Sami Yusuf replies to Sister Yvonne Ridleys article
Published by Haseeb June 18th, 2006 in Current News, IslamBack in April, 2006, Sister Yvonne Ridley (the British Journalist captured and released by the Taliban back in 2001, and then later converted to Islam) wrote an article for the ‘Daily Muslims’ newspaper/website criticizing brother Muslim musicians/singers for their ‘pop music culture’ that they apparently propagate. I chose not to publish this article because I did not agree with her points in her article, yet I still respect the sister and do not want others thinking bad about her because of her assumptions and generalizations therein.
In May, 2006, one of the groups criticized in the article, Mecca2Medina, responded to the article in the form of a song which you can listen to here: Mecca2Medina - Not a Boy Band (mp3 format - courtesy of Mujahideenryder.net)
And even more recently, this month, our dear brother Sami Yusuf finally replied with an open letter. Mashallah, its very respectful and well-written. I love how he touched on the controversial issue of music in Islam, national identity, the dynamism and tolerance of Islam (he even cited Shaykh Umar Faruq Abdullah!) Inshallah i hope this issue becomes resolved soon. Id like to see Sister Yvonne at one of Sami’s upcoming concerts shaking hands publicly - oh wait never mind, lol. Maybe an air-high-five?
Here is Sami Yusuf’s letter in its entirety:
Open Letter From Sami Yusuf to Yvonne Riddley
17/06/06
Dear Yvonne,
Peace and blessings of God be upon you.
Your recent article on ‘Pop Culture in the Name of Islam’ has been brought to my attention. I commend you for voicing your opinion and raising some very important issues – albeit in a very provocative manner. I thought it would be useful to share some of my thoughts with you on this matter.
As a Muslim artist, I regularly seek clarification and advice from world-renowned scholars on art, music, singing and culture. Be informed that the subject of music is one of the most controversial topics in Islamic Jurisprudence. I respect those who consider music to be haram. Yes eminent scholars of our past have opined such. However, I respect and follow the opinion of other eminent scholars – classical and contemporary, who permit singing and the use of musical instruments. The well-established jurisprudential rule states that ‘in matters where there is ikhtilaf (differences of opinion) there is to be no condemnation of either opinion.’ This is from the beauty of the religion of Islam. The diversity of our cultural, legal and social traditions is something we are in dire need of celebrating not condemning. So let’s agree to disagree on this one.
The obsessive fascination of fans towards any celebrity - be it in arts, music, politics, media, etc - to the point of hysteria and hero-worshipping is definitely unhealthy not to mention un-Islamic. Of course, as Muslims, we are required to abide by certain etiquettes in whatever situation we may find ourselves in. However, I definitely did not see girls dancing or behaving indecently in any of my concerts. To state otherwise is a gross exaggeration if not an outright fallacy. And if indeed that did take place then let’s deal with it in the true Prophetic tradition - a tradition that imparts love, mercy, tolerance and wisdom. Let me share with you the story of the Bedouin who came to the Prophet’s mosque and started urinating in the mosque itself. The Companions rushed to grab him and give him a ‘good beating.’ But the Prophet did not allow them to do so and told them to let him be. After the Bedouin had urinated, the Prophet asked his Companions to bring a bucket of water and wash the place. Afterwards he called the man and with gentleness and affection explained to him that this was a place of worship and that it should be kept clean. Though I have to say that had the Bedouin been around today he would be lucky to get away with just a ‘good beating’!
Indeed the state of contemporary mainstream music is one dominated by celebrity worship, materialism and the constant promotion of a consumerist culture that seeks only to derive instant emotional and physical gratification. The arts industry in general – and the music industry specifically – is being commercialised at the expense of art itself. We don’t value good art or good music anymore – it’s about what can sell most in the market. In the midst of all this, it is upon all conscious and responsible artists who look beyond the commercial to work in refining arts and music. Apart from entertaining audiences, music is a powerful medium to communicate values and social messages. In these times where heinous crimes against humanity are being committed, we as artists – Muslims or non-Muslims, British or non-British – have a duty to use this medium to bring some sanity to this world of unrest, fear, violence, terror and war. Human life and dignity are values that should be cherished and championed by all. Had you listened carefully to the songs in my latest album which is actually entitled ‘My Ummah’ before hastily passing judgements, you would have noticed my modest attempt at addressing issues facing the global Muslim community – such as regaining our lost legacy in all spheres of human life, oppression in different parts of the Muslim world, Aids, landmines, poverty and freedom to wear the hijab.
This leads me to another important issue which you raised – that of identity and culture. Who are we? How do we define ourselves? What do we stand for? Let me remind you again – I am a British Muslim. Proud to be Muslim and proud to be British! Why? Because this is what Islam teaches me to be – loyal towards my faith and my country. Throughout our rich history, wherever Muslims settled they adopted and fused the best aspects of the local culture/society with Islamic teachings and traditions. As Dr. Umar Faruq Abdallah, a leading American Muslim scholar and thinker writes in ‘Islam the Cultural Imperative’:
In history, Islam showed itself to be culturally friendly and, in that regard, has been likened to a crystal clear river. Its waters (Islam) are pure, sweet, and life-giving but—having no color of their own—reflect the bedrock (indigenous culture) over which they flow. In China, Islam looked Chinese; in Mali, it looked African. Sustained cultural relevance to distinct peoples, diverse places, and different times underlay Islam’s long success as a global civilization.
At a time when leading Muslim scholars and thinkers have reached an advanced stage in crystallising theories of citizenship and positive integration into Western societies, any discussion of renouncing parts of our identity is simply ridiculous, dangerous and destructive – especially for someone who has no other homeland. Such emotional fist-pumping and chest-pounding about renouncing our British identity may seem attractive to a minority of Muslim youth, but as Muslims in positions of influence like yourself, we should not play to these base instincts. Rather, we should try to be more far-sighted and responsible in our discourse and not sacrifice this in the pursuit of tabloid-style sensationalist journalism.
Do you not see the Prophet of Islam shedding tears whilst migrating from Makkah – his beloved homeland to Madina despite the persecution he suffered at the hands of its people. Britain is my home. I was raised here as a child, I went to school here, most of my friends – Muslims and non-Muslims - are British and my earliest as well as fondest memories are rooted here. Does being British mean I take pride in the oppressive and exploitative colonial past of Britain? Does it mean I support the British invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq? Does it mean I support the Anti-Terrorism Act? Does it mean I support the erosion of civil liberties and human rights? Of course not! But Yvonne, let us be fair and not forget that it was in Britain that the world witnessed the largest anti-war demonstration – a testimony to the moral consciousness of the British public. I too was in that demonstration voicing my discontent over the foreign policies of our government. Although we have our fair share of racism, Islamophobia, discrimination, under-representation – and in no way am I claiming that we live in a utopian society, but I still believe that British society is amongst the most tolerant, open, liberal, multi-cultural and inclusive societies in the world. We don’t need to go far but Muslims in the Continent would envy the liberties and opportunities that British Muslims take for granted. Actually the real debate that needs to take place is how are we to shape this emerging British / European / Western Muslim identity and what direction it should take. I see my work a humble contribution towards that end.
You are critical of my mention that the Metropolitan Police is inclusive of Muslims. By God, who are you depending on to protect and safeguard our streets? Yes, there is no doubt that the Metropolitan Police have committed a series of grave mistakes and blunders – the recent Forest Gate incident is one such example and the Police must be held fully accountable for their actions. But we as Britons and Muslims have a religious and civic obligation to help maintain a safe and secure Britain. This actually raises serious questions about the participation of British Muslims not just in the Metropolitan Police but in mainstream civil society. We have three options as a community: [1] To assimilate and lose our cultural, ethnic and even religious roots. [2] To ghettoise and divorce ourselves from society and face extermination. [3] To positively integrate and contribute to society whilst remaining loyal to both faith and country. I – like the vast majority Muslims – have chosen option three. We need to build trust and partnerships with civil institutions and engage with them. This path entails that we be active members in our communities and societies; that we participate at all levels of society from politics to sports, from academia to arts, from business to media; that we reserve and exercise the right of dissent and criticism; that we join our fellow citizens in building a safe, peaceful, tolerant and pluralistic society that embodies the values of freedom and justice. Thus I commend you for standing in the last European Elections, General Elections and the recent Council Elections as a candidate in order to get your views heard, to make an impact, and to represent British people – although I hope you have better luck next time. Positive engagement – not anarchist ranting -– is the path we must tread.
It is true that the state of the global Muslim community is saddening but are we meant to live in perpetual grieving and lamenting and dress in black? Despite all the oppression and persecution suffered by the Prophet, he would always find time to celebrate the different joyful moments in life such as marriages, births, Eids and other happy occasions. He, peace and blessings of God be upon him, also found time to enjoy poetry and even had appointed a personal poet – the notable companion Hassan ibn Thabit.
Maintaining balance and adopting the middle way is the key in these troubled times of ours. Extremism and extremists have no place in Islam and in our civil societies. “Perished are the extremists†is a famous Prophetic tradition. Extremism is not a problem unique to Islam. Every religion, every way of life, every ideology has its puritans and those willing to distort and misinterpret it to meet their own agenda. And these are no different to those that commit acts of terror, who preach extremism, and who sow seeds of hatred in the name if Islam. There is no denying that Muslims in places like Palestine, Iraq, Kashmir and Chechnya are facing oppression and tragedy every day, and both the Muslim world and the West need to come together to solve these problems in the greater interest of humanity. Western governments in particular must understand that to help the majority of Muslims defeat the minority of extremists, they must assist us in eradicating the daily humiliation faced by Muslims across many parts of the world. Ending this humiliation is the only way forward for us.
You have every right to criticise and disagree with me or anyone else for that matter, and I always welcome any advice and constructive criticism for I know my defects and shortcomings are many. I am guided by the ancient wisdom which states ‘May God have mercy on the one who shows me my defects – for that is the best gift he could give me.’ However, in the Islamic tradition there are adab (ethics) of criticism and disagreement. I know you wrote your article with sincerity and zeal, but on a more personal level, I was deeply pained and saddened by the hostile tone and the vulgar style of your language that was brimming with sarcasm and was clearly un-Islamic, indecent and a gross violation of the beautiful teachings of our beloved Prophet who said “I was not sent except to perfect your manners.†Using words such as “astagfirullah dude,†“lap-dancing,†‘whooping and dancing,†and describing the volunteer stewards as “pipe cleaners†and “bulldozers†are inappropriate to say the very least. What shocked and even angered me was the way you shamelessly insulted our pure innocent sisters who were supporting a charity concert by describing them as “fluffersâ€! (Incidentally, these very sisters managed to raise over £100,000 for orphans all over the world.) I – like the vast majority of those who read your article – was blissfully ignorant about the very existence of this disgusting obscene word, and I would question the wisdom of introducing it to the vocabulary of your readers. As to my performances, I always consciously endeavour to be responsible, respectable, modest and dignified on stage.
It has been my approach that whenever personal criticism is levelled at me I ignore it and get on with my work, as my philosophy in life is to build and not destroy, and to unite not divide. However, on this occasion I felt duty-bound to respond because of the dangerous ideas and notions contained in your article. Yvonne, let us work together as fellow Muslims and Britons in building a better future for our community and all human beings and strive to make our world a safer, more peaceful, tolerant and prosperous place.
Yours faithfully,
Sami Yusuf
124 Responses to “Sami Yusuf replies to Sister Yvonne Ridleys article”
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MashaAllah, he is great. We should take him as an example. May Allah
bless our brother and grant him everything he wants.
Lets stop the opinions and justifications and get back to Quraan and Sunnah!!!!
Volume 7, Book 69, Number 494v:
Narrated Abu ‘Amir or Abu Malik Al-Ash’ari:
that he heard the Prophet saying, “From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as lawful. And there will be some people who will stay near the side of a mountain and in the evening their shepherd will come to them with their sheep and ask them for something, but they will say to him, ‘Return to us tomorrow.’ Allah
will destroy them during the night and will let the mountain fall on them, and He will transform the rest of them into monkeys and pigs and they will remain so till the Day of Resurrection.â€
Allahu Akbar!!!!!!!!!
see? it’s true, good will ALWAYS triumph over evil!!! insha’Allah
. 
thanx bro.Haseeb
man ur so lucky, i take the heat, u get nice comments
salam aalaykum dear beloved brother sami yusuf and all muslims in everywhere…firstly I respect your viewpoint about music in islamic culture…but dear sami have you ever heard about hadith of our beloved Prophet Muhammed
about people who will make music hallal ..it is hadith sahih …that mean that music actually is haram…dear sami I love you and I respect you..if you really love Allah 
and you love our beloved Prophet Muhammed 
…you want to join him in paradise…you want to see him and to touch his honourable hands…to please him in life in hereafter..dear sami..you have to obey him in everything in your life …every action every each moment…please brother…think again about wat you really do..is it good or not…besides this your voice is very very very beatiful and wonderful it touches our heart before ears…words are wonderful …so why you have to use musical instruments…you needn’t dear sami…at the end I hope that my humble message will be heard by our beloved brother sami yusuf…We advise you because we love you and we respect you very much..may Allah 
bless you dear..all of you …All ummah…salam aalaykum
your beloved sister rahma
our beloved prophet teaches us to follow him in our life in order to be with him in paradise god willing…to do what he teaches us and to avoid anything he warns us of it this is the true love dear sami….again dear sami avoid anything could …………..please
your beloved sister rahma
I don´t want to say something wrong, but I also don´t understand why music should be haram. I read this script of Yusuf Islam on Haseeb´s site and it seems to be very logical and other scholars also say that music is healthy.
