82 replies to this topic

[Crimson]

So how come none of these negative effects are happening to me? I listen to music all the time and I'm getting more and more knowledgeable and feeling closer to Islam everyday. I also play the piano. It isn't making me week at all. I had to give up and change my life style around when I actually became a real Muslim not just a Muslim by name and that was 8 months ago, but I had to do it in a day so my will power isn't weak.

I stopped listening to music just to test it out for like 10 days. It was boring and it had more negative than good effects.

Anyway how did people manage to stop listening to music, I'm interested to see what people did.

[mohammad_mahdi]

Crimson, on 02 August 2012 - 07:00 AM, said:

So how come none of these negative effects are happening to me?

I think you hit the nail on the head there with saying how you had to make the change in a day for will power reasons, and stopping music had more negative effects than good ones...

In my experience, i gave up music because it was quite easy for me to associate it with my previous lifestyle, and so it only made sense to give music up since i gave the rest of it up. it was a gradual process and i did it because i genuinely realised that it had a negative impact. of course, while listening to music, i couldn't see that negative impact, it was a while after giving it up, did i realise how much music clouded my judgement... not that i was ever into drugs, but i imagine this is how somebody would feel after going through rehab for coke or morphine... you look back and feel for the first time you look at things in your life with 20/20 vision.


the negative effects you found after 10 days are a form of withdrawal. it's that phase of confusion, where you have a feel there was something wrong about it all, but you're so used to it's affects that day to day activities (driving, exercise etc) are now bland and unexciting without music... first try to really contemplate and see if mainstream music is actually causing a good or bad impact on your relationship with God, and if you come to the conclusion that it does in fact harm it, then give it a good amount of time (at least a month), to get more used to a lifestyle without mainstream music.


That said, not all music is haram. simply broken down, if you feel something brings you closer to God (i.e. that listening to it there and then reminds you of God), then by all means continue with it.

And Allah (SWT) knows best

[Martyrdom]

HellHound, on 02 August 2012 - 02:10 AM, said:

^I don't want to be disrespectful to the late Sayyid, but there are CLEAR-CUT ahadith which basically forbid about 98% of music out there. So all I'll say is that I disagree with him.

Then he's talking about the 2%.

[Crimson]

mohammad_mahdi, on 02 August 2012 - 07:20 AM, said:

I think you hit the nail on the head there with saying how you had to make the change in a day for will power reasons, and stopping music had more negative effects than good ones...

In my experience, i gave up music because it was quite easy for me to associate it with my previous lifestyle, and so it only made sense to give music up since i gave the rest of it up. it was a gradual process and i did it because i genuinely realised that it had a negative impact. of course, while listening to music, i couldn't see that negative impact, it was a while after giving it up, did i realise how much music clouded my judgement... not that i was ever into drugs, but i imagine this is how somebody would feel after going through rehab for coke or morphine... you look back and feel for the first time you look at things in your life with 20/20 vision.


the negative effects you found after 10 days are a form of withdrawal. it's that phase of confusion, where you have a feel there was something wrong about it all, but you're so used to it's affects that day to day activities (driving, exercise etc) are now bland and unexciting without music... first try to really contemplate and see if mainstream music is actually causing a good or bad impact on your relationship with God, and if you come to the conclusion that it does in fact harm it, then give it a good amount of time (at least a month), to get more used to a lifestyle without mainstream music.


That said, not all music is haram. simply broken down, if you feel something brings you closer to God (i.e. that listening to it there and then reminds you of God), then by all means continue with it.

And Allah (SWT) knows best

The main reason that drove me away from Islam in the first place was all these rules and limitations and I still find out more and more everyday. Music is the only think left that I actually still have with me. By negative effects I mean that it was all to much restrictions and being free to do what I like all my life then suddenly can't do anything was unpleasant, hence where the boredom came from and so on.

In what way did music cloud your judgement if you don't mind me asking, I find it inspirational and I just fail to see the negative effects. What if the mainstream music isn't having a bad impact on my relationship with God, would that still mean I have to give it up?

