yes, except heavy metal

I love my music and it is my therapy.

Music is a universal language.

My own opinion is that we are to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord".  What constitutes a joyful noise to the Lord?  Certainly not, in my humble opinion, songs which contain obscene, vulgar, and profane language, or which are intended to be sexually exciting.  I am probably just an old "stick in the mud", but I love beautiful music.  I very much enjoy songs of praise to our God, and I also love classical music, such as Mozart, Schubert, Pachebel, Beethoven, etc.  This music is very peaceful and relaxing.  It is calming. 

I believe as we mature, our tastes change and mature as well.  Common sense tells us that God would not be pleased with much of the current musical trends today, but he may be greatly pleased to hear Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven.  (Just my opinion, as I've said, I'm much older than most of you.)

Israfil wrote: Common Sense tells us, if music is a truly a sin why does God make us so talented at creating it?

who said that Allah gave us talent for creating music?

Allah gave us talent to use it in the right place, to use it in understanding the Creator (Allah), His power and might and worshipping Him(alone).

but unfortunately, mankind is using his talent in the wrong places, for example, creating music, which is one of the signs of the hour which i have posted above.

Who says God God gave us talent for music?

By the fact that God is the artisan of the human body....By the fact that he created eveything, every element, every mineral on earth every class of metal. With that said our brains function in accordance to the environement so I think this allows us to develope talents. such as Jazz artist who can make music out of tin or other musicians who make music out of wood sticks etc.. How do we know those Hadiths are accurate? Funny, nahseeds are a form of music (when one listens to it closely) as well as one commencing in the Athan.

salman_s wrote: [Allah gave us talent to use it in the right place, to use it in understanding the Creator (Allah), His power and might and worshipping Him(alone).

So why wouldn't music be something to understanding the creator?

minus those types that Patty mentioned

Birds sing and make songs, which can be musical in itself, I guess birds aren't honouring the creator  

Of course God gave us many talents.  My husband is a brilliant artist, but he would never paint anything pornographic.  The same goes with music or dance.  For instance, I love the ballet and the waltz.  But I would never go watch a strip show, where the girls/guys are very seductive in their "dancing".  He gave many the gift of writing, and we are so fortunate to have many fine authors (I love to read), but this too can be misused.  Personally I would not choose to "read" a Playboy or Playgirl or Hustler magazine.  Nothing said or shown their to honor God (is there.)?

The bottom line is HOW we use the talents God gave us.  I think we all know which talents are appropriate and ones which our Lord would approve of, and those which He would find insulting, vulgar, and contemptable.  I agree with Salman on this one.

I recall an old ABBA song

Thank you for the music, the songs i'm singing
Thanks for all the joy they're bringing
Who can live without it, i ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance what are we?
So i say thank you for the music
For giving it to me

Angel wrote: So why wouldn't music be something to understanding the creator?

music is not the thing that should be used to understand the Creator (Allah). to understand the Creator, Allah has revealed the glorious Qur'an to the final prophet of Allah, that is, Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The Qur'an is a book full of guidance to mankind from the Lord of the alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).  and all of mankind has been ordered by Allah to believe in Allah, to worship Allah (alone), to believe in the Qur'an which has been revealed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and to follow the commandments of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

Angel wrote: Birds sing and make songs, which can be musical in itself, I guess birds aren't honouring the creator

ofcourse , birds do celebrate the praises of their Creator (Allah). all that is in the heavens and on the earth and all that is between them celebrate the praises of their Creator. Allah is not in need of his creation, but the creation is in need of Allah.

Israfil wrote: Who says God God gave us talent for music? By the fact that God is the artisan of the human body....By the fact that he created eveything, every element, every mineral on earth every class of metal. With that said our brains function in accordance to the environement so I think this allows us to develope talents. such as Jazz artist who can make music out of tin or other musicians who make music out of wood sticks etc..

you are being too scientific israfil.

Allah did not order mankind to use his talent for creating music.

salman_s wrote: Angel wrote: So why wouldn't music be something to understanding the creator? music is not the thing that should be used to understand the Creator (Allah). to understand the Creator, Allah has revealed the glorious Qur'an to the final prophet of Allah, that is, Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The Qur'an is a book full of guidance to mankind from the Lord of the alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).  and all of mankind has been ordered by Allah to believe in Allah, to worship Allah (alone), to believe in the Qur'an which has been revealed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and to follow the commandments of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Angel wrote: Birds sing and make songs, which can be musical in itself, I guess birds aren't honouring the creator   ofcourse , birds do celebrate the praises of their Creator (Allah). all that is in the heavens and on the earth and all that is between them celebrate the praises of their Creator. Allah is not in need of his creation, but the creation is in need of Allah.

You contradicted yourself Salman.