When white people convert to Islam, it worries me
boy that was long- but a good read.i found sister Yvonne’s article quite harsh and
at the language used but Sami responded in a very good manner, very polite and respectful.
good on ya
offcourse, politeness is what people to listen to, lesson of the day.
If you want your opinions to be stated be in the most respectful manner ever.
I think Sami Yusuf should not be blamed about the hijabi girls acting this way.
Whether or not he uses musical instruments in his singing nasheeds is controversial. They seem nice but I dont agree with it.
Loving the land you come from is important, however, I am not sure if this applies to non-muslim lands.
Certainly, loyalty could be in correcting the mistakes or telling the truth or advising your land to do the right thing.
However, loyalty to God or Islam comes before loyalty to any land, be it muslim or non-muslim. You know, if Jehova’s Witnesses don’t get bad rep for doing this then why should we?
Jehova Witnesses don’t go around saying I am proud to be American, they don’t stand up for the pledge, they don’t participate in military excursions, then why do we, muslims
who have also similar reasons or belief in this aspect get branded a 5th column.
How many African Americans do you know that would have been proud to be Americans in the 1960s?
Better yet, how many non-Americans do you know that if they saw an African American in their country would think, he is an American.
If you travel to the world as a muslim outside of USA or England or whatever, will the world see you as an American as a British, or simple as a Muslim; maybe a middle easterner, maybe a pakistani.
It is kinda like the Invisible Man.
Come on people, you guys are Brown, Arab, Black.
Don’t try to be White.
Sami Yusuf is pure beauty…..I love the way he wrote his response with such grace, intelligence n courtesy.
Alot of the Taliban’s craziness seems to have rubbed off on Yvonne Ridley
I’M GOING TO SYRIA SOON. DOES ANYONE WANT ME TO TAKE/BRING ANYTHING? 0==(D)
i agree with usma and ahmed zihni. Its an irony that a born Muslim has to bring the less regimental view (if u like) to a convert/revert.
Whatever sister Yvonne’s opinion was, which is an opinion meaning a basis of interpretation, the way she presented it shocked me. Such a beautiful faultless reply by Sami Yusuf.
I really hope pray swaying-towards-OTT-extreme views is controlled, as she is a significant mouthpiece for Muslims.
oh yeah also forgot to commend mecca2madina. What a good idea it was to respond with a rap. big up!
“When white people convert to Islam, it worries me”
“Don’t try to be White.”
It’s always a pleasure to see people generalizing, especially if then they pretend other people to not generalize reguarding them….
i agree with what your saying ana. however, i understand and I’m sure u probably can what was trying to be said. Personally, I have seen certain ‘converts’ (white is the nonsensical word to use, as white people can be born in a Muslim family and also white is so generic, English? American? Italian? mix?),who have gone to an extreme end of Islam, where it can provide extra detriment to Islam’s name. Non-muslims think they have been taken over by this ultra cult movement, when Islam is as humanist a religion as can be. That is when I get worried too, for Islam’s sake.
Mostly, and the most pleasing things to see is the wonderful reformation of a character (whatever background)when someone chooses to become a humble Muslim, with full akhlaq (manners) and adaab and thats when I am the most satisfied.
If we just stopped labelling people the world would have been a better place.
Think before you speak.
‘ Whoever believes in Allah
and the day of judgement shall speak good or keep quite’
If we truely love the deen whats stopping us to implement it?
Salamu Alikum,
Firstly a note to Ahmed Zihni for his:
“Alot of the Taliban’s craziness seems to have rubbed off on Yvonne Ridley”
Akhee this is backbiting and to be avoided in future.
SWT say in the Qur’an:
—–
Secondly, just becuase Sister Yvonne’s article was a bit ‘direct’ and had a few harsh words does not neccessarily mean she is ‘Extreme’.
—–
Thirdly with regards to Music does Allah
“And of mankind are those who purchase idle talks to mislead (others) from the Path of Allah
”.
This has been interpretated by many ‘Ulamah including ibn Abbas RA, Mujaahid (see tafsir at-Tabari), Hasan Al-Basri (see tafsir ibn Kathir) amongst many other scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah that it is revealed with regards to MUSIC and SINGING where here the words “idle talk” refers to all speech that contradivts the way of a muslim such as gossiping, singing, backbiting, slandering and all other forms of speech that leads to disobedience.
Then we have many ahadith including the one where Rasulallah SAW said:
“Among my Ummah there will be people who permit zinaa, silk, alcohol and musical instruments….” related in Bukhari.
So why still go about this music business? Also lets look at the harms of music. It leads to waste of time, leads to over praising of the singers as both br Sami and s. Yvonne agreed to and we all agree, waste of money with can be spent giving to charity then buying CDs but most importantly is acts as a diversion from the Qur’an.
again: MUSIC DIVERTS FROM THE QUR’AN.
How many of us rather than listening to the Beautiful words and memorising the Speech of Allah
SWT we instead waste our times with music? I challenge everyone that every minute they listen to Music they go and listen to themselve recite the Qur’an an equal number of times. We walk down the streets singing such songs but yet we dont race to gain the rewards for each letter we recite along the same journey.
Respect to both Br. Sami and St. Yvonne.
I urge everyone to research or re-research this issue of music with an openmind and without letting thier own desire get in the way. SubhanAllah I would love to listen to music but i know its haram- cz we worship Allah
SWT not our won desires.
SubhanAllah we need to change ourselves and our condition so that Allah
SWT may change it for us, Ameen.
Ameen! Abu Ilyas perfect point I agree 100%. Also I think that if someone wants to listen to music then thats their own business. But dont try to claim that Haraam is Halaal. Thats worse than listening to Music thats an innovation. and an innovation is a misguidance which leads to the Hell Fire. And Alllah knows best
Wouldn’t that mean that all the music is exactly the same (so it makes no difference if one sings about God or about… ok you know the usual pop/hiphop themes :-S) and that all the people have exactly the same perception/way of living the music? :-S
And people like hamza yusuf must be bad aswell and yusuf estes because they are white.
Fear Allah
Asalamualikum
Insha’Allah
that is the end to this heated debate over ‘pop culture’ in Islam, an issue which was so heavily argued simply because it is an issue, even if it was presented in a vulgar manner. I really think Sami Yusuf responded in a very articulate manner, something which was missing from Yvonne Ridley’s article (even if it is her job to provoke people to respond). I think that what we really need to do is look at ourselves and see if we really are doing something wrong. Rather then spending all our time criticizing each other - if we just take a step back and amend those mistakes that we are making in our own lives then we can start to change society for the better.
Good work with the site by the way, it looks like K2 and the Islamic praise plugin have really worked for you!
Fatwa on Music, Muscians and Shari’ah by Mahmud Shaltut, the late Shaykh of
Al-Azhar
[Shaykh Mahmud Shaltut (1960) was the rector of Al-Azhar University,
probably the most prestigious academic religious institution in the
contemporary Muslim world and a jurist by profession]
The fatwa was written in response to a letter of enquiry about the very
subject of this paper. The fatwa appeared in a collection of legal rulings
by Shaltut on various religious, economic, political and social questions.
After lamenting on the lack of consensus on this issue through centuries,
the author repeats the oft-stated conditional approval of music, basing his
approval on the following four arguments.
First, he maintains that listening to or performing music, like tasting
delicious foods, feeling soft cloths, smelling pleasant odours, seeing
beautiful sights, or achieving knowledge of the unknown, are all instinctive
pleasures with which God has endowed man. They all have the effect of
calming when one is disturbed, of relaxing when one is tired, of refreshment
in mental or physical exhaustion and of rekindling the participant with
energy. God, Shaykh Shaltut argues, has created these instincts in human
beings for a good purpose, and therefore it may even be impossible for them
to perform their duties in this life without the aid of such instincts and
pleasures which help them reach their goals. He concludes that it is
therefore impossible that the Shari’ah be against these instincts and
pleasures. Instead the law has for purpose the disciplining of the instincts
for pleasure and the channelling of their use so that they can work
constructively together to achieve higher moral ends.
His Second argument is that the Shari’ah, as well as the Qur’an on which it
is based, seeks the Golden Mean, thus preventing from exaggeration either on
the side of no-use, or over-use of music.
Thirdly, he turns to the arguments of his predecessors, the jurists who have
given opinions on sama’ or “listeningâ€. He summarises that they permitted
music whenever it had a suitable context, as it does when used as
accompaniment for war, the hajj, weddings and eid celebrations. He follows
this with reference to a work by Shaykh Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulusi
(1641-1731). In a work by that 17th century jurist of the Hanafi madhhab,
its author argues that almost every prohibition (tahrim) of musiqa in the
hadith literature is coupled with or conditioned by the mention of alcohol,
signing girls, dissoluteness (fusuq) or adultery. Both Shaltut and
al-Nabulusi therefore feel that the prohibition is based on the context and
associations, and is not a reaction against the music itself. The Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) and many respected Muslims of the early period of Islamic
history have indeed listened to music and attended sessions of innocent
performance. Therefore, he concludes, as did many of his predecessors, that
the prohibition does not result from condemnation of music per se, but from
its use under the wrong circumstances or with morally debilitating
associations.
The Fourth and closing point made in Shaykh Shaltut’s fatwa on music repeats
Qur’anic argument also used by earlier protagonists of the use of musiqa
(al-Ghazali). Here the jurist cautions against the reckless forbidding of
what God did not forbid. Such false attributions to God, which he condemns
as slander and falsehood (iftira), are countered by Surah Al-A’raf, verse
32-33
[32, Say: Who is there to forbid the beauty which God has brought forth for
His creatures, and the good things among the means of sustenance?†Say:
“They are lawful in the life of this world unto all who have attained to
faith - to be theirs alone on resurrection Day.†Thus clearly do We spell
out these messages unto people of innate knowledge! 33, Say: “Verily, my
Sustainer has forbidden only shameful deeds, be they open or secret, and
every kind of sinning and unjustified envy, and the ascribing of divinity to
aught beside Him - since He has never bestowed any warrant therefore from on
high - and the attributing unto God of aught of which you have no
knowledge].
Shaykh Shaltut thus concludes that the general rule is that music is
permissible; its prohibition is the accident or exception caused by improper
usage.
Asalaam,
Haleema Nurudeen, at the beginning of the replys has got it right to the dot. Subhanallah, REALLY if the muslims fall into disagreement about an issue, are we not commanded to refer it back to Allah
an his messenger, and does not Allah 
command the prophet (SAW) “Say, if you love Allah 
, than follow me, Allah 
will love you and forgive you your sins”. From this ayah, is it not telling us that you can love Allah 
as much as you want, but if you are not following the sunnah of the prophet (SAW) than Allah 
will not love you. THIS IS SERIOUS. The Hadith of Bukhari and Muslim, have specific hadith relating to the HARAM of music, and indeed will there arise a peeople who will seek to make lawful the use of musical instruments. And Allh also forbids indecency in the Qur’an. I came from a bad backround, and i was disgusted to see Muslims acting and talking like animals, and i threatened to smack a guy round the face becuase of his ‘friendly’ chat to a sister. Brother Sami talks about the etiquette of speach and mannerisms, but he neglects the the ruling on the beard and dress, also promoting a kufr country and telling us to be more involved. Maybe if i was being sucked upto and recieving money by the bucket loads, i would think differently. He picks and he chooses. Alot of people and a lot of sisters are revolted, and i urge brothers and sisters to look into the Quran and Sunnah, and understand the dunya is meant to be tough, so if it isnt then there is something wrong. Jannah is what we strive for, full of hardship and sacrifice along the way. Not Jahannam, full of ease and pleasure. i LOVE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS FOR THE SAKE OF Allah 
, AND AM ONLY SAYING THIS BEACAUSE IF I DON’T I WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE. Wasalam
Asalam,
jus wanna say big up to Abu Ilyas, my BRADA. aND Also wana say the egyptian guy sounds kinda dodgy. Does that mean i’m aloud to smoke pot, or drink wine in moderation beacause it is “pleasing of mankind” and feels kinda nice? What about gossip and dancing? He is ONE dodgy geeza, that shaykh. Pleaze ma bradas and sistas, go back to sunnah and Quran. at this rate where gonna start saying hello instead of salaams or AMEN instead of alhumdulilah. I think people like the eazy life and wana find any excuse to compromise. Amen… ooops! Wasalm.
assalamo alaikum
bless him. And how can you say music is haram, while what he is singing about is Allah 
and the prophet and about YOU brothers and Sisters!! YES he loves you guys and wants the best for his Ummah, and im so saddened to see how you guys have reacted. and yes about the hadith, if you didnt know the prophet said it at that time, because during that age music singing and dancing were associated with other haram acts, but what is so haram about bro sami singing about Allah 
and his prophet and showing how much he loves them? Again, this was my point of view and i think we should all be open-minded at times.
bless
im very saddened to see when brothers and sisters come up and say, “whites shouldnt become muslims”!!!! actually im alittle frustrated, if we’re truly claiming to be “true” muslims, what happened to inviting others to Islam? Islam is a UNIVERSAL religion unlike others, it invites everyone to come and join this beautiful Ummah that it has created. Secondly Yvonne Riddley didnt write that article because she was white, or black, or hispanic, she wrote it because as a HUMAN everyone has a different view point and perspective, and yes many agree with her and many dont. But i as a HUMAn also have my own view point, i love bro sami yusuf and his songs, and to tell you the truth, his songs INSPIRED me to look at Islam with a closer view,may Allah
Allah
I agree with brother abu ilyas, and brother Mizaan, Allah
will not give victory to the muslims until they come back to Allah 
AND his Prophet (saw). All this talk of opinions, makes it easier to avoid obligations and practices that will actually benifit us in this life and the hereafter. I don’t think dressing lik a non muslim is the key to salvation. Also in one of brother sami’s song, there is a sister wearing a cap in a hospital and you could see her hair partially. Does that mean i’m allowed to do the same? He does have a voice, but Allah 
gave that to him, and he diddn’t strive for it. i urge brothers and sisters to not compromise and come back to Allah 
fully. I’ve seen that it is only the corrupt and partially practicing muslims that big up sami, not the fully practicing ones.