[Martyrdom]

Crimson, on 02 August 2012 - 08:08 AM, said:

The main reason that drove me away from Islam in the first place was all these rules and limitations and I still find out more and more everyday. Music is the only think left that I actually still have with me. By negative effects I mean that it was all to much restrictions and being free to do what I like all my life then suddenly can't do anything was unpleasant, hence where the boredom came from and so on.

In what way did music cloud your judgement if you don't mind me asking, I find it inspirational and I just fail to see the negative effects. What if the mainstream music isn't having a bad impact on my relationship with God, would that still mean I have to give it up?

Pretty much brother  any music that goes against the teachings of Islam and takes you away from Allah(swt) is forbidden .

[Hasan0404]

Syed Ali Khamenai about ghina:

Question 1: Would you please explain for me the terms ghinā’, music and its instruments in simple and understandable words!

Answer: ghinā’ is the singing specific and suitable for gatherings of merrymaking and debauchery. Both singing and listening to such kind of songs are ḥarām. If the music instruments are played in a way suitable for such gatherings, both using and listening to them are ḥarām. Accordingly, if a piece of music falls under ghinā’ or the aforementioned music, it is considered as ḥarām; otherwise, it is ḥalāl.

[Peace!]

Crimson, on 02 August 2012 - 07:00 AM, said:

Anyway how did people manage to stop listening to music, I'm interested to see what people did.

What worked for me, was that I simply engaged my mind completely in new activities that stimulated and challenged my imagination and intellect.

[Muhammed Ali]

Crimson, on 02 August 2012 - 07:00 AM, said:

So how come none of these negative effects are happening to me?

Ugly Jinn, on 26 July 2012 - 04:14 PM, said:

You will be surprised there is difference of opinion on music, check with your Marja. Music is good and bad, depends how it's used.

Good:
Make sure you have music playing for at least a little while every day; while any music is good, research has found that classical music is especially stimulating to the intellect.
http://health.howstu...our-memory1.htm

I would recommend Mozart and Pachelbel (Canon D) to get you started.

More recent studies have completely refuted those claims.

[Walkin' Fashion Statement]

Crimson, on 02 August 2012 - 07:00 AM, said:

Anyway how did people manage to stop listening to music, I'm interested to see what people did.

Salaam
The lyrics of the songs started disgusting me. I mean most of the catchy ones talked about a guy going to the club and picking out girls and having a one night stand. I was very disturbed by that, and then I told myself, "Why am I listening to this if I feel disturbed by it." It made my heart feel very dirty and evil, and whenever I prayed, I thought to myself, "wow, so I pray and Allah tells us to be this and that and stay away from these things, yet I am listening to them.". I felt very fake, even when I switched to the normal love songs, it was about cheating etc.. I just realized that's not how I am supposed to be. That's not the things my parents raised me to listen to. So at first I switched to Anasheed that had beats and drums, but talked about Allah and muhammad and imams. Then from there on I started listening to latmiyahs, and I would listen to quran before I went to sleep using my earplugs and listened to it throughout my sleep.. It really helped and it protected me against the shaytan and all my music urge just faded, instead latmiyaats and quran became my addiction. And alhamdulillah, I wasn't addicted to music or anything, so that also really helped.

[mohammad_mahdi]

Crimson, on 02 August 2012 - 08:08 AM, said:

The main reason that drove me away from Islam in the first place was all these rules and limitations and I still find out more and more everyday. Music is the only think left that I actually still have with me. By negative effects I mean that it was all to much restrictions and being free to do what I like all my life then suddenly can't do anything was unpleasant, hence where the boredom came from and so on.

In what way did music cloud your judgement if you don't mind me asking, I find it inspirational and I just fail to see the negative effects. What if the mainstream music isn't having a bad impact on my relationship with God, would that still mean I have to give it up?