I'm more inclined with your second paragraph

The scriptures don't help me personally to understand the creator, give me science, give me creative stuff like music, the world around us, people and at this moment can't think of any more

Scriptures to me is only one part of so many things to understand the creator

Salaam All,

All scholars have unanimous view on the prohibition of all forms of singing and music that incites debauchery, indecency, or sin. As for musical instruments, given the weakness of the evidence indicating that they are forbidden, the rule to be applied here is the one states that all things are originally deemed permissible as long as there is no Shari`ah text that prohibits them.

Singing is no more than melodious words; if these are good, singing is considered good; but if they are bad, such singing is deemed bad. Talk that contains forbidden content is prohibited. What if that talk is accompanied with rhythm and melody?

Scholars agree on the permissibility of singing without instrumental accompaniment and where the content is not prohibited. This sort of singing is allowed only in certain occasions such as: weddings, feasts, welcoming a traveler, and the like. This is based on the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) that states: �He (peace and blessings be upon him) asked, �Have you given the girl (i.e., the bride) anything as a present?� They (the attendants) replied, �Yes.� He asked, 'Did you send a singer along with her?' 'No', said `A'ishah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) then said, 'The Ansar are a people who love poetry. You should have sent along someone who would sing: Here we come, to you we come, greet us as we greet you.'" In this case, we can say that a woman can sing only in front of women and her non-marriageable male kin.

Angel wrote: salman_s wrote: Angel wrote: So why wouldn't music be something to understanding the creator? music is not the thing that should be used to understand the Creator (Allah). to understand the Creator, Allah has revealed the glorious Qur'an to the final prophet of Allah, that is, Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The Qur'an is a book full of guidance to mankind from the Lord of the alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).  and all of mankind has been ordered by Allah to believe in Allah, to worship Allah (alone), to believe in the Qur'an which has been revealed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and to follow the commandments of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Angel wrote: Birds sing and make songs, which can be musical in itself, I guess birds aren't honouring the creator   ofcourse , birds do celebrate the praises of their Creator (Allah). all that is in the heavens and on the earth and all that is between them celebrate the praises of their Creator. Allah is not in need of his creation, but the creation is in need of Allah. The scriptures don't help me personally to understand the creator, give me science, give me creative stuff like music, the world around us, people and at this moment can't think of any more Scriptures to me is only one part of so many things to understand the creator

angel, Allah has mentioned in the Qur'an that the life of this world is a comfort of illusion. this world is nothing. Allah has also revealed in the Qur'an in Chapter Ar-Rahman (The Most Gracious) Whatever is there, everything will perish! And the face of your Lord full of majesty and honour will remain forever ! Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye (both classes of jinn and men) deny ?       i don't remember the verse number.

so for understanding The Creator, don't go for worldly things. this life is temporary. for understanding the Creator, Allah has revealed the Qur'an to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and also Allah has also revealed in the Qur'an many scientific facts regarding the creation of universe how it was created, how it will decay, regarding life and death, regarding minute details of paradise and hell and many such other things which makes us ponder over the might and glory of Allah. angel, i suggest that you go through the translation of the Qur'an atleast once.    

salman_s wrote: Angel wrote: salman_s wrote: Angel wrote: So why wouldn't music be something to understanding the creator? music is not the thing that should be used to understand the Creator (Allah). to understand the Creator, Allah has revealed the glorious Qur'an to the final prophet of Allah, that is, Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The Qur'an is a book full of guidance to mankind from the Lord of the alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).  and all of mankind has been ordered by Allah to believe in Allah, to worship Allah (alone), to believe in the Qur'an which has been revealed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and to follow the commandments of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Angel wrote: Birds sing and make songs, which can be musical in itself, I guess birds aren't honouring the creator   ofcourse , birds do celebrate the praises of their Creator (Allah). all that is in the heavens and on the earth and all that is between them celebrate the praises of their Creator. Allah is not in need of his creation, but the creation is in need of Allah. The scriptures don't help me personally to understand the creator, give me science, give me creative stuff like music, the world around us, people and at this moment can't think of any more Scriptures to me is only one part of so many things to understand the creator angel, Allah has mentioned in the Qur'an that the life of this world is a comfort of illusion. this world is nothing. Allah has also revealed in the Qur'an in Chapter Ar-Rahman (The Most Gracious) Whatever is there, everything will perish! And the face of your Lord full of majesty and honour will remain forever ! Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye (both classes of jinn and men) deny ?       i don't remember the verse number. so for understanding The Creator, don't go for worldly things. this life is temporary. for understanding the Creator, Allah has revealed the Qur'an to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and also Allah has also revealed in the Qur'an many scientific facts regarding the creation of universe how it was created, how it will decay, regarding life and death, regarding minute details of paradise and hell and many such other things which makes us ponder over the might and glory of Allah. angel, i suggest that you go through the translation of the Qur'an atleast once.

also angel, i want to say that Allah has kept his signs and proofs in the creation of this verse itself. so yes you can understand the Creator by looking at this world, what he has created, but not by music, and music is a thing which creates the desire for this world, and we muslims have been told by Allah that you should have the desire for the hereafter as the life of the hereafter is everlasting whereas the present life is temporary as i have already mentioned above.

and ponder over Allah's creations by making reference to the Qur'an -

Allah says in the Qur'an how Allah has spread the earth for His creatures, and He has set the mountains firm, and He has given sleep to us as a rest, and how the night and day follow ach other, the night is when we rest, the day is when we work.

