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Islamic music is Muslim religious music, as sung or played in public services or private devotions. The classic heartland of Islam is the Middle East, North Africa, Iran, Central Asia, and South Asia. Because Islam is a multicultural religion, the musical expression of its adherents is diverse. The indigenous musical styles of these areas have shaped the devotional music enjoyed by contemporary Muslims:
[edit] Secular and folk musical styles[edit] Middle EastThe Seljuk Turks, a nomadic tribe that converted to Islam, conquered Anatolia (now Turkey), and held the Caliphate as the Ottoman Empire, also had a strong influence on Islamic music. See: All these regions were connected by trade long before the Islamic conquests of the 600s and later, and it is likely that musical styles traveled the same routes as trade goods. However, lacking recordings, we can only speculate as to the pre-Islamic music of these areas. Islam must have had a great influence on music, as it united vast areas under the first caliphs, and facilitated trade between distant lands. Certainly the Sufis, brotherhoods of Muslim mystics, spread their music far and wide. [edit] South AsiaThe music of the Muslim populations of South Asia (Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, with Nepal and Sri Lanka) had merged the Middle Eastern genres along with indigenous classical musical modes, and is generally distinct in style and orchestration, yet due to the strong links encountered between the Middle-East, Central Asia and South Asia, they are closer to Middle-Eastern styles than those of the peripheric outreaches of the Islamic world, which tend to be purely indigenous. [edit] Southeast AsiaMaritime Southeast Asia has a majority Muslim population, but has historically incorporated less cultural influences from the Middle-East than South Asia, due to the fact that they were not incorporated within the Islamic Empire, but rather maintained links via trade. Music genres of these areas generally predate the coming of Islam or have very little influence from Arab or Persian styles, with exceptions being the Malay Zapin and Joget genres, both of which had taken a lot of influence from the Middle East via Arab settlement in urban centers. Maritime Southeast Asia's music is related to other musical genres played in South-East and East Asia. Gong chime ensembles such as Gamelan and Kulintang have been played in the region from before the arrival of Islam, and musical theory and method owe more to heavy Chinese influence, as well as Hindu-Buddhist principles, rather than Arabic musical philosophy. Variations of one of two main scales are played in the region among different ensembles: slendro and pelog (both scales with origins in Java). [edit] AfricaMain articles: West African music and African music Islam is the largest organized religion on the continent, although indigenous styles and genres are more prominent than those affected by Middle-Eastern theory. East African music styles include the highly Arab influenced Taarab genre. West African musical genres are more varied, and tend to incorporate both native and Berber influences, rather than those of Arab origin. A long history of court griot music based on historical accounts and praise-singing exists in the region. Wind and string instruments, such as the Kora or Flute are generally preferred to percussion, although percussion instruments such as the talking drum and djembe are also widely played. [edit] Types of Muslim devotional recitation and music[edit] NasheedNasheeds are moral, religious songs sung in various melodies by some Muslims of today without any musical instruments. However some nasheed groups perform by using some percussion instruments. This type of singing of moral songs without Music is considered as permissible (halal) by almost all stern Muslims. [edit] Sufi musicSufi worship services are often called dhikr or zikr. See that article for further elaboration. The dhikr of South Asian Muslims is "quietist". The Sufi services best known in the West are the chanting and rhythmic dancing of the whirling dervishes or Mevlevi Sufis of Turkey. Some Mevlevi music can be heard on the Sufi Music CD recommended below. However, Sufis may also perform devotional songs in public, for the enjoyment and edification of listeners. The mood is religious, but the gathering is not a worship service. In Turkey, once the seat of the Ottoman Empire and the Caliphate, concerts of sacred song are called "Mehfil-e-Sama' " (or "gathering of Sama'"). Song forms include ilahi and nefe. Qasidah is a form of poetry. In this form of poetry the praise is presented. Qasidah is four types, 1. Hamd (Hymn) 2. Naat (A poem in praise of Prophet Muhammad 3. Manqabat (A poem in praise of Saints) 4. Madah (A poem in praise of honourables) In India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, these concerts, and the associated style of music, are called qawwali. A traditional qawwali programme would include:
Shi'a concerts follow the naat with a song in praise of Ali (also manqabat) and a marsiya, a lamentation over the death of much of Ali's family at the Battle of Karbala. See Poetry in Islam for a discussion of the lyrics.  Qawwali is increasingly popular as a musical genre and performances may attract those who want to hear virtuoso singing rather than contemplate the divine. Some artists may skip the long sequence of praise songs and go straight from the introductory hamd to the popular romantic songs, or even dispense with the devotional content completely. This is cause for much consternation for traditional enthusiasts/devotees of the form. The most well known qawwali singer is Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. The dimension and style of music he brought about no one else is able to produce till this day. As Sufi music has developed so have the generations. A Pakistani rock band, Junoon, was formed in the 1990s to bring a modern twist to suit the new younger generations. The band was a huge world wide hit that created a lot of popularity for not only Pakistan. [edit] Music for public religious celebrations
[edit] Modes[edit] Instruments
Some Muslims believe that only vocal music is permissible (halal) and that instruments are forbidden (haram). Hence there is a strong tradition of a cappella devotional singing. Other Muslims will accept drums, but no other instruments. Yet other Muslims believe that any instrument is lawful as long as it is used for the permissible kinds of music. Hence there is a long tradition of instrumental accompaniment to devotional songs. A wide variety of instruments may be used, depending on local musical traditions. Traditional:
Recent introductions:
[edit] LyricsWhen lyrics are not simply repeated and elaborated invocations (Yah Nabi and the like) they are usually poems in forms and meters common in the local literature.[citation needed] [edit] Permissibility of musicThe question of permissibility of music in Islamic jurisprudence is historically disputed. Some jurists of the classical era of Muslim scholarship opined that music is forbidden both by the Qur'an and by the Hadith. They believe that Muhammad censured the use of musical instruments in the report from him: "There will be among my Ummah people who will regard as permissible adultery, silk, alcohol and musical instruments,"[1]; Some of the Islamic scholars of the past agreed upon this.[2] However others including Imam Nawawi permit music stating that the prohibition of music and instruments at the time of the Prophet related to the usage - at the time the polytheists would use music and musical instruments as part of their worships. The others who saw the permissibility of music include Qadhi Abu Bakr Ibn al-Arabi and Qadhi Iyyad from the Malikis, Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali and al-Izz ibn Abdesalam from the Shaafi'is, Mawlana Jalaluddeen Ar-Rumi from the Hanafis, and Ibn Hazm from the Dhahiris. Imam Ghazali also reports a narration from the saint al-Khidr, where he expressed a favourable opinion of music, provided it be within the usage limitation of virtous areas. Furthermore many modern Muslim interpretations allow music and singing under certain conditions, mainly if they do not encourage committing sinful acts.[3] [4][5] [edit] Contemporary Muslim musicSome notable Muslim nasheed artists include:
Noted Sufi singers:
[edit] See also[edit] References[edit] External links[edit] Islamic views on the allowance of musical instruments and singing
[edit] Islamic views on the prohibition of musical instruments and singing[edit] Further reading
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