Beyond Literal

By Ramaa Sharma, "Is there room for music in Islam?" - BBC London - London, UK
[Old News] Thursday, December 20, 2007

Some Muslims believe music is "haram," forbidden in Shariah Law, but one East London Sheikh believes Sufi music can be a passage to God

The use of music in Islam is not as obvious as it appears in most other religions. Buoyant choirs, classical instruments and ceremonial processions do not accompany prayers as they do in many eastern faiths for example.

This could be due to the fact many Muslims interpret the use of melody and musical instruments as "haram" or forbidden in Islam. Some believe the Hadeeth scripture (words of the Prophet) states that the sounds of bells, in particular, have the devil behind them.

Other reservations include the belief that there is only one possible way to reach God, and that would be on judgement day. However, Sufis believe it is possible to reach God during ones life and that’s through musical meditation.

Sheikh Alley, a Malaysian priest based in East London says there is room for music in Islam and that you just need to have an understanding of its relevance. He says: - “We are living in an age of confusion, a very complicated age where people have diverted from their own tradition. They may understand the tradition that they have, but not at its core.

People tend to focus on the literal and not beyond literal. They have a shallow understanding of that aspect.”

On Thursday evenings in Leyton, many devout Muslims get together for “Dhikr.” A session whereby the group chant recitations from the Qu’ran and also sing "Naseeds" or praises of the Prophet.

Nazia Abbasi attends the Sheikh's sermons and Dhikr regularly, she says the sessions help her to pray. Nazia Abbasi says:

“The recitation of the Dhikr has helped me to focus more internally. It has allowed me to meditate and think about the state of my heart and mind."

The Sheikh's followers believe his lineage stems back to the Prophet himself. So his appreciation for Sufi Musicians is permeating as a result.

Sufi Musicians
Historically, Hazrat Inayet Khan and poet Jalaluddin Rumi first drew attention to this mystic tradition. The late Ustad Nusret Fateh Ali Khan was and still is considered a highly accomplished Qawalli artist. His passionate renditions were known to engage people of all faiths.

The Sufi Daf
The ‘daf,’ is a deep sounding bass drum, traditionally used by Sufis in the Middle East. Many artists believe the sound of the daf simulates the sound of a heart beat.

[To listen to the full interview with Shaykh Alley, click on the title of this article in order to go to the original article, then click on to the audio links on the right side of the article. Should it require a password, just press the "enter" key on your keyboard, and it should start].