Sami Yusuf: Not a “Nasheed Artist”
Published by Haseeb February 18th, 2006 in Islam, Music, Sami Yusuf, VideosIn response to many comments and e-mails by people to some of my earlier posts on Sami Yusuf’s new album and video condemning Sami Yusuf’s music as haraam and him not being a real nasheed artist, I just thought I’d share this recent interview with you. It also features a couple of live solo performances (with piano) of Al-Mualim, and Ya Ommi (Mother).
*Note: only the introduction to the interview is in arabic, the rest of it is in english”
Q: Define yourself musically. What are you? A Sufi Chanter? A Pop Singer? What are you?
A:… Generally speaking I would consider myself … an artist. … Nasheed is a genre in Islamic and Arabic heritage. But strictly speaking, Nasheed is a form of music that is usually played or performed using minimal instruments, and the focus is on the voice… And we appreciate that and we should keep it classical… We also should not mix different things. We should treasure our heritage. This is something we have on the side and we should not mix it. What I am part of, or what I want to do is good art. I have always wanted to be part of something that is dignified, respectable, nice, promote good morals and values… And for me what better thing to talk about than the Prophet Muhammad 
(peace be upon him) and all the good things that are talked about in Islam and shared in humanity…
and here’s another vid of Sami, this is just him signing the chorus from Hasbi Rabbi without any music:
Very soft spoken.
Salaam
Wheres the article condeming Sami Yusuf? I’m interesting in reading it.
Assalaamu alaikum,
If one wants to convey ‘art’ shouldn’t one do it in the most halal way possible?
“There will be among my ummah people who will regard as permissible zina (adultery), silk, alcohol and ma’aazif (musical instruments)”- Sahih al-Bukhari.
wa salaam
There are minority opinions that hold that such instruments are permissable and because of those opinions we can not really condemn onr are we obligated to correct them, though we may not follow those opinions ourselves. This is what Shaykh Nuh Keller said, the clip on it is on sunnipath if you check it out. I kind of have an interpreation of that hadith but I wo’nt say it explains why people may use musicle instruemtsn despite thta hadith.
and Allah
knows best.
Salam Haseeb & all!yeah where are these comments earlier about Sami Yusuf? Anywayz, my thoughts I are very much like Danya. It is widely stated that people cannot claim Music is not categorically Haram, as its not stated in the QURAN.
he looks like somebody who really strives to understand Islams peaceful image. Lets all look at intention and realise that between him and Allah 
(SWT) he will be answerable too.
His lyrics and themes are on Islamic and moral issues. A speaker who spoke on this was saying its mainly the beat. And he surely doesn’t have a double bass going on and does use minimal instruments to enhance. there are definitely bigger bigger issues that Muslims are doing unIslamic, and Mash-Allah
But on a side note, and I’m not some regimental holier than thou kind of person, but seeing that clip with the Arab presenters, wow first how modern they all were, and second was it really necessary to shake hands. I mean I know there are circumstances with non-Muslims, that for the sake of offense one would or inevitabally and obviously for medical reasons have tp have physical contact, but I was thinking Muslim channel, Musllim country, Muslim presenters or at least people who are well acquainted with Arab tradition and Islam, it was a bit unneccesary.
. I wish there was more of the 2nd clip. Anyway, don’t know if I sound obsessed, I don’t mean to, just my first hearing or seeing of an interview.
Anyway he sounded very calm and quiet spoken. (He reminds me of this med student who gives lectures at unis). Sheesh he knows six languages, Mash-Allah
Wasalam
Hey everyone,
I wrote an entry on this topic a while back on my blog. I am warning you, it is long, though - rather than my comment here, I’d just like to refer people there since I have put a lot of thought into this myself, being a former musician and lover of music myself (and by lover of music I don’t mean listened to one type of music/rap/hip-hop all the time
).
http://mujahada.blogspot.com/2005/11/music-remembrance-of-god-jihad.htm
Salamsl
Yea, another word of warning, Sa-lame’s article is reallly long. btw that link doesnt work. Try this one:
http://mujahada.blogspot.com/2005/11/music-remembrance-of-god-jihad.html
Just re read my last post and at the end I meant to say first time I have seen or heard an interview of Sami Yusuf and not of everyone. I am rubbish at posting my thoughts online, they always come out wrong.
