We have been asked by a reader (brother S. K. Siddiqui of Hyderabad) if listening to Western music in general, and pop music in particular, is permitted in Islam---keeping in view the fact that pop music is not necessarily part of a film. Our answer is as follows :
Music of all kind, eastern or western, classical or modern, secular or religious, of the films or out of them, is prohibited in Islam. Nonetheless, songs without the accompaniment of musical instruments are permitted. Only simple drums are excluded from the prohibition. More specifically, the serenity obtained through regular 5 times-a-day direct communion with God is at loggerheads with the wild yells of pop music. Islam is the religion of grace. Purging of emotions, if at all desirable, has also to be carried out gracefully. The efforts on the part of a Muslim to imitate the West in matters relating to amusements will result in the emergence of a character similar to that of a professional joker who remains stoically sad at heart.
It may also be pointed out that verse sung without musical instruments can also produce remarkable effects on human mind. Remember ” The Solitary Reaper” ? Even until very recent times our own poets could hold large audiences to rapt attention, moving the people to tears or ecstasy through skillful recitation of their poetry. As is known, Umm-e-Kulthum, the famous Egyptian singer could enchant large crowds with mere humming.
Scientists studying animal behaviour and wasting millions proving points of similarities between animals and human beings (they seem not very sure really of Darwin’s theory yet!) could serve a useful purpose recording songs of birds of different species. Skillfully arranged they can produce remarkable effect on human emotions. Even mute sea-animals are proving to be good singers. Recordings on spectograph show that whales sing, and indeed, sing many themes in haunting voices. Recent studies show that even crickets’ songs can be very interesting to hear and decode. Hawthorne had said about them : “If moonlight could be heard it would sound like that”. You can produce ” Kaleela wa dimna ” on cassettes if you care to !
The point we are trying to drive home is that it is actually a question of in what direction mankind will develop its inborn tastes. Great masters will appear in time to turn them into arts and take them to unthinkable heights. The Prophet (peace on him) was merely throwing a hint when he said “Seek satisfaction tor your appetite for melody through recitation of the Qur’an ”, Now, having developed all our tastes in wrong directions we can not seek Islam’s sanction.