QURAAAN AND SUNNAAAHHH!!!!!!
My God how many times, does it have to be said!
BIDA BIDA BIDA BIDA!
salam
knows whats going on in Sami’s heart, and suspicious is a sickness we have to get rid of it. So as for me, i chose to respect everyone and think of them as how their actions speak. So please, dont say things out of hatred or suspicioun, because you dont KNOW what is really happening during a person’s life, and we’re not here to judge, we’re here to support the truth and fight for the truth, thats all we can Do.
bless
Alright i have one more comment to make bros and sis’s, please lets not judge whats in people’s heart for we dont know, only Allah
Allah
wasalam
bismillah
assalamu alaikum
I said this in another blog and I’ll say it again here;
exactly where does it say in Islam that we should be loyal to our religion AND country? I know it says religion, but where does it say country? Or is Sami making up his own shariah now?
As for the police, what would the Muslim police do? protect what law? Let us assume for a moment that like France, the UK passed a law banning hijab in schools. Would a Muslim police arrest our sisters for wearing a hijab? This is exactly why Muslims should not join the police force in a non-Muslim country, because they will then be protecting and promoting non-Islamic laws. It is one thing to try and live your life under an un-Islamic regime, it is a completely other thing to protect and promote it.
My image of Sami Yusuf went even lower after reading his letter. He’s a sly snake if I’ve ever seen one.
astaghfurullah, traitors like him really make me sick.
Oh and maybe Sami should slow down with all the photos he’s taking of himself and vomiting all over the place. I dare say he is enjoying all the attention.
wassalam
Once again, how can we expect to achieve success when instead of worshipping Allah
we worship our own desires. Its true that some ’scholars’ say that musical instruments are halal but remember that we do not blindly follow anyone but rather we listen to what they say with SINCERITY with their proofs brought forth and have faith in Allah 
SWT that He may Guide us to the truth and then act upon it.
Here lets make a clear distinction between nasheeds and music. If someone wants to sing then let them sing but leave out the music. There are plenty who sing nasheeds without the music- or even better, why not send blessings upon the Prophet SAW and praise Allah
SWT like He is supposed to (e.g. SubhanAllah wa Bihamdihi, etc). So Z.M.M, with regards to your question of whats wrong with br, Sami singing about how much he loves Allah 
SWT and His Prophet. No one got a problem with him singing but everyone and the whole ‘Ulamah of Ahlus-Sunnah disagree with his method of doing do. As Muslims we don’t do the robbin hood act of performing a good act through haraam means (like his stealing from the rich and giving to the poor).
Ahmed, for your (as quoted in the fatawa):
“The Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) and many respected Muslims of the early period of Islamic history have indeed listened to music and attended sessions of innocent performance. Therefore, he concludes, as did many of his predecessors, that the prohibition does not result from condemnation of music per se, but from its use under the wrong circumstances or with morally debilitating associationsâ€
Is this in reference to the hadith of ‘Aesha RA who when Abu Bakr entered upon her, Rasulallah SAW and two young girls at the time of eid who were singing about war he exclaimed: “Musical instruments of the Shaytaan in the house of the Messenger!†and then the Prophet SAW said to Abu Bakr (RA) “leave them alone for every nation has its Eid and this is our Eid, the people of Islamâ€
Firstly, bear in mind that the two young girls are unaccountable and ‘Aiesha is the Prophet’s wife so their voices may be heard amongst all present (in the hadith).
Secondly, Eid only comes twice in a year and is not a regular thing. The Prophet SAW only allowed them as it was Eid showing that it wasn’t a habit for the Prophet and neither the pious predecessors to listen to such. And Thirdly, notice the exclamation of Abu Bakr RA, (the next best scholar after Rasulallah SAW as confirmed by ahaadith). Also, the daff and clapping hands (as they were doing) was permitted for WOMEN and not men. For a man to do so is IMITATION (like not having a beard) and therefore haraam.
This hadith amongst others is always brought forth by those claiming music to be halaal and SubhanAllah they don’t realise that in their futile attempts to deceive themselves, they actually produce an evidence AGAINST themselves.
Music is HARAAM.
So now where’s the doubt?
DEAREST BROTHER OR SISTER WHOEVER EXPRESSED THEIR WORRY WITH THIS REMARK “WHEN WHITES CONVERT IT WORRIES ME” I REALLY ADMONISH YOU TO HOLD YOUR TONGUE OR FINGER IN THIS CASE TO SAY SUCH A RIDICULOUS, THOUGHTLESS, BASELESS AND PREJIDUCE REMARK. WHY DOES IT WORRY YOU? OUR BELOVED PROPHET (PBUH) WOULD DETEST SUCH REMARK. IT SHOULD BRING A SMILE ON YOUR FACE NOT WORRY. Allah
HAS CREATED PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENCES IN ORDER TO RECOGNISE EACH OTHER, IF Allah 
THE GREATEST WILL ONLY DISTINGUISH BETWEEN PIETY AND EVIL AND NOTHING ELSE, HENCE REFFERING BACK TO YOUR REMARK WHY SHOULD WE BE SO STEREOTYPICAL?, WE LIVE IN MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY SO PLEASE THINK TO PROMOTE PEACE AND KEEP SUCH REMARKS TO YOURSELF IT ONLY ENTAILS NARROWMINDEDNESS.
LOOK AT YUSUF ESTES FOR EXAMPLE LOVELY GUY AND ‘WHITE’
WASALAAM SORRY IF I OFFEND YOU THATS NOT MY INTENTION I JUST FELT DUTI-BOUNT TO REPLY.
wassalamu alykum
le guide encore plus et le protége.Amin
désolé je ne parle pas parfaitement l’anglais mais je voulais juste dire que si tout le monde étaient comme Sami Yusuf le monde serrait parfait. Je pense au’il est sur le bon chemin que Allah
wassalamua lykum we rahmetullah
to brother abdul rahmani hilmi
your language towards brother sami was appauling regardless of the reason.
be the judge on who is the “traitor” its not fair, your comments incites hatred islam is about love and peace.
instead of being so cynnical and sceptical towards him and using such fowl language lets look at our own flaws and let Allah
your adamant on your thoughts on sami but there is a nicer way our prophets way (pbuh)
so lets work to do so and encourage each other love each other regardless.
hafiz
your attack on him seemed to me to be on a personal level,
it really hurts me when fellow muslims squabble over these issues so please be nice, in our hearts including sami’s we all want to please Allah
Allah
To Sis/BRo Ruhi : I totally agree with you!!
You know this is what i was thinking, if you show someone respect and intergirty you’re doing them a favor, but when without full knowledge of a specific person you start discriminatng them, you’re doing something called “Tohamt” or accusing them of doing something that you do not even know about. Suspicioun…it is always about suspicioun, isnt it? Can any of you, please answer and tell me, how do you know what is going on in Sami Yusuf’s heart or even the closest person that you love more than anything…the point is YOU DONT, so dont JUDGE! are we here to judge, are we gonna be asking questions on the Day of judgement?NO, Allah
SWT is the Only One, and He is the only One who knows what the hearts contain.
also said to spread Islam, do you know how many people have converted to Islam after hearing what Bro Sami had to say? Unfortunately, no because we only look at one side of the story. Some scholars even say that we have to use modern technology to spread Islam, it can media,music, and etc.
has made lawful for him!
bless
You know there are different opinions on music, both from Ah-ul Sunnah and the Shia, its not the matter of ONE person to say if it is Haram or not, Prophet Mohammad
Anyways, have you even listened to Sami Yusuf’s songs, did they bring you “satanic” thoughts, or Pure Islamic thoughts, well as for me it was an inspiration! Yes i admit that music is sometimes used for haram reasons, and i dont intend to listen to those songs that take advantage of music, but again lets be open-minded, theres a good and bad side for everything, one of the issues could be music. If we can use the good side of music, and spread our message, why not give it a try? Use your minds, please, when things are used for bad reasons they are haram, but when things are used for good efforts, then lets take advantage of it and make the best of it!
Brother Abu Iliyas, if you tell me that listening to music is haram, then from now on we should all close the windows so that the canaries beautiful melody shouldnt be heard, i mean thats also music to our ears, isnt it? Even when reciting the Quran, some reciters have a beautiful tone in their recitation and that is also a form of art. whether we want it or not, music comes in different shapes and forms, so you’re telling me when you were an infant your mother didnt have to sing you lullaby, it was a form of music. Music is a part of art, and art is a form of expression and communication, and we draw the line here, that in which boundary and limits are we supposed to use these expressions and communications? and the question of which haram and halal fall into, is how a man can maintain what Allah
Scholars main point of saying music is “haram”, is that Muslims shouldnt lend their ears to something that will distract them from their Islamic duties, but what if it brings them closer to their duties? And, i hope inshallah we will all open our eyes and ears and know that times have changed, and so did our surroundings. And in order to let the truth prevail, we shall too.
Allah
wasalam
hahahaha haseeb u takin the heat now LOL, i knew it had to come
anywyas to all the haters, keep hatin, cuz it doesnt do u any good
;( :s
(6) 
0==(D) :dizzy: 
Salaamualakum, wa rahmatulahi wa barakatu.
i eat poop.
its tasty.
Assalamu Alaikum
“jami yuhib al-jamal” so try to not judge.wassalam
Mashallah we say in Tunisia “chapeau”
great comments I found yvonne’s artical so painful and Iam sure that sami yusuf’s letter have the deep trace on her.
Besides, sami’s songs refresh our memories really he try to build a new society for better future.
Iam with brother Z.M.M therefor we should respect all the view points and be open-minded.
I found all the brothers who disagree with sami’s opinion use bad and unrespect language.
Really it hurts me so much. Moreover there are different opinions on music and Allah
wow….look what ali c. started…anyways, looks like jay-z and outlandish are gonna have to come off that oh-so magnificent playlist…time to input some zain bikha and sami yusuf(without the iinstruments of course).
Salamu `Alaykum
It is really useless to try and debate (much less “prove”) the prohibition of music when there is clear khilaf on the matter. Ibn `Ajiba for example explicitly states that there is no ijma’ that music is haram, and many of the fuqaha explicitly approved of it such as Shaykh `Abd al Ghani Nabulisi the great 20th century Hanafi Imam (provided there was no munkar associated with it).
Similarly, in the Shafi`i school Imam Ramili - the Imam of the late Shafi`i school - explicitly allows the flute.
Sure, the above opinions may be considered “minority positions” yet it gives some leeway on the issue. It lifts the duty of us going around condemning other Muslims who do indulge this act, Alahmdulilah.
Finally, the relied upon position of all the schools are known and this is indeed the way of taqwa.
Lastly, in regards to loving or having pride in ones country Sayyidi Gibril said once:
“There are many more proofs to the effect that love of country is a praiseworthy trait on condition of right -nasiha- as opposed to the pagan maxim ‘My country right or wrong.’”
The above is established in numerous hadith.
Wasalam
Salam guys,
guess what?? Apparently, Yvonne has admitted not even being present at the concert!! Can you blieve this?? ALL the defaming, rudeness, accussations based on heresay????????
That is sick if its true she didnt attend. Also,
we see the following opinions through out this discouse:
1. salafi point of veiw (music is haraaaaaaaaam) yeah got your point
2. Sufi’s from Sunnipath (Music is haram except there is a difference of opinion, how clever of you guys)
3. Middle Path - There is a difference of opinion. Music is halal with conditions. However, if you wish to avoid it go ahead and avoid.
Thats how i sum it up.
Salamu `Alaykum
Ahmed, Im sure you do know that your categories are very subjective. According to you, the vast majority of the `ulema as well as the relied-upon position in all four schools are somehow “not” the “Middle Path”.
But what exactly is this “Middle Path” we talk about? Is it taking two extreme opinions and cutting a line down the middle? I dont think so.
Wasalam
Salam All,
guess what?? Apparently, Yvonne has admitted not even being present at the concert!! Can you blieve this?? ALL the defaming, rudeness, accussations based on heresay???????? Wallahi, the Ummah and the world would be MUCH better of without Salafis and their sympathisers!
How shameful it is that the very same people who were supposedely “peaceful” during this whole argument and claimed that its the people arguing against Music that are abit hardcore, that these very same people are now attacking our brothers and sister showing that they infact are the hardcores.
You lot act as if “salafis” are the cause of all trouble. How stupid, ignorant and arrogant. Then all of a sudden those who claim music is halal are the “middle path”. How do we define the Middle path? IT IS ISLAM. Whatever Islam allows and prohibits is the middle path and any other way is either one of the two extremes.
Now let me ask these same people who think they know everything about salafis and attack them, what is a salafi?
Brother, ‘WE’ who follow the ‘Middle Path’ are not arrogant, Salafis, Jihadis and ALL their sympathisers are arrogant becuase WE accept diversity and the oopinions of YOUR scholars, but you don’t accept the great scholars we follow! So who’s the one that’s extreme and arrogant?? Please, you know what I’m saying is right
I can post literally hundreds of comments against brother Sami and 99% of them have one thing in commom: RUDE, without adab! Incidently, ALL these same people are Salafis and from Salafi websites!!
Who are the ones using bad language and being abusive and arrogant?? Moderates or Salafi/Jihadis??