Insh-Allah
, I will read that loooooooong post, and will get back to you in a year’s time Insh-Allah 
. ;). So much to read and so little time!
“Muslim channel”, “Musllim” country, “Muslim” presenters
and i really agree Hina!!! WHY SHAKE HANDS??!?!?!!!!?!?
Thanks Haseeb - I’m not that web savvy as you can tell, for I leave off a letter at the end of h-t-m-l!
Salaam
Saleem
Hina, it doesn’t have to be stated in the Quran to be haraam, there are clear hadeeths, here’s one:
“There will be people among my ummah who regard as permissible zina, silk, alcohol and musical instruments.”
I think that’s clear enough, and if you really want an ayat from the Quran:
“…So take what the Messenger assigns to you, and deny yourselves that which he withholds from you. And fear Allah
; for Allah 
is strict in Punishment.” [59:7]
Assalamu Alaykum
Just a quick point: I think it’s important that we refrain from talking on behalf of God by saying “this is haram, this is halal” without having the WHOLE picture, where the “whole picture” =
all hadith, all ayahs of the Quran that could possibly pertain to the topic, deep knowledge of arabic, context of revelation, knowledge of what the great commentators of the past have said, study of logic, prosody and all the different sciences that people traditionally had to learn to say, “in my opinion, Allah
would want us to do this… …and Allahu Alim.”
Believe it or not, even the above hadith “There will be people among my ummah who regard as permissible zina, silk, alcohol and musical instruments” has a different interpretation from what most people think is ’so clear’ from it.
In terms of saying what Allah
(swt) wants from us, let’s leave it to those who have dedicated their lives to the Book and the Sunnah - our scholars - not to people like you and me who are busy studying anything but Islam and then feel they have the authority to tell others what God says about an issue - this is for myself as much as it is for you and anyone else, because I do find myself doing this from time to time and I have to stop myself.
Like the sister said above, the fact that there is a minority opinion amongst the scholars means we can’t condemn it, but in following that opinion or not you should consult a scholar to see if your situation really warrants doing that or not.
Regards.
PS - I’m sorry if I came off harsh, I don’t meant to :T
Wa3aliakum assalamu wara7matuAllah,
i didn’t say anything before based on my own opinion. it was the opinion of “those who have dedicated their lives to the Book and the Sunnah “.. so my suggestion to you is: i did my research, why don’t you go do yours.
umm i think that the hadith quoted is weak, but you should prob double check.
Here’s a scholorly opinion stating that it is not haram.
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503544202
To anonymous: salams,
Oh ok sorry I didn’t realize that you were citing a scholarly source.
I assumed that you were giving your own interpretation of the ayat and hadith that you quoted, because that’s what a lot of people tend to do… …you didn’t mention a scholarly source of interpretation for them, but I was wrong in assuming that you were relating an interpretation of the hadith and ayat on your own authority…
sorry about that - again, sorry if I came off harsh before.
Salaams.
Well, I’m sure we can all agree on the fact that music that comes from most of the radio stations are haram because of their words and the concepts they are often associated with.
” “Muslim channel”, “Musllim” country, “Muslim” presenters ”
all in all a very bizarre way of talking about lebannon. maybe some people are unaware of mbc’s reputation, but others are not. that probably set a record for the tamest thing ever in the history of mbc. and Allah
knows best.
Esselamu aleykum
SAMI YUSUF tan cok cok razı olsun işlerinin yolunda gitmesini nasipeylesın inşAllah 
.Başarılarının ve müziklerinin devamını cenabı hakkın gücü ile istiyoruz
Allah
hi everyone you all look very good friends of mine.
well thanks god for such an artist to gather us together.