Crimson, i started this reply off by checking your profile, and i was pleasantly surprised to find out you're 16 years old! AND you're living in a modern enticing metropolitan city like London.. let me first start by praising you for even having the initiative to seek a more God concious lifestyle. I'll be honest and say that at your stage, religion was one of the last things on my mind. Just what you have done so far is something to be proud of, and you should always remember that.

That said, i'm not gonna say i understand anything about your life or background and start condemning you to hell for still listening to music. But i'll ask you this much crimson, how strong is your relationship with Allah? And by that i mean, when you're at home, school, or walking in a mall, how often to do you see Allah? By that i mean, how often do you see the splendour of his mercy and the infinite vastness of his knowledge of His creation. You'll find that the more you get to know Allah, the more you remember Him, and the more you remember Him, the more this world's so called enticements seem trifle and even undesirable to you..


Prayer and dua help a lot in building a relationship, but like any human relationship, it is first built on knowing the one you're having a relationship with in intimate detail. What is your conviction of God's existence? How can i understand it when He says He created us out of mercy?  What positive effects can i see in my life if i implement His laws?

These are the first questions you need to answer, before you taste the true sweetness of worship, and the greatest of all worship is the remembrance of Allah (SWT)


After that point, when you start listening to a rihanna song which talks about grinding with men, or an usher song which tells you tonight is the one night to do whatever you want with a girl, or when you look at the chaotic nonsensical lifestyle and attitude of artists like lady gaga, only then will you notice what sister walkin fashion statement said earlier... you'll start feeling disgusted from it all. And that uplifting feeling you used to get from music, will be replaced with an uplifting feeling you get when you know Allah (SWT) is there 24/7 for you and is hearing everything you tell Him. And trust me bro, that's a feeling the likes of which nothing else compares to.

[Kiyan]

salam
music as brother hassanin rajabali mentioned is but a distraction. if one is distracted how can he think of the almighty allahÓÈÍÇäå æÊÚÇáì, how can he focus and be aware of reality if he is so distracted with music especially if this music contains vulgar language and takes you away from islam. i heard a hadith about the prophet(pbuh) but i dont remember (im paraphrasing) he says that he swears by Allah that there never went a time where he didnt remember that he could die before his eyelids closed when he blinked. this just goes to show the level of awareness we need to strive towards and i can guarantee you that you will never achieve anything near it if you had music in your life thats distracts you.

w salamu3alaykum w ra7matouallah w barakato

[Crimson]

Peace!, on 02 August 2012 - 11:21 PM, said:

What worked for me, was that I simply engaged my mind completely in new activities that stimulated and challenged my imagination and intellect.

Hmm, do you mind telling me one of the activities that helped you?

Walkin, on 03 August 2012 - 12:27 AM, said:

Salaam
The lyrics of the songs started disgusting me. I mean most of the catchy ones talked about a guy going to the club and picking out girls and having a one night stand. I was very disturbed by that, and then I told myself, "Why am I listening to this if I feel disturbed by it." It made my heart feel very dirty and evil, and whenever I prayed, I thought to myself, "wow, so I pray and Allah tells us to be this and that and stay away from these things, yet I am listening to them.". I felt very fake, even when I switched to the normal love songs, it was about cheating etc.. I just realized that's not how I am supposed to be. That's not the things my parents raised me to listen to. So at first I switched to Anasheed that had beats and drums, but talked about Allah and muhammad and imams. Then from there on I started listening to latmiyahs, and I would listen to quran before I went to sleep using my earplugs and listened to it throughout my sleep.. It really helped and it protected me against the shaytan and all my music urge just faded, instead latmiyaats and quran became my addiction. And alhamdulillah, I wasn't addicted to music or anything, so that also really helped.

Hmm, I get where you are coming from by feeling "fake" but well done for changing and you are lucky you weren't addicted to music

mohammad_mahdi, on 03 August 2012 - 01:23 AM, said:

Crimson, i started this reply off by checking your profile, and i was pleasantly surprised to find out you're 16 years old! AND you're living in a modern enticing metropolitan city like London.. let me first start by praising you for even having the initiative to seek a more God concious lifestyle. I'll be honest and say that at your stage, religion was one of the last things on my mind. Just what you have done so far is something to be proud of, and you should always remember that.