It’s obvious brothers
Ws
Musa
“the oopinions of YOUR scholars, but you don’t accept the great scholars we follow!”
brother Musa, who said i dnt accpet the great scholars that you claim to follow and be so different. How can we deny the Greatest da’ee and scholar and final messenger Muhammed SAW, or Abu Bakr RA, or ‘Umar, etc. How can we deny Mujahid ibn taymiyyah, ibn ‘Abbas, ibn ‘Umr, Imaam Abu Hanifa, Malik, Shafi’ee, Hanbali, etc.
Its people like you who cause division in the Ummah. You speak without knowledge. you dont even know what a salafi is. I asked what is a ’salafi’ and after your two posts you still havnt defined it. Now the next post i dont know whether its you speaking or a copy-and-paste-job. Indeed we have a diversity of scholars and give them thier due rights and respect thier opinions.
Also thanks for making takfir on me. I thought i was the ’salafi/jihadi/extremist’. As i defined the middle path to be Islam, you make a clear distinction between myself, all the ’salafis, etc’ and yourself and whoever ‘WE’ means in your first post.
However, we as Muslims must be just in our judgement. Indeed there are those who claim to be salafis and go against the basic principles of salafiyyah and reject what their scholars say like Al-Bani RA. Many of them arent such people like you would find out if you go and do a bit of research (involving speaking and discussing with them). I know that on such sites the people lack adaab and respect and this does need to be addressed, maybe you could help solve this problem rather then just sit their complaining about it. And how different are you to them when you yourself are slagging them off making takfir on them?
May Allah
SWT Guide us to Islam and make us steadfast in it.
Salam brother,
erm… Excuse me but where did I EVER make takfir on anyone?? What are you talking about? look, wallahi it’s nothing personal, I respect you and EVERYONE else… I just have a problem with people who always claim that ‘they’re’ RIGHT and everyone else it wrong. Brother, i know what a Salafi is. A Salafi is someone who chooses to foolow the best of generations (ultimately following the best of creation Muhammad - SAS), however, these very people who claim to follow the salaf are among the rudest, most arrogant people I have ever met in my lfe!! They make everything black and white! THEY (not me brother!!) make Takfir on others by opnely saying so and so is not a muslim etc, they are rude and without Adab. Brother, this is not MY religion, this is not ISLAM. The fact is that people need to be more tolerant and understand the adaab of Ikhtilaaf and leave all this ‘Im right and your wrong’ the business of the scholars. Just follow your scholar 9in acordance to Quran and Sunnah of course) and your heart - ie be true to yourslef. But please, Allah
’s sake, don’t start going around and telling others what to do and what not to do! just do what you feel is good for you and by all means feel free to give advice - ONLY when you feel the other person wishes to hear of course - and then go about your OWN business.
Musa
walikum assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barkatahu.
In my post before this and the previous one, we defined Islam as being the Middle path. I’m aware you might not have done so on purpose but you made a clear distinction between yourself and me saying that you and ‘moderates’ are upon the middle path and then said “You…” attacking me and thus making a clear distinction between me and you. If you read your post you’ll see that you referred to yourself being on the middle path (Islam) and then kept saying “we…. and YOU….”. So you excluded me from being on the same side as you i.e. on Islam. So obviously, if someone does not follow Islam then he is a kafir. You made takfir on me. InshaAllah we should all be careful what we write in future -but this is what happens when we call ourselves anything other then Muslims, break into our little groups and also stray from the main issue of the topic i.e. music.
Also, for your statement:
“however, these very people who claim to follow the salaf are among the rudest, most arrogant people I have ever met in my lfe!! They make everything black and white! THEY (not me brother!!) make Takfir on others by opnely saying so and so is not a muslim etc, they are rude and without Adab.”
There are SOME who do so but the majority dont as you would find out if you go and talk to them rather than going on these takfiri sites. Such people (like many other Hizbs) take a name and distort it. There are a tiny amount of ’salafis’ who are like that and its sad that you’ve only had experience with such people but i assure you that not all are like that. So a minority of them make takfir on everyone like the fools they can be just like many of the other arrogant groups. These ’super-salafis’ can be rude but arent the only ones. Take the Shi’a for example whom many act upon emotion and are quite rude and aggressive even when they speak. Then we see many jamaa’ahs in london who go around screaming thier heads off causing a racket claiming to be the most upright and correct Muslims terrorising the Muslims and kuffar.
Indeed Salafi is defined as those who follow the salaf which automatically makes the majority of people a salafi (including those who do not call themselves salafis). Perhaps we should go back to the original topic or just end it before more confrontations occur.
I ask for everyone’s forgive and Allah
SWT to Forgive me for any offence and disunity i caused.
We need to unite and not divide.
Walikum Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatahu
brother, you can say all you want… To be quite honest, Im tired of playing the ‘justice’ game. I know what I said, and NO, I diodn’t make takfir on anyone, so please don’t even try going down that route. My comments are related to manhaj and opinion as opposed to Aqeedah and Iman. All you are doing is playing with words and semantics. Akhi, at the end of the day, all Im saying is that we should give people a break and just get along and keep the Ummah untied. If you don’t like music or Sami Yusuf, just don’t listen and don’t ever brother going to any of his concerts - khalas, case resolved and clsed forever! May Allah
bless this ummah and save us from disunity and the tricks of shaytaan - amin.
asalamo alaikum
(SWT) have SOME RESPECT! It’s not the salafi, or the shia or hanbali or etc thats causing divisions in ISLAM, its our ATTITUDE towards eachother, each and every one of us. Are we made to judge a person as a whole when we dont know whats happening in their personal life, or other wise? NO! not at all, how many times have you read the Quran, when it talk about respect and behavior? Walahi-ulAzhim this is shameful to see, i love you all as my brothers and sisters, and instead of fighting please this is our Era to shine and show the world what unity and peace Islam contains.
SWT has CREATED. So in conclusion music IS a Creation of the Beneficent Allah 
, BUT Allah 
has created these THINGS for GOOD purposes and RIGHT REASONS, BUT it is US humans who misuse and abuse the creations of Allah 
. The music itself is pure, it is, us, humans who may sometimes put words that unacceptable into it, other than that music provides peace for the mind. I hope you undrestand me, you have to widen your view and go the root of every issue, even for music. Many of you say music is haram, because of the Hadiths of the Prophet. Of course, the Prophet said music was not allowed, but why not? BECAUSE if you go back to the history of Makkah, it is said that at those times, music Was ASSOCIATED with haram acts SUCH AS drinking wine, half-naked woman belly dancing and getting payed for it. THAT’s why music was not allowed because it was associated with HARAM acts. But other than that, i really think if the Prophet was here right now, and saw how SAMI YUSUF or other Islamic singer sing about Allah 
and Islam, i dont think the Prophet (Sa) would even argue, trust me he was more open-minded and intelligent than any of us could ever be. So in conclusion (as my opinion), music is a creation of Allah 
SWT and it is pure and beautiful itself and it becomes more beautiful when our fellow human brothers and sisters use it for the RIGHT REASONS it was created for, and its not the MUSIC thats haram its the WRONG WORDS that are put to it by HUMANS. And bro Sami yusuf’s is not at all haram, because its simply music and words about Allah 
, the Prophet and the Ummah. I just wish you can USE YOUR MIND, because THAT is ALSO A HADITH, AND IN THE QUARAN AND IN THE SUNNAH.:::.USE THE MIND, BE UNDRESTANDING, GAIN KNOWLEDGE!!!
bless each and every one of you
I get very saddened to see, how people react so rudely to their OWN brothers and sisters in FAITH! i cant believe what i read when i am looking at these posts, one says oh this person is rude without adab, another says hes like a snake, another person says something even WORSE! And mashallah, you call yourselves muslims? No, tell me, is that what our Prophet(sa) taught us? TO DISCRIMINATE OTHERS, and FEEL AS IF WE”RE SAYING WHAT IS RIGHT? walahi, this is so disturbing, you come and say, oh no you dont know anything about Islam, or this or that, while you yourself dont look at what the basics of Islam are, one of them is BEHAVIOR! It looks as if we dont even have that, the way we respond to eachother and act like we have the most knowledge, this is whats disturbing.
And anyways, im not going to discriminate any of you, because i dont want to be that kind of person, but please for the LOVE of Allah
As for Music, everyone has different opinions, and im not going to enforce my opinion on anyone, because it is simply mine. Ok well for those who say music is “haram”, how do you know what “music” even is? I mean have you ever even listened to it to know? Well well i thought you said its “haram” and not allowed to listen to, and if you never listened to music, how do you want it even is? Other than that, you should all know that every single of these things that we see, hear, smell, touch, with our 5 senses are what Allah
Hope i didnt offend anyone, but im simply saying my opinion
Allah
Wasalam
salams
looking back at some earlier dissusions…i know this may be totally off topic, but…
i do not understand why you people judge so much…or look too deep into unnecessary topics…not saying all of you do, but when people come to islam, be grateful they did, make duá for them. but most important for yourself. people converting to islam should inspire you as a muslim to be a better one! Allah
is giving them the hidayah, so as much as he wills inshallah he will give. Do not look as flaws of others, because as good or as bad as someone is, only with Allahs mercy will he enter jannah inshallah!
one last thing, we will all oneday be going into our own graves, live a simple humble, and honest life. Allah
(swt) knows best, the ar-rahman, ar-raheem
ps Z.M.M i agree but..
when islam came, Allah
called the true believers the ones who did not question why..
aka, there does not always need” to be an answer to what is required from us as muslims
Allah
knows best
sister the 2 eztremes are WRONG and can be dangerous. following and acting based on the text only without putting to use your own ‘Aql’ and mind is dangerous to say the least (result being 9/11 atrocities and other terrorist acts). Similarly, following the ‘Aql’ and ones logic alone is dangerous (result being Stalin - killed 17 million - and Hitler - killed millions!!). Islam is about balance. But, to be quite honest, I bleieve MORE people need to use their Aql as I believe the greatest gift of all is missing amongst MANY of us - Common Sense
Ws
Musa
Asalam, those who reject the laws of Allah
, Allah 
will allow them to move about the earth, thinking that they are guided, but they percieve not the truth.
Just read Surah Baqarah, when you can.
“Some things Allah
has said is Good for you, which you think is bad for you, and other things Allah 
has said is Bad for you, but you think that it is good for you, Allah 
knows and you do not know” Surah Baqarah
Say o Muhammad (saw) “If you love Allah
, than follow the me (saw) Allah 
will love you and forgive you your sins” Surah Al Imran
There has been enough evidence against Music in the Replys section. And seriously the defence against this prohibition is so completly baseless. Ask youself, is this what Allah
wants, to engage in pleasures and vain talk?
To those sincere lovers of truth, if the people do not accept this PROPER EVIDENCE, than stop, you have done your bit. Allah
knows your intentions, and what you yearn for.
Ask Allah
for guidance, and when it comesdon’t reject it, all of you. this life is meant to be difficult for the sincere believers, not a walk in the park.
Wasalam.
selamun aleyküm yazdıklarınızdan fazla birşey anlamadım ama belkide sizde anlamayacaksınız yinede merak edenler olur çok güzel bir site tebrik ederim çok güzel islamda aslında birlik olması lazım sizin gibi insanlar sayesinde inşAllah
olacak dünya islam dünyasıdır ama bunu beyinsiz insanlar anlayamıyor bir gün anlayacaklar ama iş işten geçmiş olacak türkiyeden herkese selam başarılarınızın devamını dilerim Allah 
sizden razı olsun
Assalamo Alaikum
said for us not to ask why, Metaphorically, and if you look at other Surahs of the Quran, you cant imagine the countless times Allah 
has told us to use or minds, and how many times He has said that the TRUE BELIEVERS are the ones with undrestanding and the ones that THINK.Hope i clarified that for you.
To sis Amina: Sister yes Allah
To Bro Musa: I agree with you completely, in my opinion Islam is a religion of KNOWLEDGE, knowledge is the basis and one of the most important components of Islam. Because in order to undrestand Allah
or His prophet, you have to have wisdom and knowledge. And after you gain that, every else falls in the same category. You shouldnt just stick to one thing such as hadith that could be so altered and changed, and forget about your aql and the prophet’s way, thats not right. Because when wisdom and ‘Aql’ are there Islam comes too. And this is a very important Hadith in which the Prophet tells a person that even at the last breath we should still gain knowledge, in any shape or form.
bless you all my dear bro and sis
Allah
Wasalam
Salam,i forgot to reply to bro Mahomed
has not once said in the Quran that music is haram, and please open your eyes look at what i said in my other replies. Everytime we bring reason and knowledge, you bring a vers of a Surah against me! See thats where the problem starts, using the word “haram” is dangerous in any circumstance without full knowledge. Dont come up and say haram because you heard another person saying it, say the word if you YOURSELF studied and gained information on the topic, remember that Allah 
says inthe Quran that Every person is RESPONSIBLE for their OWN DEEDS! Music is a creation of Allah 
, every single thing in the universe is, and im not going to repeat myself, my other replies already clarify what i say, i just wish for you to search on why you prohibit something so beautiful and amazing! Go ahead and search, dont forget that the BEST Of CReations is the Aql or the mind that Allah 
has provided you with. So use it.
bless
My brother, you’re telling us that our replies are baseless against the surahs of the Quran, but are you sure you undrestand fully what the vers stands for, or what is represents? Afraid not, Allah
Allah
There needs to be a right mix of ‘Aql used in accordance to the Qur’an and Sunnah. This is simply because sometimes, we find that the mind and logical argument contradicts what Allah
SWT Has blessed us with (Quran and Sunnah). They (logic and proofs) dont always agree so in such cases we obviously leave the ‘aql and take what the Prophet Muhammed 
SAW said.
