The differences in the stance on music and dancing makes the Suffi and Sharia approaches incapable of existing together. Sufi music is not for entertainment purposes, the purpose of listening to this music is to get closer to God. It is the responsibility of the listener to focus on the lyrics to build closeness to God. The lyrics of Sufi music always has spiritual undertones, like belief in the omnipotence and benevolence of God. While Sufis view their music as a way to get closer to God, followers of Sharia law don’t view it this way. Followers of the Sharia approach view the listening of Sufi music as an invitation to sin and disobedience of God. The condemnation of music by Sharia comes from the Quran, “And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (music, …show more content…
For such there will be a humiliating torment (in the Hell-Fire)” (Sarah Luqman: 31:6). Sufis defend their use of music because the intention of the music is to help them worship God. Clearly the issue of Suffi music is a divisive issue between these two approaches to Islam. Listening to music is a huge part of the Sufi mission to get closer to God but this practice is considered sinful in Sharia. This difference makes it hard to envision Sufism and Sharia ever finding common ground, the view on music a fundamental part of both systems. In order for Sufism and Sharia to coexist one of them would have to change an integral part of their system which again would take away from both systems. Dancing is another Sufi practice that creates a split between the two systems. Followers of Sufism believe that dancing is a way to get closer to God. Followers of Sharia contradict this belief. While dancing is not directly banned in the Quran, dancing is not an activity that the Prophet does in the hadiths and the hadiths are the other main primary source that Sharia derives their law system
Religion has been an important part of man’s life. Man has allowed religion to control and influence his life in many different ways, affecting both his behavior and his actions. So its not surprising that music, one of man’s earliest expressive forms, has also been influenced by religion. Religion has had an effect on man’s music all throughout history, from the early Egyptians to even now. So it is only natural that Western music should also have been affected by religion. Western music, and its development by composers, has been strongly influenced by the Christian religion, especially in the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. The music in these periods laid the foundation for all the different types of music we enjoy today.
Sufism is often described as being the mystical branch of Islam – a spiritual path that speaks to the very heart of the believer and brings to the fore, a very real sense of God’s immediacy within the context of daily life and religious practice. As a mystical tradition, it propositions a God that has shared His divine essence with mankind – a God who is available to address and dwell within the human condition. By discussing Sufi practice and its development of traditional Islamic precepts including prayer and fasting, this essay will place it within the context of Islam with a look at how its mystical notions contribute towards a more immediate understanding of God. Furthermore, the practice of dikhr s well as the Sufi path of divine love as a journey towards divine unity will be discussed in showing how Sufism involves a sense of self-denial in favour of comprehending the divine nature of God. Sufism’s intersection with Greek science and philosophy will also be outlined in illustrating the all-encompassing nature of the Sufi God. Comparing different viewpoints, this essay includes critical commentary that will suggest that as a progression of the Islamic faith, Sufism indeed makes a substantial contribution to an understanding of the Islamic God – one that is relevant within the context of modern day society.
St John, Graham. "Electronic Dance Music Culture And Religion: An Overview." Culture and Religion 7.1 (2006): 1-25. Academia.edu. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
If one were to look back into the world’s history, one would find that an important and consistent element is the world of music. Music has presented itself in various forms throughout its spread and through our identification of its magical realm, people have been fortunate enough to come across a means of relation. Whether it is blues and reggae or rap and pop rock, there is music out there for everyone. Music can serve as a stabilizer for some, a relaxant to others, and to many a form of inspiration.
Music is a communicative activity that is essential to all cultures. It gives a group of people a way to express things such as moods and emotions or even religious and political beliefs. The significance of music to Afghan culture is expressed in The Kite Runner, “We just wanted to hear Ali sing. He’d clear his throat and begin: On a high mountain I stood, And cried the name of Ali, Lion of God. O Ali, Lion of God, King of Men, Bring joy to our sorrowful hearts” (Hosseini 11). Despite its importance in society, the Taliban considered music to be against Islam. Part of their stance against music was due to the improper uses by both the Communists and the Mujahadeen. The injustices faced by musicians are also expressed in The Kite Runner, “I learned that Khanum Taheri…had once been famous in Kabul for her enchanting singing voice…But as much as the general appreciated listening to music…he believed the performing of it was best left with those with lesser reputations” (Hosseini 177). The reintroduction of music into Afghanistan will only be possible if people understand why the ban was put into effect, how policies have begun to change, and how to effectively teach a culture to embrace music again.