That said, i'm not gonna say i understand anything about your life or background and start condemning you to hell for still listening to music. But i'll ask you this much crimson, how strong is your relationship with Allah? And by that i mean, when you're at home, school, or walking in a mall, how often to do you see Allah? By that i mean, how often do you see the splendour of his mercy and the infinite vastness of his knowledge of His creation. You'll find that the more you get to know Allah, the more you remember Him, and the more you remember Him, the more this world's so called enticements seem trifle and even undesirable to you..


Prayer and dua help a lot in building a relationship, but like any human relationship, it is first built on knowing the one you're having a relationship with in intimate detail. What is your conviction of God's existence? How can i understand it when He says He created us out of mercy?  What positive effects can i see in my life if i implement His laws?

These are the first questions you need to answer, before you taste the true sweetness of worship, and the greatest of all worship is the remembrance of Allah (SWT)


After that point, when you start listening to a rihanna song which talks about grinding with men, or an usher song which tells you tonight is the one night to do whatever you want with a girl, or when you look at the chaotic nonsensical lifestyle and attitude of artists like lady gaga, only then will you notice what sister walkin fashion statement said earlier... you'll start feeling disgusted from it all. And that uplifting feeling you used to get from music, will be replaced with an uplifting feeling you get when you know Allah (SWT) is there 24/7 for you and is hearing everything you tell Him. And trust me bro, that's a feeling the likes of which nothing else compares to.

Thanks for that, it is hard and I'm not where I want to be yet but I'm trying. I am very lucky to have some photography skills because every picture I take shows me the amazing creation of Allah which helps me to remember him. Now the reason why I don't want to stop listening to music or not get involved in it is because I studied it, play the piano and also produce, see where I am coming from?

I spent years doing something I like then only to find out it's haram, so I never stopped. But the type of songs you mentioned I can easily stop but what I don't want to stop is playing the piano or listening to the "orchestral" type of music. No lyrics are involved and it's not that type of dancing music, it's more of the inspirational type, to see an example (not going to post one) you can copy and paste this into Youtube "Future World Music - "Ascension" HD" and click the first one. Also artists like 'Two steps from hell'. I studied that kind of music and that's the only type I don't want to give up but I'm not sure if they are haram. What if I use it for good use?

I do try my best to stop everything else and I nearly have so I am feeling closer to God. Most of the things I use to do and like I don't desire them anymore and see how disgusting they are. The only "issues" I apparently have left is music and something else.

[Ugly Jinn]

Muhammed Ali, on 02 August 2012 - 11:29 PM, said:

More recent studies have completely refuted those claims.

Reference?

All credible institutions including medical institutions have confirmed music soothes and improves brain's performance.

How Music Benefits The Brain
http://www.medicalne...cles/246675.php (2 weeks ago)

Even playing music has neurological benefits.
Doing Music Has Big Cognitive Benefits
http://www.medicalda...n-neurology.htm (2 days ago)

All just keep adding more, I've got time on my hands:

Northwestern University study (2012):
Study shows positive effects from a lifetime of music
http://articles.chic...sical-education

Science Daily (2012):
Babies' Brains Benefit from Music Lessons, Even Before They Can Walk and Talk
http://www.scienceda...20509123653.htm

Emory University study (2012)
Music has big brain benefits compared to other leisure pursuits
http://news.emory.ed...ain/campus.html

Edited by Ugly Jinn, 04 August 2012 - 02:30 AM.

[mohammad_mahdi]

Crimson, on 03 August 2012 - 07:39 AM, said:

Hmm, do you mind telling me one of the activities that helped you?




Hmm, I get where you are coming from by feeling "fake" but well done for changing and you are lucky you weren't addicted to music




Thanks for that, it is hard and I'm not where I want to be yet but I'm trying. I am very lucky to have some photography skills because every picture I take shows me the amazing creation of Allah which helps me to remember him. Now the reason why I don't want to stop listening to music or not get involved in it is because I studied it, play the piano and also produce, see where I am coming from?