Also, i myself have never seen the word “Music” in the transulation of the Qur’an but maybe the same word that is used for todays music is the same, Allahu ‘Alim -maybe someone can shed some light upon this. But just previously quoted, in Surah Luqman verse 6 it says:
“And of mankind are those who purchase idle talks to mislead (others) from the Path of Allah
(SWT)
Remember that the Qur’an is very concise and many times just one phrase is used to refer to a whole load of issues just as the “idle speech/talks” in this verse which applies to music as well. We shouldnt pick up the Qur’an with a narrow mind (reminder to myself first and foremost) looking for whatever agrees with us. Instead, we read it out of sincerity and take whatever it has given us. By the way, i have reference all that in one of my first posts including the ‘Ulamah (both from the pious predecessors and after them) but i wonder if anyone has actually used them.
Finally, we go according to proofs from the Qur’an and Sunnah and not totally upon logical arguments. There hasnt (as yet) been any decent logical argument to halalify music that are also backed by proofs. All who have agreed its haram have given proofs. So what are we supposed to do? Listen to the logical or listen to the proofs?
May Allah
SWT place sincerity in all our hearts and Guide us to the Truth, Ameen.
lol. Brother Abu, for the Billionth time: THERE IS IKHTILAAF ON THIS ISSUE!!!! HELLO??? Can we please try to understand!!! I’m getting sooooooooooooooooooo bored of this issue! For God’s sake stop saying “up2 now there has been no proof given blah blah…” The proof is there amonsgt scholars (Imam Ghazali, Ibn Hazm, al-Kindi, Farabi, Ibn Sina, and MANY other great scholars!). There is Ikhtilaaf on this issue and it is NOT for US to be bickering and fighting over, it is a scholarly discourse that has been taking place for CENTURIES so who are WE to be making ijtihaad?? Just leave this issue, follow the opinion close to your heart and leave everyone else alone! Appreciate diversity, not try to destroy it,
ATTENTION:
For all those who argue Music is haram or like to make Fiqhi rulings, please refrain and fear Allah
. You are entitle to your opinion as I am aswell as the overwhelming majoruty of the Ummah that Music is halal (with conditions), and that our opinion as just as valid as you who believe it to be Haram. PLEASE leave this issue brothers as it is pointless.
WS.
MUSA
Salam
, and since He has already given us the Aql we should be using it. And whoever wants to listen to it(good music)listen, and who ever doesnt want to listen to it then DONT! no ONE has been forcing you, Allah 
bless all of you
you know bro Musa you’re absolutely right, with our own minds and the difference in opinions we can just leave it up to Allah
Your sister in Islam
Z.M.M.
walikum assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatahu.
I wasnt referring to ‘Ulamah who argue it is halal but i was referring to the comments on this page. I know that some scholars have considered it halal (with due respect). Sorry it was completely my fault. I wasnt being clear.
InshaAllah make Du’a that we (including myself) are amongst those whom truley fear Allah
SWT.
May Allah
bless sami yusuf
protect him & bless him
hi is wonderful person
May Allah
w.salam
ur sis::
Asseel
gr8 sami..
bless u..
may Allah
ok, hear a music is haram
but this is differant thing
we hear some thing about islam
an the manners of islam
Right?????
eloquence and thoughtful literature is a tradition of the prophet. this tradition sami yusuf has followed beatifully. what is bothering me immensely is the fact that he can stand for being to referred to as a british muslim. it is as if i’ve returned to the early days and am experiencing the contemporary days of arab nationalism. there is NO nationalism in islam. we are muslims and that is it. during the time of the sahabi after the death of the prophet, arab pride almost ran rampant and it took time for people to realize islam is a a religion for all in the tradition of the sunnah, as the prophet taught. being a canadian muslim does not bring me pride nor should it bring pride to saudi arabs to be saudi muslims. we are muslims, whom should unite as only muslims. may Allah
guide me and help me in my lackings and of others. this is not offend anyone just a mere humble response.
Since I am not Muslim, and my research can only take me so far, I would like to inquire as to how you distinguish from one scholar to another. If one scholar states that music is haram, and another states that it is not, how do you justify or legitamize one over the other? Also, if Allah
is the only judge, is it proper for anyone to critique or condemn another?
Subhanallah, walaahi this is worrying. How could this Sami Yusuf take the word of some “scholar” over the words of the prophet (saw). Subhanallah, Allahu Akbar. The evidence is clear that Music is haraam and that there is no opnion. Sami Yusuf and the his proofs are not stronger than the Four imaams and sahaba. Subhanallah. In addition, to this his music contains words that can lead to shirk. Like he says, “Yaa Rasul..”
I appluade for this sister Yvonne for her hard work: May Allah
establish her in this dunyaa and the akhirah: ameen
Assalamu alaykum,
From what I read, I understand that there are issues on both sides on the debate. With Sami its the music issue and with Yvonne its the way she got her point across.
Since we love Islam and the Prophet (saw) so much why is it that we have not followed his (saw) way in the way we call people to Islam. Has anyone ever heard of the Prophet (saw) or any of his companions or the following generations call people to Islam by the use of nasheeds and musical instruments? Did the prophet (saw) not say that the best of the generations was his generation and then those that followed and those that followed indicating that the first three generations were the best.
With regards to the scholars that Sami refers to for guidelines on music. There are many “scholars” around nowadays. However how many of them can we say are reliable and have gained their knowledge according to the understanding or the early generations. If you look back to the statements of the sahaba and early scholars in Islam you will see that music is clearly haraam and it is only “scholars” of recent who have made it permissible. I refer you to this ruling on music which contains many evidences. I would advise everyone to read this and realise that it is the earlier scholars or Islam that have said it is haram. They had the best understanding of the Issue, better than the modern day ones:
http://www.islamqa.com/index.php?ref=5000&ln=eng&txt=music
Re: the comments of many respondents to Sami’s letter who have referred to his response as perfect and faultless. I would like to remind you that only Allah
(swt) is perfect and free from any defects. Everyone else is capable of making mistakes so its not fair to call his response faultless as there is always the possibilty of a error or judgement or weakness in understanding the issue.
Re: the comment of BIG ALI C: I’m sorry to say this but your statement is racist. If you have to criticise someone then point out their mistake in a nice way. without making reference to their colour or nationality.
Re: Comments of Z.M.M. How do you know whats’ in Sami’s Heart? We don’t know what is in his heart but most of the time the actions of a person is an indication of what is in his heart and his actions are that of a person who sings songs for which there is clear evidence of it being haram. The only people who have a difference of opinion on it are the modernist scholars. Re: your comment of how many people have converted to Islam because of his music. I say that the means don’t justify the ends. Using a way that the Prophet (saw) did not use to preach Islam to people which appeals to peoples desires does not justify the act. Re: your comment that what if music brings someone closer to their Islamic duties. This is an incorrect understanding because we still have to follow the example of the Prophet (saw) Has anyone ever heard of a hadith or report that the Prophet (Saw) invited people to Islam by singing songs? No! He only used the Qur’aan and explained the principles of Islam with wise words which was inspired to him by Allah
(swt). If the Prophet (saw) didnt sing songs and nor did his companions then we dont do that even if some people claim that singing songs can bring them closer to Islam. If you really love Allah 
and the Prophet (Saw) then pick up the Qur’an and read it and recite it more. And read the hadith of the Prophet Saw)
There is a hadith of the prophet (Saw) where he said:
6448: Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported Allah
’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: You would tread the same path as was trodden by those before you inch by inch and step by step so much so that if they had entered into the hole of the lizard, you would follow them in this also. We said: Allah 
’s Messenger, do you mean Jews and Christians (by your words)” those before you”? He said: Who else (than those two religious groups)? (saheeh muslimL book of Knowledge)
This is what we see nowadays. Living in the West has influenced us so much that we start trying to fit in so much that we start making the haram into halal. We need to stop worshipping our desires and worship Allah
(swt).
I ask Allah
to guide us all to the correct understanding of Islam and to worship Allah 
the way He wants us to worship Him, not the way we think its is best to worship Him. I ask Allah 
to help us to follow the example of the Prophet (Saw) the best example for those who believe in Allah 
and the last Day. Ameen.
Yvonne is just trying to gather some publicity. She needs to change her name to a better islamic name 1st than preach to others besides its purely islamic to wear niqab and stay indoors for women, so i dont think she should communicate with non mahram men and talk about them to others.
Assalaamu Alaikum WRWB
tells us to refer to those with knowledge from amongst us, why do we still proceed to either belittle them, or supercede their knowledge with something more acceptable to ourselves. A brother suggested something very simple, if you think music is haraam, don’t listen to it, if you don’t think it’s haraam, continue to listen to it, in the end we will all be judge by Allah 
individually.
Alhamdulilah, i am happy to read this debate about music still going on in cyberspace, as it means we are not happy to be spoonfed our deen whether you are for or, against music.
I am from the group mecca2medina, and i would like to confirm that Sister Yvonne actually told me that she hadn’t attended the concert in question, but had been told about it by a colleague, who ironically attended our “Return of the Poets tour”, and his own words,”really enjoyed Hasan Salaams set”. This was a 100% hip hop concert featuring the cream of US and UK Muslim rappers.
The Fatwa produce at the top of the page is not dodgy, but is legit, wherein lies the problem. When Allah
Anyway, for those who have the endurance, or who sincerely want to know the ulemas opinion on this subject, here is another Fatwa from Al Azhar:
Fatwa by the Grand Mufti and Shaykh of Al-Azhar, Cairo, Egypt: Shaykh Jad al-Haq Ali Jad al-Haq (died 1996)
Date: Ramadan 1400 AH/ 12 August 1980.
Translated from Arabic by Shaykh Michael Mumisa ‘Alimiyya (Dar al-Ulum al-Islamiyya), BA Hons., MA (RAU), MPhil (Birmingham), PhD candidate (Newcastle).
Lecturer: University of Birmingham,
1. Playing the tambourine and other musical instruments on special occasions is allowed by unanimous agreement.
2. Listening to music, attending musical gatherings, and studying music of all genres and instruments is allowed as long as it is not accompanied with immoral and sinful acts, or used as a pretext to incite people towards haram (prohibited) behaviour, and it does not preoccupy a person away from observing the obligatory acts of worship (al-wajibat).
Shaykh Jad al-Haq Ali Jad al-Haq was asked a question through a letter published in the magazine Mimbar al-Islam (The Muslim Platform/Pulpit) Number 217 year 1980 regarding the Shari‘a ruling on music which is not associated with all the things that are normally associated with music. This question had initially been presented to a group of experts and religious scholars who met to discuss this issue but they could not agree on a ruling. They were divided into two camps, those who considered it permissible and those who regarded it prohibited (haram).
When the letter was sent to him, his answer was:
Ibn al-Qaysarani has quoted in his book al-Sama‘ or “Listening†(Line 31, p.63 published by the Supreme Council for Religious Affairs in the year 1390AH-1970CE edited by Ustadh Abu al-Wafa’ al-Maraghi) the statement of Imam al-Shafi‘ (founder of the Shafi school of jurisprudence) that:
The main sources (of Islamic law) are the Qur’an and sunna. If one cannot find an answer in them then he can employ qiyas (analogical deduction) upon them. If a hadith has been transmitted through an unbroken chain from the Prophet and if proved that the chain is also authentic then that hadith qualifies as sunna. Ijma‘ (consensus) is greater than a tradition/narration transmitted through a single chain, and the apparent and manifest (Zahir) meaning will be taken into consideration over other meanings. In other words, if a hadith has the possibility of more than one meaning then the apparent (or literal) meaning will be considered first and given preference over other meanings. If two or more ahadith are the same then the one with the strongest chain will be considered first. A tradition with a broken chain is not accepted apart from those reported through Ibn al-Musayyib.
It has also been quoted in the same book (Line 31, p. 63 and it was published by the Supreme Council for Religious Affairs in the year 1390AH-1970CE edited by Ustadh Abu al-Wafa’ al-Maraghi): with regard to the listen of musical instruments (al-qadid and al-awtar) which are also known as taghyir or taqtaqa, there is no difference at all between listen to any one of them since we have not found any authentic or even weak evidence in form of tradition (athar) to prove whether they are permissible or prohibited. In fact the scholars of the past (the mutaqadimun) have considered listening to these musical instruments permissible since as a principle (in Islamic law) all things are considered a prior permissible until there is indisputable evidence from the shari‘a (Qur’an and sunna) to prove otherwise.
) in the above verse refer to the beauties of worldly life such as beautiful clothing and its other pleasures because God says, “And he makes lawful to them the good things and makes unlawful to them impure things†(al-A’raf: verse 157). Al-Shawkani wrote (see Nayl al-awtar, vol.8, p.105) that the term “good things†(tayyibat) in the verse includes all types and forms of “good thingsâ€. The term tayyib (good thing) is usually used to refer to sources of pleasure. This is the meaning that immediately comes to mind when the term is used unless if there is textual context to suggest that this is not the intended meaning. Moreover, this term also denotes generality (‘umum) and that means it includes all meanings of “goodâ€. Even if we were to apply it only to some and not all of its included meanings, that meanings that immediately comes to mind when the term is used would be the most suitable. Al-Izz Ibn Abd al-Salam also stated that the meaning of al-tayyibat (good things) in this verse are sources of pleasure.
Thus, the Islamic ruling regarding all forms of musical instruments is the same. There is no single evidence from the shari‘a to prove that they are either prohibited or allowed. All the traditions which have been transmitted and reported to prove that musical instruments are prohibited (haram) cannot be established and proved to be from the Prophet and this has been the school of thought among and dominant view among the people of Madina (ahl Madina) (or the Maliki school). They unanimously agree that listening to musical instruments is allowed. Similarly, the ahl al-Zahir (literalists) have based their position on the principle of permissibility (that all things are judged permissible until there is evidence from the Qur’an and sunna to prove the opposite).
