Hamas forbids music For sure, there is debate in the Muslim community at large about music. But the point to make is that a large part of Muslim sentiment is anti-music. not just anti some particular kind of music, but all music. There are several Hadith ( traditions ) that make this explicit. Of course, the Hadith, from our perspective have about the same status as the Apocrypha in the Bible, some regard them as sacred, others as questionable, but there is at least enough sanction for anti-music sentiment that many Muslims take it very seriously. The best known recent case of this was abandonment of all music by Cat Stevens, a convert to Islam in 1977, who ceased performing entirely . He eventually took the name "Yusef Islam." A few years ago, Mr Islam switched to a form of Islam that does allow music and now sings again, but, of course, he basically wrecked his career because of his religion. The following is from today's W Post. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- The Economist, using information from an _Israeli human rights_ (http://gisha.org/UserFiles/File/HiddenMessages/ItemsGazaStrip060510.pdf) organization, _has published_ (http://www.economist.com/node/16264970) a list of items forbidden and allowed by the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. Among the forbidden items? Musical instruments. We're always curious when music takes on a political dimension, so our question today is: Why? Is this about punishing people? Denying the solace of music? Or preventing politically charged musical expression? Hadith Qudsi 19:5: "The Prophet said that Allah commanded him to destroy all the musical instruments, idols, crosses and all the trappings of ignorance."
"There will be peoples of my Community who will hold fornication, silk, wine, and musical instruments to be lawful" — 'Umdat al-Salik r40.0 "On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will pour molten lead into the ears of whoever sits listening to a songstress."
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