I spent years doing something I like then only to find out it's haram, so I never stopped. But the type of songs you mentioned I can easily stop but what I don't want to stop is playing the piano or listening to the "orchestral" type of music. No lyrics are involved and it's not that type of dancing music, it's more of the inspirational type, to see an example (not going to post one) you can copy and paste this into Youtube "Future World Music - "Ascension" HD" and click the first one. Also artists like 'Two steps from hell'. I studied that kind of music and that's the only type I don't want to give up but I'm not sure if they are haram. What if I use it for good use?

I do try my best to stop everything else and I nearly have so I am feeling closer to God. Most of the things I use to do and like I don't desire them anymore and see how disgusting they are. The only "issues" I apparently have left is music and something else.

I think you had to explain from the get-go that this is the kind of music you enjoy. As muslims we can be very ginorant and generalise.... music which  lyrics and is usually used in a negative context is very different to instrumentals like piano and violin... If i'm not very mistaken i read somewhere that Ayatulla Khomeini (Qaddasa Allah sirruh) was of the opinion that relaxing classical music was halal... i did a superficial search for the fatwa online but didn't find it. if someone else have seen this fatwa (or indeed one from Sayyid Sistani) can they post it up here??

Instrumental music can be very very powerful, and when used in the right context be a great way of reminding us of Allah (SWT)


I posted this video on another thread, but i think it's a good example of how a classical piece when used in an Islamic context can move the listener to tears

[Crimson]

mohammad_mahdi, on 04 August 2012 - 04:14 AM, said:

I think you had to explain from the get-go that this is the kind of music you enjoy. As muslims we can be very ginorant and generalise.... music which  lyrics and is usually used in a negative context is very different to instrumentals like piano and violin... If i'm not very mistaken i read somewhere that Ayatulla Khomeini (Qaddasa Allah sirruh) was of the opinion that relaxing classical music was halal... i did a superficial search for the fatwa online but didn't find it. if someone else have seen this fatwa (or indeed one from Sayyid Sistani) can they post it up here??

Instrumental music can be very very powerful, and when used in the right context be a great way of reminding us of Allah (SWT)


I posted this video on another thread, but i think it's a good example of how a classical piece when used in an Islamic context can move the listener to tears

Alright thanks for clearing that up and that video reminds me of whats to come, like you said, it makes someone change and get rid of the bad things he/she does. Btw if you ever find the fatwa again please share it with me.

[Peace!]

Crimson, on 03 August 2012 - 07:39 AM, said:

Hmm, do you mind telling me one of the activities that helped you?

Well, I chose to combine two of my childhood passions - love of nature and aesthetics, so took up landscape designing as well as interior designing, which leaves me no time to feel bored at all.

Nature is the ultimate inspiration and I relish the happiness, contentment and serenity that it gives me  – I feel it’s more long-lasting and fulfilling, than the gossamer fickleness of temporal music (earworms not counted LOL!)

To be honest, I don’t regret at all the time I devoted to temporal/ secular music ( I was more into golden oldies, the classic stuff than the popular contemporary scene ) – and as trite as this may sound, it really did help me find myself and be more particular about the things that I wished to retain in my life.

[Walkin' Fashion Statement]

Why did Zahratul's post get deleted?

[Crimson]

Peace!, on 08 August 2012 - 12:16 AM, said:

Well, I chose to combine two of my childhood passions - love of nature and aesthetics, so took up landscape designing as well as interior designing, which leaves me no time to feel bored at all.

Nature is the ultimate inspiration and I relish the happiness, contentment and serenity that it gives me  – I feel it’s more long-lasting and fulfilling, than the gossamer fickleness of temporal music (earworms not counted LOL!)

To be honest, I don’t regret at all the time I devoted to temporal/ secular music ( I was more into golden oldies, the classic stuff than the popular contemporary scene ) – and as trite as this may sound, it really did help me find myself and be more particular about the things that I wished to retain in my life.