As far as wind instruments (mazamir) and other musical instruments (malahi) are concerned, a number of authentic traditions (ahadith) have been reported to prove that listening to them is permissible (see the same source from p.71 onwards). The permissibility of listening to such instruments can also be proved through the verse: “And when they see tijara (merchandise) or lahw (amusements with musical instruments) they break up for it, and leave you standing. Say: What is with God is better than lahw and (better) than merchandise, and God is the best of Sustainers.†Sura Al-Jum‘a: verse 11. The commentary of this verse has been provided through a narration recorded by Imam Muslim (in his Sahih) in the chapter of Friday Prayers (bab al-jum’a) on the authority of Jabir Ibn Samra that “the Prophet used to deliver sermons standing and then he would sit down before standing again to continue with the sermon. Whoever tells you that the Prophet used to deliver sermons while seated is a liar. For indeed I prayed more than a thousand prayers with the Prophet!†In a tradition reported on the authority of another companion Jabir Ibn Abdullah: “once the Prophet was delivering a sermon on Friday while standing and suddenly a caravan approached from Sham (Levant). The congregation went towards the caravan and only 12 men remained with the Prophet. Immediately after that this verse was revealed.†Al-Tabari has also reported the same hadith from Jabir but in his version he has the following addition: “Whenever they (the people of Madina) celebrated a wedding they used to play musical instruments and this would distract the Prophet’s congregation and some members of the congregation would leave to join the celebration. Thus the Prophet would always stand when delivering sermons.†In this verse God is scolding them for their actions.
Ibn al-Qushayri also states (from p. 72 in the same source): In this verse God has joined lahw (amusements with musical instruments) together with tijara (business or trade) using the grammatical particle wa (and) which means that the law and ruling that applies to one of them must apply to the other since they are joined together. We know that Muslims unanimously agree that tijara (business or trade) is permissible. Thus, in this verse the Qur’an is maintaining the status quo as far as the ruling regarding musical instruments is concerned since they were part of the Arab customs and culture before Islam. It is implausible to suggest that the Prophet might have prohibited musical instruments (before this incident took place) and yet when the musical troupe passes by the door of the Masjid God chooses not to reveal a single verse at that very moment clearly and finally stating that musical instruments and music are prohibited (haram) but instead He chooses to merely scold and reprimand (‘itaab) the people who left the Prophet standing while they went to listen to the musical troupe. It is also impossible to imagine that the Prophet would choose not to clearly state through sunna his ruling regarding music after this Friday incident.
Therefore, the ruling regarding music or musical instruments will be based on the principle of permissibility (in other words we know that Music was permissible and we do not have any verse or sunna to prove that this changed). This can further be supported by the tradition reported by ‘A’isha that she got one of her Ansari maids married to an Ansari man and upon hearing this, the Prophet suggested, “why did you not all go to the wedding accompanied by lahw (amusement with instruments) as you know that the Ansari people love lahw.†This tradition has been recorded by al-Bukhari in his Sahih under the chapter of marriage (Sharh ‘Umdat al-qari ‘ala sahih al-Bukhari 20/146 in the footnote of the previous source).
In his Ihya’ ‘ulum al-din (p.1150, vol.6, published by the Organisation for the Propagation of Islamic Culture 1356AH) al-Ghazzali included the 8th book dealing with listening, particularly musical instruments. He writes: If the instruments are devices used by people to incite others to drink and engage in vice such as wind instruments (mazamir) stringed instruments (awtar) and drums (tabl al-kuba) then they will not be allowed. Apart from that, all other instruments such as the tambourine (duff) even if it has jingles or bells (jalajil), drums (tabl), and others, are permitted.
Al-Qurtubi has mentioned in his al-Jami’ li ahkam al-Qur’an (vol.14, p.54) a statement from al-Qushayri : Musical instruments were played in front of the Prophet (to welcome him) during his first arrival in Madina and Abu Bakr wanted to scold and reprimand those who were playing the instruments but the Prophet stopped him saying: “leave them alone O Abu Bakr so that the Jews (of Madina) will also learn and know that our religion is relaxed and accommodating!†Thus, the women of Madina continued to play the instruments singing “we are the daughters of Najaar! How excellent and wonderful it will be to have Muhammad as a Jaar (neighbour)!†Al-Qurtubi goes on to say: It has been said that the ruling regarding the use of drums (tabl) in wedding celebrations is the same as the use of tambourine (duff). The same applies to all other forms of instruments used in wedding celebrations. It is permissible (yajuz) to use them as long as the lyrics or verses of the song are not offensive or profane (rafath) (see Ahkam al-qur’an of Ibn ‘Arabi vol.3, p.1494). Al-Shawkani (the Salafi scholar) mentioned the views of those scholars who consider music and musical instruments as haram as well as those who consider them as permissible in his Nayl al-Awtar (vol.8, p.104-105) under the chapter “The Instruments of Amusement.†He also cited the evidence and proofs advanced by each camp to support its position. After the following hadith: “any form of amusement is invalid (batil) for a believer except in three cases: when a man plays with and amuses his wife and family, when he trains his horse, and when he practices shooting with his arrowâ€, al-Shawkani followed it with a commentary from al-Ghazzali: When the Prophet says “it is invalid (batil)†it does not mean or imply that it is haram. Rather, it simply means that there is no benefit (fa’ida) at all in such actions. Al-Shawkani goes on to say: This (statement from al-Ghazzali) is a correct interpretation and response to this tradition because those things that have no benefit (fa’ida) fall under the category of the permissible things (mubah). Al-Shawkani goes on to cite other proofs including the following hadith: A lady made a vow (nadhar) to God that if God would cause the Prophet to return from one of the battles safe she would celebrate by playing the tambourine (duff) in front of the Prophet. The Prophet allowed her to fulfil her vow to God by playing the tambourine. This permission from the prophet proves that what she did was not in any way sinful (see the same source vol.8, p.104-105). Al-Shawkani then refers to his own treatise written under the title Ibtal da‘wa al-ijma‘ ‘ala tahrim mutlaq al-sama‘ (the destruction of the claims that there is consensus that makes all forms of listening to instruments haram).
Ibn Hazam (of the literalist school and a respected Salafi scholar) writes in his al-Muhalla (vol.9, p.60) that the Prophet said: All actions are judged according to intentions and every person will get what he has intended for. Thus, (Ibn Hazm argues) a person who listens to music with the intention of disobeying God will be judged a sinner. This applies to all other things apart from music. However, if a person listens to music with the intention of relaxing himself so that he can be strong and active enough to engage in the obedience of God he will be judged as a good and obedient person and his action (of listening to music) is valid. If a person intents neither obedience nor disobedience he will be judged as a person who has engaged in laghw (pointless action) which is excused and overlooked (by God). It will be treated in the same way as a walk in the park (tanazzuh).
Bukhari included a section in his Sahih (vol.9, p171 towards the end of the chapter of seeking permission. Published by Amiriya Press, years 1305 on the margins of Sahih Muslim) as a chapter under the title “every form of amusement is invalid (batil) if it keeps an individual away from the obedience of God.†In al-Rashad al-Sari he (Imam Bukhari) adds the following statement after the title: “even though it would have been permissible under other circumstances just like a person who becomes so pre-occupied with performing optional prayers, recitation of the Qur’an, zikr, or studying the meaning of the Qur’an that he deliberately misses the time of obligatory prayers.
According to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence, it has been mentioned in the book al-Bada’i‘ (vol.6, p. 269) of al-Kasani under the discussion dealing with that person whose testimony is accepted and credible in a court of law and the one whose testimony is not accepted (considered unreliable): “With regard to the testimony of a person who plays musical instruments, the court will see if the instruments he plays are like the tambourine and others which do not incite one to engage sinful acts. In such cases his testimony will be accepted and the fact that he plays such musical instruments will not affect his reliability. However, if he is known to play instruments like the flute (al-‘ud) or others which incites a person to engage in abominable acts, his testimony will not be considered as reliable because such instruments are not allowed under any circumstances.â€
In Mujma’ al-Anhar (vol.2, p.198) under the same discussion it is stated that a person’s testimony will not be credible in court if it is discovered that he plays the tanbur (stringed instrument resembling the mandolin) since it is considered as lahw. What is meant by tanbur here is any instrument that incites evil actions among people. However, playing all other forms of instruments which do not have the same evil effect on people will not affect a person’s reliability in court unless if he plays the instruments while engaging in indecent forms of dancing since that is a major sin.
A similar view has been expressed in the book al-Durr al-Mukhtar (vol.4, p.398) of al-Haskafi and in the marginal notes (hashiya) of Radd al-Mukhtar by Ibn ‘Abidin, as well as in al-Mughni by Ibn Qudama (vol.10, p.240-242): Instruments are of three types: the first type is of those that are classified as haram and these are awtar , the wind instruments (mazamir), ‘ud (flute), tanbur, al-ma‘zifa, al-ribaab, and others. A person who frequently plays these instruments will have his testimony rejected as unreliable in court. The second type of instruments is allowed, for example the tambourine (duff) because the Prophet said: “announce your marriages publicly by playing the tambourine.†Recorded by Muslim in his Sahih. Our companions and those of al-Shafi‘i mentioned that playing the tambourine on any other occasion apart from weddings is discouraged/disliked (makruh), it is also discouraged/disliked (makruh) for men to play the tambourine under any circumstances. The third type of instruments is those which are classified as makruh (disliked) when they are associated with haram acts such as erotic dance, clapping, and al-ghinaa’ etc. If it is not associated with such acts then it will not be makruh since they are not primarily designed for that purpose. The school of Shafi’i in this case hold the same view as our school.
According to the dictionary Lisan al-arab the word al-lahw refers to anything that has the potential to amuse and pre-occupy a person such as music, as well as other things. The term malahi is used to refer to musical instruments (instruments of lahw). It is stated in al-Misbah al-munir that the original meaning of lahw is tarwih (relaxation and amusement) in a way that renders oneself beyond hikma (wisdom).
It has been mentioned in the fatwa of Imam al-Akbar (the great leader) (see p.375-385 in Fatawa Shaykh Shaltut Published in year 1379AH/1959ce by the Department of Culture at Al-Azhar) - the late Shaykh Mahmud al-Shaltut - on the topic of learning music and listening to it that: God created a human with a natural impulse/instinct (ghariza) to appreciate the beautiful and pleasant things that impresses him. Thus, through this natural impulse he is able to calm himself, stimulate himself, and relax his body. For example, a human being by his very nature is always pleased by beautiful sceneries such as a well-arranged garden, the dancing waves of clear seawater, and is delighted by the sight of a beautiful face as well as pleasant aromas. Shari’a does not in any way try to suppress these human impulses and instincts, rather, it regulates them. Moderation and adopting the middle ground is the great and golden principle of Islam that has been clearly stated in the Qur’an in many places, for example: “O children of Adam! Adorn and beautify yourselves at every place of worship (masjid) and eat, drink but do not be extravagant.†Al-A’raf: verse 31. Thus, the shari’a expects the human being to adopt the middle path whenever he is responding to his natural impulses/instincts. It also provides guidelines to ensure the human instinct great love for beautiful scenery and lovely sounds is moderated and does not lead to harm or evil.
While on the same topic, the Imam al-Akbar (Shaykh al-Azhar Mahmud Shaltut) also added that he once read a treatise titled Idah al-dalalat fi sama‘ al-alat (an explanation of the evidence on listening to musical instruments) by one of the 11th century great scholars known for his piety – Shaykh Abdul Ghani al-Nabulusi al-Hanafi – who declared that the traditions (ahadith) used by those who consider music to be haram, if we accept them to be authentic, their meaning is always qualified (muqayyad) by the fact that they mention that type of music which is accompanied by immoral acts, alcohol consumption, fornication, and other vices. In fact, we do not know of any hadith condemning music that has not mentioned these vices. Thus, according to him, music is not haram per se but only when it is associated or accompanied by vices or when it becomes a means towards immoral behaviour. If it is free from such problems and vices, then it will be allowed to listen to it, study it, and participate in musical events.
It has been reported from the Prophet and many of his companions (sahaba), their successors (tabi’un), the great leaders of the schools of law and jurisprudence that they used to listen to and attend musical events which were not accompanied by vices or prohibited acts. This is the view held by many of the scholars of Islamic jurisprudence (fuqaha’). Their fatwa concluded that listening to musical instruments cannot be considered haram simply because they have a melody and sound. However, it only becomes haram for a person to listen to them when they become a tool to incite people towards immoral and prohibited behaviour or when they prevent a person from fulfilling his obligatory religious duties. It becomes clear while reading the texts and book of the schools of law, the texts dealing with verses of legal injunctions (ahkam al-qur’an), and lexicography (lugha) that playing the tambourine as well as other instruments is allowed by general agreement (ittifaq) of the scholars particularly when encouraging the army in a battle field, celebrating the wedding, welcoming a guest or a person returning from a journey, and when motivating people engaged in difficult and important manual labour. The only point of difference among the doctors of law (fuqaha) whether music is haram or allowed, as far as we can tell from their books, is when music is associated and accompanied with haram and immoral behaviour such as drinking intoxicants, erotic dances, fornication, and other vices.
This appears to be the position of the Hanafi scholars (see the previously mentioned Hanafi sources). They hold the view that playing musical instruments will be allowed when it does not lead to immoral behaviour (ghayr al-mustashni’) and it will not affect a person’s testimony or his reliability in a court of law. They defined immoral behaviour (al-mustashni’) as those forms of dancing that are categorised as major sins.
