, the reality is that the vast majority of the world, or much of the world, is still involved in idolatry. So it's still alive and well today.

The Artist's Challenge to the Creator

And furthermore, what it does is it creates this love in the minds of people, so much so that the artists, many times when you speak to artists or you hear artists talking about their works, they will talk about how they're trying to create something greater than life—something greater than life, which embodies something which you can't even find in nature itself.

This is their goal. And this is where it's kind of like a challenge with the Creator. And this is why in one of the statements of the Prophet, on the Day of Judgment those who are making the images will be asked to bring life back to their images in their challenge to the Creator, trying to imitate the Creator.

The Mona Lisa Example

Anyway, if we find an art lover and they're told: "Hey, this museum is burning down. There's a picture of Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci's work, and there's a baby in there. You can only take one out. What are you going to take out?"

The art lover will not think twice. He'll say: "I'll get the picture of Mona Lisa."

You say: "Well, what about the child?"

He'll say: "Well, you know, there are many children born in the world. If we lose a child, no big deal. These kids are being born. But if you lose the Mona Lisa—ha, this is something invaluable."

So that work of art takes on an even greater value than human life. This is the sad state that those who love images have reached.

Summary on Images and Music

So, from the Islamic perspective, the making of images, along with the production of music, has been prohibited in Islam to protect the society from the harm which comes from it.

Of course, as I mentioned, the Muslim world today, in having deviated away from much of the teachings of Islam—one might be surprised to hear that. You say: "Well, why? We see images all the time in the society, in our Muslim societies that we've been in. We see, we hear music all the time."

However, the principle of understanding Islam is not that Islam is what people do. Islam is not what Muslims do, but what Muslims should do. And to know what they should do, one needs to learn what are, in fact, the teachings of Islam. And then after knowing that, then you judge Muslims in accordance with what Islam is. Not to judge Islam according to what Muslims do.

Modern Science and Islam

The next topic that we'll be looking at is that of modern science and Islam.

The European Experience

We know from the tradition which developed in Europe, where there was a clash between the church and science, where scientists were burnt at the stake, their books were burnt, and when their theories seemed to contradict or to challenge the beliefs of the church—the Catholic church, which was dominant in Europe at the time—there was an attempt to crush science and scientific inquiry.

And from that experience, the general understanding in the minds of many is that science and religion don't mix. They're at odds with each other.

Islam's Historical Relationship with Science

However, when one comes into the realm of Islam, one finds that, no, this is not the case. Some of the leading scientists of the Muslim world were great theologians. They were quite knowledgeable Muslims.

In fact, much of the knowledge which spurred the Renaissance and the development of science in the West came through Muslim Spain and Syria and Baghdad, Damascus and Baghdad. This is where the science was preserved during the Dark Ages, what was known as the Dark Ages, the Middle Ages in Europe.

These were the golden ages of science in the Muslim world.

The Islamic Perspective on Science

So Islam is not opposed to science. In fact, on a conceptual level, science involves the discovery of God's laws in His creation. Human beings are not creating anything. They're only discovering these laws and then applying them. God gives them the ability to apply them.

So the laws themselves are from whom? From God. So knowledge of science—what is true science—is ultimately from God.

We're not talking about the theory and the false ideas that are in the minds of some scientists who promote, for example, that this world had no beginning, the atheists among them who deny God's existence, etc. This is not scientific. There's no scientific proof. One cannot prove by science God's non-existence.

In fact, science points to God's existence rather than to His non-existence.

Scientific Facts in the Quran

However, we're saying that when we look at the issue of scientific fact, we find that, in fact, it is in harmony with Islamic teachings. You find many verses in the Quran which address points and issues which modern

science has only just begun to find, to discover.

The Expansion of the Universe:

"I built the heavens with power, and it is I who am expanding it."

In the 21st chapter, verse 30, you'll find similar statements of the expansion of the universe.

The Movement of the Sun:

You'll also find the movement of the sun mentioned in the Quran, that it has its own cycle, that it's moving, and that it's running to an end, an ending point where the sun will end.

"And the sun runs to its resting place."

Space Travel:

And you'll even find mentioned in the Quran that human beings will pass through the heavens, leave the earth and pass into the heavens, going to the moon or whatever.

"O assembly of jinn and humans, if you can penetrate the regions of the heavens and the earth, then penetrate them. You will not do that except with the authority"—meaning the authority of God.

So there is plenty—plenty has been written about the Quran and modern science. From the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad, we find things which are only recently scientifically discovered based on modern scientific knowledge.

Islam Embraces Beneficial Science

So, Islam is not in opposition to science—not science fact and the use of science for the benefit of human lives, etc. I know we have some sects amongst people, Christians, who shun modern science. They will drive around in buggies. They don't use electricity.

Islam is not in this kind of state. No, Islam will use whatever we can find in the society which is beneficial, scientific principles, technology, using it for the benefit of human beings and their society. This is part and parcel of living and the right that humans have. Islam has no problem with this at all.

The Problem with Evolutionary Theory

But when we come to some of the theories of science, this is where we may find some problems. And one of the

biggest problems is that of evolution. A modern scientific theory, though it's presented as a fact, which, in fact, is in direct opposition to Islamic teachings.

And the theory of evolution will be discussed at some length in our coming segment.

Preview: Evolution in the Next Segment

We hope that you will come along to the program with us. You will follow our next program and be enlightened with regards to the Islamic position on evolution. Evolution, as I said, evolutionary theory, not evolutionary fact.

The facts which the evolutionists use, no one can deny. We have bones. These bones represent animals which were here on the earth, which died out. They are ancestors to living animals today. No one can deny these things.

But how do we interpret these bones? That we will have a look at in our next program.

Conclusion

With that, dear viewers, I'd like to thank you for being with us in this segment of our program, Contemporary Issues.

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And we hope to see you in our coming programs.