Ahh I see, so you took up something else that you had a passion for and yeah, it's amazing when you study and see natures amazing landscapes.

Walkin, on 08 August 2012 - 06:11 AM, said:

Why did Zahratul's post get deleted?

What post :S

[Noura_Shi'a]

Walkin, on 08 August 2012 - 06:11 AM, said:

Why did Zahratul's post get deleted?

Maybe it got accidentally deleted

[John Al-Ameli]

"i smoke i drank Im supposed to stop but i cant im a dawg i love h*es And im addicted to money cash and clothes"

^^
thats lyrics of a song...

Now imagine ur listening to that song daily...how religious r u going to be? U will start doing haram cuz u get used to listening to these stuff

[Noura_Shi'a]

RoAcHy, on 08 August 2012 - 09:39 PM, said:

"i smoke i drank Im supposed to stop but i cant im a dawg i love h*es And im addicted to money cash and clothes"

^^
thats lyrics of a song...

Now imagine ur listening to that song daily...how religious r u going to be? U will start doing haram cuz u get used to listening to these stuff

Lol true, but when ppl say that music is haram generally, it may also be music that doesnt include such lyrics like u wrote. I just got a bit unsure about it, so i wanted some sources from brothers/sisters here.

[John Al-Ameli]

s.Nour, on 09 August 2012 - 11:30 AM, said:

Lol true, but when ppl say that music is haram generally, it may also be music that doesnt include such lyrics like u wrote. I just got a bit unsure about it, so i wanted some sources from brothers/sisters here.

It doesnt need sources its logical..

And u listened to a celine dion love song..cant u see that will only make u think bout love and how u need a guy and love a guy...and u base ur life on depression for not finding love..dont u ever wonder why 11 year olds talk bout having girlfriends and boyfriends..

[Noura_Shi'a]

RoAcHy, on 09 August 2012 - 09:19 PM, said:

It doesnt need sources its logical..

And u listened to a celine dion love song..cant u see that will only make u think bout love and how u need a guy and love a guy...and u base ur life on depression for not finding love..dont u ever wonder why 11 year olds talk bout having girlfriends and boyfriends..

I know its logical when i listen to a song about love or about drinking etc. But music can be more than that, i even heard from someone that claimed religious music can in some cases be not god because of the use of instruments.

I dont have a habit to listen to love songs etc., i think it totally ridiculous when im not even married. But i do listen to music that doesnt have lyrics (instrumental type). Thats why i asked and wanted sources, because if that to is classified as haram, when it isnt just about lyrics as u are talking about. Here is where the things get more complicated, and i got good answers from brothers and sister here.

[John Al-Ameli]

s.Nour, on 10 August 2012 - 11:14 AM, said:

I know its logical when i listen to a song about love or about drinking etc. But music can be more than that, i even heard from someone that claimed religious music can in some cases be not god because of the use of instruments.

I dont have a habit to listen to love songs etc., i think it totally ridiculous when im not even married. But i do listen to music that doesnt have lyrics (instrumental type). Thats why i asked and wanted sources, because if that to is classified as haram, when it isnt just about lyrics as u are talking about. Here is where the things get more complicated, and i got good answers from brothers and sister here.

Instrumental type is no problem...depends who you follow though

[learical]

I was addicted to songs in the past, and use to listen to them almost all the time. I wouldn't say that they took me away from Allah but rather brought me closer to him (since what I was mostly listening to was political/conscious hiphop). Nevertheless, I still quit listening to all forms of music around the time I got married and had kids. The reason behind that was because there is a VERY thin line between halal and haram when it comes to songs and music, and although certain songs could be halal, there music could end up being haram. I didn't want my kids to make that distinction (and fall into the haram while trying to do so).

After quitting, I have never really had the urge to get back into such songs/music.  Although, I do feel that Allah guided me through them since they led me to contemplate upon my life and religion. An example of what I listened to would be:



Not the best example, but it would suffice.

Wasalam