The Maliki scholar Ibn ‘Arabi (not Ibn ‘Arabi the Sufi but the hadith scholar) also expresses a similar view in his Ahkam al-qur’an (see the previously mentioned Maliki sources) that it is just as permissible to use a drum as it is allowed to use a tambourine to celebrate weddings, similarly all other instruments used to announce and celebrate weddings are allowed as long as the singers do not use offensive lyrics.
It is clear after reading Ibn Qudama (the Hanbali scholar) in his al-Mughni when he cites the two jurists al-Shafi’i and Ahman Ibn Hanbali that he does not disagree or oppose the Hanafi and Maliki position with regard to the conditions attached to the permissibility of listening to Music (that it should not be accompanied by haram).
Whenever the jurists have ruled the use of some musical instruments to be allowed while prohibiting others, it is because the prohibited instruments have always been used to incite the listener to engage in immoral behaviour. This does not mean that the instrument itself is haram. We see this clearly in the way the Hanafi, Shafi’i, and Hanbali jurists as well as the Maliki scholar Ibn ‘Arabi have explained their positions that musical instruments should not be accompanied by immoral acts and vices.
Thus, after a detailed and thorough study of all the evidence for and against music, the author of the book al-Sama’ (listening) – Muhammad Ibn Tahir Ibn ‘Ali Ibn Ahmad Ibn Abi al-Hasan al-Shaybani Abu al-Fadl al-Maqdisi well-known as Ibn al-Qaysarani a great expert in the field of hadith – declared that there is no difference at all between listening to one type of instrument or another since there exist no single textual evidence, whether authentic or inauthentic, for or against the use of instruments. Early scholars such as Shaykh Abdul al-Ghani al-Nabulusi al-Hanafi who has been mentioned previously ruled that the use of such instruments was allowed since there was no evidence to prove otherwise. He also argues that the traditions used by those who are opposed to the use musical instruments, if we assume that they are authentic, they have only condemned music when accompanied and associated with intoxicants, fornication and other immoral behaviour. Almost all such traditions mention these vices as the reason behind the condemnation of music. This is also the view of Ibn Hazm who holds the view that the verdict whether music is allowed or not rests on the intentions f the people involved. Thus, if a person listens to music with the intention to relax and motivate himself before engaging in the obedience of God then he will be considered as a righteous person. However, if he does not make any intention whether good or bad, he will not be taken to account for his action and will be treated just like a person taking a walk in the park or sitting outside his house for fresh air.
Similarly, the view held by al-Ghazzali (see previously cited sources) quoted by al-Shawkani in the interpretation of the hadith “every lahw (amusement) in which the believer engages in is invalid†does not in any way prove or mean that lahw is prohibited (haram) even if we assume that the chain of the hadith is authentic. The Qur’an states: “And, for what your tongues describe, do not utter the lie, (saying) This is lawful and this is unlawful, in order to forge a lie against God; surely those who forge the lie against God shall not prosper†(al-Nahl: verse 116).
The argument that is often presented that listening to music, studying it, and attending musical functions is haram based on the legal principles of sadd al-dhari’a (lit. blocking the ways/ precaution) or that of dar’ mafasid muqaddam ‘ala jalb al-masalih (prevention of corruption is given preference over the acquisition of benefit) is neither acceptable nor valid because although music is sometimes associated with corruption, this is not usually the case. Therefore, in this case it will be equated to (the early Arab habit of) sitting on the sides of the streets (or street corners). In a tradition recorded by Muslim in his Sahih on the authority of Abu Sa’id al-Khudri, the Prophet said: “Beware of sitting by roadsides!†The companions then responded saying, “O Prophet of God! We do not do any harm apart from just talking important matters.†The Prophet then said, “if at all you must sit by the roadside then make sure that you give the street its right.†They asked him, “what is the right of the street/road O messenger of God?†“Lowering your gaze, removing harmful objects from the street, returning salam (greetings) to those who pass by, and enjoining good while prohibiting from evil†(see Sharh al-sunna of al-Baghawi, 12/3338). From this tradition we can deduce that sometimes lawful acts can become prohibited when they are accompanied or associated with immoral and haram behaviour. In such cases the prohibition (hurma) will be contingent upon the existence of such immoral and haram behaviour. In other words, it will not be a purely independent and original ruling.
Thus, adopting the middle ground in such cases in the best position (see al-Muwafaqat of al-Shatibi, vol.4, p.258). For this reason, we are in favour of the ruling that listening to music, attending musical gatherings, studying music of all genres and all types of instruments is allowed as long as it is not accompanied by immoral and haram acts, or used as a tool to incite people to engage in sinful behaviour, and it does not preoccupy a person away from observing the obligatory acts of worship as stated in the chapters of al-Bukhari (see Irshad al-Sari, vol. 2, p.171, the marginal notes of Sahih Muslim). In such cases, it will become haram just like sitting on the side of the road without observing the rights of the road mentioned in the hadith. We take this position because only God and then his messenger have the responsibility to declare things halal (permissible) and haram (prohibited) (see I’lam al-muwaqi’in of Ibn al-Qayyim, vol. 1, p. 32). God also states, “Say: Who has prohibited the embellishment of God which He has brought forth for His servants and the good provisions? Say: These are for the believers in the life of this world, purely (theirs) on the resurrection day; thus do we make the communications clear for a people who know. Say: My Lord has only prohibited indecencies, those of them that are apparent as well as those that are concealed, and sin and rebellion without justice, and that you associate with God that for which He has not sent down any authority, and that you say against God what you do not know†(al-A’raf: verses 32-33). Ibn ‘Arabi states (see his Ahkam al-Qur’an, vol.2, p.782) that the words “embellishment of God†(zinat Allah
God the Almighty knows best.
SubhanAllah we say Allah
said this and His Rasul SAW said that…… and you say Sheikh this and mufti that!
Abu Ilyas from: Great Britain (UK) gbyour flag Aug 3rd, 2006 at 7:16 pm
SubhanAllah we say Allah
(SWT) said this and His Rasul SAW said that…… and you say Sheikh this and mufti that!
So what are you trying to say, that i put sheikhs and Mufti’s before Allah
, or His Rasul? Don’t be Stupied, if you read the top, i clearly said in Quraan, Allah 
tells us…no, i’m not explaining myself, be stupied!!!
, the Prophet (SAW) said “Actions will be judged by intentions”. I say this because their are some who would condemn a person out of their own ignorance. Brother Musa from Eygpt, point taken!
I hope everyone can see the pettiness we have resorted to, knitpicking the grammar, instead of focussing on the intention, you must think this is an uncommon tactic, actually it is part of the trivial tactics used by certain groups.
Now let me make a correct statement, Glory be to Allah
SubhanAllah… Abdul Karim….. who said i was talking to you?
Forgive me Brother Ilyas, i honestly thought you were talking to me, i apologise for any hurt i may have caused you. Seems i cannot agree with your point afterall Br Musa!!!
Forgive me also for any harm i’ve done.
May Allah
SWT Forgive us all and place us upon the Sunnah, holding firmly and stubbornly onto it, Ameen.
BROTHER ABDUL KARIM: This is an excellent Fatwa from al-Azhar brother and I thank you for attaching it here. We should also thank the translator! I did not know that there were so many views from the classical Salafi Ulama (scholars)like Shawkani, al-Bukhari, and others supporting Music. They should know something we do not know. The Qur’an commands us: Fas’al ahla dhikr - “As the people of knowledge!” We should not disrespect the ‘ulama.
hi Iam Rukhshona from Tajikistan Iam Love samey Usufs song
Dear Ato I know that you dont love me but realy I cant without you Please one more say that you realy love me and as I sufering I kiss you
Hi Tadjikistan I love you
This is good enought so submmit in as an essay
I really cannot think of any other argument sami couldve included to justify his opnions , SubhanAllah
im speechless lets say
what was that all about up there? love? puhlease…….
what was that all about up there?? love?? pulease…….
Love Music Hate Islamophobia
When: Friday, November 10th, 2006
Location: Inter:mission (Westminster University Students’ Union) Marylebone Road London W1
Love Music Hate Racism presents…
Love Music Hate Islamophobia @ Inter:Mission
University of Westminster
35 Marylebone Road (opp Baker Street station)
Friday 10th November 2006
£5 (pay on the door)
Debate: 5pm - 7pm - ‘Islamophobia - The New Racism’
with Yvonne Ridley, Sadiq Khan MP, Sheikh Mumisa, Persia, Mecca 2 Medina, Lee Billingham (LMHR)
From 7pm - 11.30pm
Alcohol free event in Inter:Mission with: Mecca 2 Medina, MC D, OT Crew, L.Man, DJ Shinobi, Poetic Pilgrimage, UK Apache, Blind Alphabetz, Persia, Stylah, and Low Key hosted by comedians Prince Abdi and Joe Kay.
Muslims in the UK and all over the world are increasingly becoming targets for racists in many forms. The word ‘Islamophobia’ has been created and is used more so than ever as part of everyday language for the media, politicians, and your next door neighbour. The British National Party (BNP) declared the local elections that took place in May to be ‘a referendum on Islam’. All of this is unacceptable. Love Music Hate Racism works closely with Unite Against Facism, together we put on events across the UK to promote our fundamental message that any form of racism is unacceptable.
Sadiq Khan MP:
“The BNP now has 14 councillors in London, and have gained ground on the back of a rise in racism. In the recent, council elections, the BNP declared that this was a “referendum on Islamâ€, and they are dividing communities with vicious, racist lies.
It is vital that we tackle the BNP head on and start a united campaign now to stop them making further electoral gains in the 2008 Greater London Assembly elections – the work of Love Music, Hate Racism is vital in celebrating diversity, not extremism. We have to out the BNP for what they really stand for, build strong coalitions of support, and ensure that we involve all communities in a shared and inclusive notion of what it means to be British in the 21st century.â€
If you feel you should make a stand for Muslims, want to make a point about racism, or want to know know more about Islamphobia then support the first ever Love Music Hate Islamophobia event.
http://www.lovemusichateracism.com
For more info contact: Olivia - info@lovemusichateracism.com or http://www.myspace.com/mecca2medina
This entry was posted on Friday, November 10th, 2006 at 7:00 pm and is filed under Events, London, Meetings, Event Town. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Salaam,
We should refer to prophetic traditions regarding the music and musical instruments. Imam Qaradawi’s fatwa states that it is not allowed to use any musical instruments in nasheeds. And he has given hadiths that support the ruling. For anyone who is trying to make haram halaal is a great sin and every muslim should try not to commit such a sin. Your western background, or being raised in non-muslim country does not make you eligible to change the shariah, and make haram halaal.
In fact, according to other shariah ruling it’s not allowed for a Muslim to live among non-muslims unless you are studying or doing full time dawah. The wisdom behind this ruling is that, muslims who live in non-muslim countries will try to abide and modify the shariah rulings so that it will be non-muslim friendly. And this we can see very clearly today. Muslims who live in western countries are coming up with so many excuses not to follow shariah.
Lastly, we should not just argue for the sake of argument or to win the debate. Our aim should be to seek the pleasure of Allah
. And we should always remember that we will be accountable for our own actions and decisions and nobody else.
Wassalam.
That was a lovely reply from Abdul Karim on this issue.
salam thank u so much may Allah
give u mush than ur expectation.ameen
Mar7aba everyone.. & Salamun 3alayum!!!
I am from lebanon!! And want to speak for all the lebanese people in my family.. and nation!! sami yusuf is trying to brain-wash everyone into thinking that music is 7alal!! wala i am arab.. i know all the traditions & all… i know for a fact that music is 7aram!! wala.. hes not worth it.. all u people who are being brainwashed into thinking music is 7alal.. are WRONG!! MUSIC IS 7ARAM!!! Dont go to hell for a sad loser like sami yusuf… I WAS AT the concert.. & i saw lots of girls jumping up & down for him.. wala.. he is soooo bad!!!! and hes denying it all!!!! i cant belive the guts of that guy… he is a disgrace to the muslim & lebanese people.. and for him all the azeri people..!! i hope he gets his just just deserts…!!!! we lebanese are all for yvonne ridley!!! she shoud cum visit lebanon sum time!!! bas tare2ban… shoukran gazilan 4 reading this… FELOUSH!! lebanese ppl!!!
from.. Touma..
mar7aba.
salamu 3alaykum!
You say it touma!!! (i am also from lebanon)!!! Shes speaking for the whole LEBANESE NATION!!! we are ashamed of sami.. he is a disgrace to everyone for lying!!!
ps… sorry 4 tatakalm 3linglizia!!!!
WE ARE ALL SUPPORTING YVONNE RIDELY!! she rules!!!!!!!!
Hey u lebanese people should calm down.. i know sami is bad but… people just like him for his looks and appearance and not his nasheeds.. who cares if he puts music in his nasheeds???? people dont listen to his nasheeds anyway.. they just look at his face..!!!
ps.. i agree with the lebanese ppl.. he is soo bad liar!!!
wow so much for respect and dignity…
I love both Sami Yusuf and Yvonne Ridley. I think they are right to disagree, although maintenance of adab is important as Sami said. Just because we haven’t heard of scholarly opinions FOR music doesn’t mean that there aren’t any or that music is illegitimate. If you do your research then you will find that many forms of music are allowed, many are not, it all depends. We should not suspect our brother sami of violating this without checking it out ourselves. You will not be able to do this by referring to mufti ‘google’, or even your local imam, as it’s a complicated issue which specialists know, so you must refer to one. Problem is how do you get to these high-level dudes, who are these high-level dudes? Well that’s initially hard to figure out.