Allah says in the Qur'an in Chapter Ya-Sin  Neither the sun overtakes the moon nor the night outstrips the day. They all float in an orbit (by the will of Allah)      

Allah can be best understood by referring to His word and that is The Qur'an. so i really would want you to go through the translation of the Qur'an atleast once. insha Allah

i made a spelling mistake in the first line of the above post angel. here is the corrected line please read - 

also angel, i want to say that Allah has kept his signs and proofs in the creation of this universe itself.

�The seven heavens and the earth, and all beings therein, declare His glory: there is not a thing but celebrates His praise; And yet ye understand not how they declare His glory! Verily He is Oft-Forbear, Most Forgiving!�  (Quran, Al-Isra, 17: 44).

The verse does not mention God by name, it says He. So it means whoever created these things, they glorify Him. So we start investigating the creation. In the way things are created, they glorify God. This verse is claiming that things themselves provide the proof to us. If we study an atom or a molecule, we will find that their Creator is Absolute. They glorify God with their tongue of disposition; by showing us how they are so perfectly created. Quran is teaching me how I should approach the creation, rather than how things are. Study a creation, and understand who can bring it into existence. Study an atom and understand that it requires absolute wisdom and knowledge to come into existence. This is how the heavens, the earth and all in them glorify God as if they were conscious. From our perspective, and for us to get to know God, this is what God is drawing our attention to.

�There is not a single thing that does not glorify and praise Him� (Quran, Al-Isra, 17:44).

This verse means we cannot say that anything is worthless, because all created things glorify and praise God as if they were conscious. But how can a drop of water say my Creator is Absolute? The verse is so challenging. Orientalists say Muslims are obsessed by God, mock that Muslims claim everything glorifies God, and that Semitic mentality likes to mystify everything. One reason they see it this way is that oneness of God did not develop in Western tradition as in Islam. They don�t have the distinction between existence of God and oneness of that existent God. How do we see and confirm the oneness of God in our life? Quran says go and look at the creation!

The Qir'at of the Qur'an by Sheikh Sudaish (of Saudi Arabia, Mecca) is perhaps the most melodic of all, yet it encompasses the profundity of the creator, the wretchedness of his creation, the completeness of his guidance, the abundance of his sustenance and the gracefulness of his forgives, and the wrath of his punishment.

But this is poetry, and the best of all poetry is indeed the Qur�an. The recitation of the Qur�an aloud is so it reaches the human spirit as a salvation !

Obviously I enjoy reading the Psalms.  They have a splendid melody to me.  I also am deeply enriched by the Gregorian Chants.  We have a song in church called "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation"....which is yet another beautiful song of praise to God.  One of the most beautiful and touching songs (imo) as a Catholic is the Ave Maria which is sung to honor the virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. 

I believe, as I've stated before I think, that the classical compositions are a touch of heaven here on earth.  I believe God gave these talents to certain individuals, just as he gave us many people with extraordinary talents, such as artists, physicians, scientists, religious scholars, etc.  We all have certain talents.  Many times we have talents we don't realize we have, but we should use whatever talents we do have all for the glory of God.  If we are good at talking with, or visiting those who are hurting, either physically or emotionally, then we should do that.  Helping others is one of the greatest talents of all (imo). 

salman_s wrote: Allah has also revealed in the Qur'an in Chapter Ar-Rahman (The Most Gracious) Whatever is there, everything will perish! And the face of your Lord full of majesty and honour will remain forever ! Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye (both classes of jinn and men) deny ?       i don't remember the verse number.

i made a mistake while quoting the translation. here is the corect translation which i have written in bold below :- 

Allah has revealed in the Qur'an in Chapter Ar-Rahman (The Most Gracious)

Whatsoever is on it (the earth) will perish ! And the face of your Lord full of majesty and honour will remain forever ! Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye both (jinn and men) deny?

salman_s wrote: Allah says in the Qur'an in Chapter Ya-Sin  Neither the sun overtakes the moon nor the night outstrips the day. They all float in an orbit (by the will of Allah)

even in this i made a mistake. here is the correct translation which i have written in bold below :-

Allah says in the Qur'an in Chapter Ya-Sin

Neither the sun overtakes the moon nor the night outstrips the day. They all float, each in an orbit (by the will of Allah)