I’ll be so glad to talk to any of my friends.
farzad79520455@yahoo.com
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.I LOVE YOU Allah
. ILOVE YOU MUHAMMED, I LOVE YOU SAMİYUSUF.THANK YOU.
assalamualykum
(SWT)FOGIVE ME(AMEEN)
i just wanna ask one single question…Todays generation a lot of people like to listen music……so i think if they listen to this nasheeds atleast they will be listening some thing related to islam other than stupid pop songs and crap!!!!!!and they do get to know some knowledge.i might be wrong but i m just posting my opinion……IF I AM WRONG MAY Allah
allahafiz
walaikumaslaam
thank u sister naila, i agree, u are correct.
wasalaam
Here is another Hadith,
“Innama Bu^ithtu Li’asHaqal ‘Awtar Wal Mazameer.”
which means:
“I was sent to forbid musical instruments that contain strings and pipes.” This includes the Piano and the Guitar because they both have strings.
Here is another Hadith,
“Innama Bu^ithtu Li’amHaqal ‘Awtar Wal Mazameer.”
which means:
“I was sent to forbid musical instruments that contain strings and pipes.” This includes the Piano and the Guitar because they both have strings.
SALAM 2 ALL THE PPL OUT THERE.SEE THE MAIN PROBLEM OF MUSLIMS IS THAT THEY ALWAYZ CRITISIZE.REALLY ITS BECOMING A HOBBY OF MUSLIMS 2 CRITISIZE PPL LIKE OH HE HAS A SHORT BEARD,HEY HE IS SHOWING NON-MUSLIMS IN HIS VIDEO,HE USED MORE THEN 1 MUSICAL INSTRUMENT IN HIS SONG,HE IS SHAKING HAND.ITS ALL RUBBISH GUYS.HAVE U EVER HEARD OF SUFI SAINTS OF ISLAM MANY OF THEM HAVE SHORT BEARDS,MANY PLAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENT,MANY HAVE WRITTEN SONGS DO U KNOW THT FEW OF THE SUFI SAINTS WERE EUNUCH.IN THE EYES OF Allah
EVERYONE IS EQUAL WE HAVE NO RIGHT 2 CRITISIZE A PERSON.IF A PERSON IS DOING SOMETHING GOOD 4 ISLAM WE DONT APPRECIATE HIM BUT READY 2 CRITISIZE HIM.THTS THE MAIN REASON OF THE DOWNFALL OF MUSLIMS.SAMI IS A VERY TALENTED ARTIST.IF U THINK THT MUZIK IS NOT ALLOWED IN ISLAM FINE ITS YR THINKING BUT ONLY CONCENTRATE ON THE WORDS OF HIS SONGS AND THE MESSEGE IN THEM.ITS THE TIME TO UNITE.MAY Allah 
BLESS ALL OF U.W.SALAM
hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Asalamu alaikum,
I just wanted to write that if we’re oncerned with being wrong in religion then why not follow the stritest view?
A scholar says music is halal, another says music is haram. So if we follow the stricter version (option B) then we have more chance of being right and won’t be punished.
So take the strictest teachings from the great scholars (salafi, hanafi, wahabi, tablighi) etc and the percentage of following the correct teaching will be higher.
What say?
Jazakallah
Im really confused, i know music is haram, but is music haram with islamic talks ? ie sami yusuf, blak stone ? :s :s :s
ASALAMU ALAIKUMMMMM ALL OUR MUSLIMS THANK YOU
instrumental music is haram because thats one of the things Allah
gave to shaytan as for FITNAH to get to muslims to blacken their hearts ” ‘I asked Allah 
to give me a house, and He gave me the public baths.
to give me a temple, and he gave me the marketplace as my temple.
to give me a book. He gave me the book of poetry as my book.
for helpers. Allah 
gave me those who believe in free will.
to give me brothers and sisters, and Allah 
gave me the squanders who spend their money on evil things. Allah 
I asked Allah
I asked Allah
I asked for a call to prayer, and He gave me the dancing music.
I asked for someone to share my bed, and He gave me the drunkard.
I asked Allah
I asked Allah
“surely the squanders are the Devil’s brethren” (Surah Bani Isr’ail, Ayat 27). Saalam
music is totally haram we should listen toit because it isnt permissible all the drum beats and instrument specialli the only the one with great meaning and no music maybe in little backround t for da sake of our religion