But let us not go around like zealots saying ‘quran & sunnah’ when we have no clue what that means (clearly most do not, thinking they can pick and mix hadiths/ayats). People don’t train for 30/40 years to be scholars if they could just do as you do! And yes there is difference of opinion when it comes to music, but this doesn’t mean ‘play safe and dont do it’ although that is a valid position, as there maybe an overriding good thing one can accomplish by using allowed forms of music. In current world situation this is obvious, as we need to ‘islamize’ the music, use it to influence the good and not the bad as it is now doing.
To my ’salafi’ or ‘quran and sunnah’ brothers, my heart goes out to you, as i used to be in that camp once, until i discovered ‘colour’ (in the metaphorical sense). Colour-blindness leads to decadence in one’s faith until like many of my black-n-white brothers one succumbs to that which they despise most, the nihilism being suffered by those most imbalanced in our current world -currently very popular in the west. This color-blindness of which i speak is caused by westernized minds (which may seem weird coz you think you are going back to the salaf right? -wrong).
There was a hadith it went something like ‘..the truly successful man is one who is unable to see the faults of others due to being obsessed with his own faults..’
we want to see your wife!
plz send uz a pik
Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmathullahi wa Barakatahu,
Dear brothers and sisters in Islam I am from India. And pleased to visit hahmed.com today I read most of the replies on this controversial issue article of Sister Yvonne Ridleys.
My request is to all brothers and sisters to behave in a well and good manner.Be cool and think there are many muslims by birth but doesnt have good or correct Knowledge of Islam as may be due to their parents dont bother about their children to provide them the true spirit and knowledge of Islam. This leads misconceptions in their minds about Islam being Muslim. Have a look at the converted Muslims they dont just convert they learn perfectly what is Islam and preachings of Mohammed SAS. So we should respect them all.
Well coming to point of Music it is very clear and transperant sayings of Prophet SAS and certainly there is no confusion at all. In the light of Shariya it is said that Music is Haraam means forbidden. Being Muslims we should respect the Hadith and Quran and without comments accept the truth that Music is un islamic. If we run our intellegent brains in the matter of Islam we surely ruine our akhira (hereafter). We are not going to live here for ever we should keep this in mind. We should accept it if we believe that ” I Surrender to the Law of Allah
and Muhammed” (ISLAM) in a virtuos intention.
The truth is that if we true muslim then we must surrender ourselves to the Law of Allah
and Muhammed.
I support the truth and I support sister Sister Yvonne Ridleys article. She has brought up real fact.
Sami should not stop singing but stop music while singing. I am sure brother Sami will be respected and get more name and fame as well. If he does this.
The truth is that if we are true muslim then we must surrender ourselves to the Law of Allah
and Muhammed.
I support the truth and I support sister Sister Yvonne Ridleys article. She has brought up real fact.
Sami should not stop singing but stop music while singing. I am sure brother Sami will be respected and get more name and fame as well. If he does this.
Asalamu-alaikum to all fellow Muslim brothers and sisters.
I have been thinking about something interesting for a very long time.
To make sure that we as Muslims are following the correct teaching the first and last advice I can give to all Muslim bretherin is to follow the strictest (in compliance with sunnah) teaching of all, in regards to any matter in question, using the 4 renowned scholars along with prophetic and qurani teaching.
So I mean:
Look to the Hanbali, Hanafi, Salafi, Shafi, Wahabi etc scholars.
If the Wahabi scholars say that a woman must cover her full face except the eyes, and the Shafi scholar says only cover the hair, then if a Muslim follows the stritest teaching then it’ll be correct na?
I am only a 15yr old Muslimah in Britain and I think that to prevent myself and others from sinning THINKING it’s right (like music etc) if I and other Muslims take the strictest teaching of the scholars and the prophet, using the stritest teaching there is, there’ll be less chance of error - right?
So to summarize:
follow the strictest teaching of all the renouned scholars, making sure it is in accordance with the prophet’s teaching
Also I don’t have vast amounts of knowledge on Islam, I must admit but am trying my level best to find out all fiqh’s and aqeeda and have found that this is the best way rather than fighting for no particular reason.
To all the people who say ‘I am Wahabi’ ‘I am Sunni’ etc
The Prophet (SWS) once stated ‘My ummah will divide itself into 73 sects’ It was a prophecy, and lookhwta’s happening?
Was he a Wahabi? A Sunni? A Shia? A Salafi? A Hanafi? He said he was only Muslim, and to say we are sunni or whatever is completely incorrect and a way to hellfire. Weshould follow the Sunnah and when someone asks we reply ‘I am MUSLIM’ Nothing more.
Also yes, a comment about Yvonne ridley, I firmly believe that until one has not reached a non-sinning status or one is sinning in the PUBLIC EYE one should not preach. In an interview of Yvonne’s, she mentioned (on her website) that she and her ex-husband are still very good friends. Might I ask why? Especially he is now a non-mahram and she should not be talking to non-mahrams? Especially since she was on camera and one is NOT allowed to be on camera - male OR female, and that one is NOT allowed to talk to men, which is PRECISELY what she did when in an interview. Another question to ask is why she used those words against a fellow Muslim brother.
I am against Sami Yusuf singing with instruments.
To answer a question posted earlier; one remains wondering why the sheikh of the Egyptian Islamic University (Al-Azhar) said that music is not haraam.
The answerersaid;
(SWT) and Allah 
has created us to worship HIM only. So all those pleasures mean and are NOTHING. We will gain those pleasures if we reach the final destination - heaven. Right now, we have to ignore our desires, and trust me everyone, we CAN and WILL do it.
First, he maintains that listening to or performing music, like tasting
delicious foods, feeling soft cloths, smelling pleasant odours, seeing
beautiful sights, or achieving knowledge of the unknown, are all instinctive
pleasures with which God has endowed man.
But I want to say that innovation in religion leads to sin. We are becoming like Christians or Jews.
So this sheikh could even say that alcohol is FINE because even though the prophet condemned musical instruments, he refuted that. SO he ould just as easily ignore the teahing that alcohol is haram. He could say that using silk clothing (as the Prophet did not like to) is fine because he thinks it’s a human pleasure.
Yeah? Well so is sex right? So does that mean everyone should go and seek those pleasures and have affairs? Remember that our desires are not as important as Allah
Praise be to Allah
(SWT)
You are only a Momin when you love the Prophet more than you love your parents.
Asalamu-alaikum,
All replies to the above comment are welcomed
Jazakallah
asalamu 3alaykoum wa rahmatullah,
..hey my brothers and my sisters ..
..i wont to takl to you ..
..i want to say that i respect all people(all over the world)..
..i want to say that i respect sami yusuf because he have made biggest..
..he has shaked us up ..
..befor he started to sing in his songs about islam..
..has some one of themselves one get dirty therefore concerned so does not go on if he not had started to write songs what lasts then with some of us become???
..he has accomplished what has none reach ..
..he has mine respekt ..
..sami yusuf is more great sanger his writes are clear I love his songs..
..it puts you sometimes before the world lasts nicely and every people last happily, however, around such a thing to reach we are improved good people good muslims if one his errors and better people is this gets closer aim than one believes..
so that’s what i want to talk to you Allah
maakoum thalau fi risantkoum
..yours laila from germany but also from marokko..
(i live in germany)
Thanks for sharing
Salaamalaykum in my jahiliyah I loved music ‘we danced we played instruments we sung our hearts out rapped we womanized’ and it was all desires’ we served our desires we worshipped ourselves’ everything was cool ‘except we were lost’ and Allah
guided us from those dark days’ to a better more purer life and Islam has illuminated the way for us’ it made clear for us’ the issues’ the whole idea of music opens up a lot of doubtful areas’ and who ever stirs from the doubtful will be certain of the safety of his religion.
it, s much better for us’ he says I don’t like the Quran anymore? end of discussion, the damage is done’ now you can argue that my parenting skills are not up to scratch and perhaps I can improve on that’ but youth is definitely a branch of foolishness’ the similitude of what I am saying is you’ll waste a whole bunch of your years looking for someone to tell you what inside you is self evident’ the fact that there is a doubt should make us remove yourself from the issue, but know we are going to search high and low for a fatwa’ that will take us humming our way into the fire’ the fact that this issue has taken on a dimension’ that it diverts us from the real issue of what are we going to do for our eternal souls? The Prophet (saw) said it is like one has lit a fire or a candle and the people are like the moths are running towards the flame and I am trying to hold them by their clothes but they are running towards the fire’ sometimes we are told but we just don’t want to hear we want to hear what we want to hear’
I am not going to quote deleel for what I know to be true’ experience has taught us that you open a door and a flood of things happen’ take the example of my children they’ like Sami Yusuf lyrics hum dinging, lovely jubilee but then someone puts the Quran on and one says no take it off I want to listen to Sami, I say no this is the word of Allah
Please stop copy and paste some hadith and making your owm Fatwas based on your opinion, this is very dangerous. Of course you have to make your own thougths, but don´t make a fatwa.
Hadiths are in correlation to the Quran, other Hadiths and the context they were stated…
Wa Allahu Alam…
Just some advice.
salamoalaykom;
; for our ummahw;for a great and peaceful world.i really love his voice;music and the message that he wants t deliver.
brings more people like you.
dunt knw y u people think dat the music haram.
dunt find any logical reasoon for dat;abut music instrument….it s the best way t make an influence on people;sami yusuf music is too touchin and has a great message ;not just for islam but for the whole world.
let’s c the positive side of dat guys….what s sami yusuf message?he s got a very nice voice that h cld make billions with it if he sings like the other singers;no need t mention names…instead;h s makin a great deal and great work;singin for the profit(salalaho alayhi wasalam);for Allah
we are in new era;the music is the best way t express our thoughts and messages.the best way t give good image of islam after the damage that happened.
may god bless you sami;you are doin great;keep up your great work and may Allah
god bless you;
wasalam
wa `alaykum al-salam Haleema Nooruddeen:
Qur`an and Hadith can be interperted in many different ways and hence, the following `ulama from three of the four Ahl al-Sunnah madhaib (schools) allowed musical insturments:
Hanafi - Imam `Abd al-Ghani Nablusi in “Ibah al-Dalalat fi Sam` al-Alalat”
Shafi`i - Imam Zaid Shakir (others might also); Imam Ghazali
Maliki- Qadi Abu Bakr ibn `Arabi ; Shaykh Hamza Yusuf Hanson
I do recognize that the masshur opinion is that music except the daff is Haram, However a valid minority opinion on the allowance of musical insturments to a certain extent have also been established and many `ulama have taken those positions (as do I).
If you accuse the `ulama such as Imam al-Nablusi or Qadi Ibn `Arabi of heresy due to this , even though most `ulama consider this a subject of valid ikhtilaf (difference of opinion), then the Aimmah such as Imam Nablusi or Qadi Abu Bakr ibn `Arabi are not erroneous or in heresy, but rather it is you who is erroneous making your own judgements, claiming to understand Islam and the Qur`an and Sunnah better than them, even though they are scholars. We are NOT.
To accept that music is Haram is fine (that’s a valid opinion) , but to condemn another valid opinion (that music to a certain extent is allowed) when there is a difference of opinion is , in reality, going against Allah
(Subhan Wa Ta`ala) and his Messenger (Sal Allahu `alaihi wa Salim)
And Allah
and His Messenger Knows Best,
Anwar Ibraheem
* For a translation of Imam `Abd al-Ghani Nablusi’s book, please see this link
http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12240&page=1&pp=10
indian girls nude
I think that arguing over issues like whether Music is haram or Halal is a waste of the time that Allah
(praise and exalted is He) has given to us in this Dunya. If Sami Yusef feels that he can express his love of God through song, his intentions are pure and insha’Allah 
he will not be punished for this. It is all about Niyah, and since his love of his Lord can be heard so profoundly through his voice, insha’Allah 
people will hear this and start to look into this beautiful religion that has inspired this man so. Masha’Allah 
, God has gifted people in different ways, and so long as this gift is channelled in an Islamic and Praiseful way, we should not try to dampen this.
people will not take offence to my comment, as insulted as I was to the comment “when white people convert to islam, it worries me.” If it was a black person this would be reported as racist, and as muslims we should not allow discrimination to infect our hearts. We are all equal in the eyes of God.
Similarly, if you feel strongly about the issue surrounding music, just don’t listen to it and accept that others do not feel the same. None of us have the right to enforce our beliefs on others, and since their is no strict guidelines in the Qur’an, and also there are many hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) listening and enjoying music, we should agree to disagree.
Insha’Allah
hi native deen asalaamualaykum all brothers i just wanted to say that ahmed bukhatir is cool humble and nice he makes me cry with some of his songs isn’t it true ;(
Ive always been more, holding hands to your point. I was nude car beaten. I.
Salaam
Sami is in South Africa on tour!!!
I can wait to perform with him inshallah!
hi every1, i really love all sami yusuf nasheeds.plzz i would like to requests all ze non muslims who are still in the ignorance to wake up,try to know islam,u will see that islam contains only the truth.i pray Allah
to guide all of us,to saves us fom the hell,whispers of shaitaan!may Allah 
bless us all ameen!
Aslkm..,
measures his deeds he will reveal it to him if his way is right or not….
To spread and practise islam is what we muslims should intend….If sami yusuf is doing so with his songs then i dn’t suppose anyone anywhere should protest against it….
If it is wrong and if Allah
Assalamualikum, bros n sis, I love sami yusuf…..he is so inspiring as a good moslem. Keep up the good work, Sami. leave the ignorant people alone…inshallah they don’t get u n always will be. I knew him since i watched The Kite Runner movie which put Sami’s song as its soundtrack. anyway, he is not too well known here though he is in the west n arab countries. well, whatever it is, I wait for his live concert performed in Indonesia soon. Inshallah.
Hi!
Hru?
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