Across the world there are countless religions, new and old, each having their own unique traditions and laws that believers abide by. As defined by World History, Sharia, the Arabic word meaning “the path” or “the way”, alludes to traditional Islamic law. (Ellis, Esler, and Beers, 255) Sharia originates within the Koran, the holy book of Islam, which Muslims consider the unaltered word of God. Along with the Koran, Sharia is derived from the teachings and examples set by the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, who Muslims view as the perfect man of faith. Muslims believe that God revealed his true conviction to Muhammad, who in turn was to spread the commands of God through the Koran. Between Muhammad’s death in the seventh century and leading up to the tenth century, many Islamic scholars worked to understand Sharia in its entirety, and apply it to the rapidly expanding Muslim Empire of the time (Dunn, 57). Sharia played a key role in uniting the Islamic Empire by serving as the precedent which dictated laws concerning both private and public behavior.
By educating the masses and deepening the spiritual concerns of the Muslims, Sufism has played a critical part in the arrangement of the Muslim society. The Sufi movement consists of rituals and practices include writing and reciting poetry and hymns. For example, Sufis participate in an assortment of custom practices planned to offer them some assistance with realizing union with God, for example, particular types of custom supplication to God include the recitation of God 's names, and substantial ceremonies, for example, "Whirling Dervishes," a Turkish Sufi arrange that practices reflection and thought of God through turning. (Religion and Ethics
Dance is a type of sport that usually involves movement of the body, often carried out to different types of music depending on the style. Dance is practiced in many cultures as a form of expression or social relations in a spiritual or performance setting, and is even used to express certain beliefs and ideas. Dance does not have traceable roots and it is not possible to say when exactly dance became a part of culture, but historical evidence shows that dance has been an important aspect of rituals, services, revels, and entertainment since the ancient developments. Since dance was discovered, it has become prevalent. Many different forms and styles of dance are used all around the world today including ballet, swing, hip-hop, and even the tango and salsa.
Dance has been a part of human history since the earliest records of human life. Cave paintings found in Spain and France dating from 30,000 -10,000 BC. have vivid drawings of dancing figures in association with ritual illustrating the pesents of dance in early human society. Many people around the world see life as a dance from the movements of the heavens and the turn of the seasons to the unique dance of every creature. The history of dance reflects the changes in the way people see the world, relate to their bodies and experience the cycles of life. In India among the Hindus, the Creator is a dancer who dances the world through the cycles of birth, death and rebirth. In the early churches of Europe, Christian worship included dance while at other times in western history dancing was outlawed and banned. In Ancient Egypt, ceremonial dances were enacted by the pharaohs as a dancing priest- king representing his people. These dances, culminating in ceremonies representing the death and rebirth of the god Osiris became more and more complex until ultimately they could only be performed by a highly valued professional class of dancers. In Ancient Greece, Egyptian dance influences were carried over by Greek philosophers who went to Egypt for general study. The dance rituals of the Gods and Goddesses of ...
In my culture, music helps to explain my cultural identity. Palestinian people tend to play loud arabic music and parties and occasions. The music brings people together as a family while they are dancing and having fun. Arab women wear long patterned dresses and arab men wear certain designed clothes over their head while doing a dance called dabke. Dabke is where everyone links arms and hops around in a circle doing a certain dance according to the song. I love watching my family have fun at events like this. Dancing is a huge part of my cultural and I love how it brings everyone together as a whole. This creates a tone of excitement and love with my
1a. Just like how written text or spoken words are forms of self-expression, music provides the outlet for people to convey express themselves. In a religious setting, music is able to serve a much more powerful purpose by allowing groups to unify and express the same sentiment towards their beliefs. This can appear in the form of rituals, worship, or other practices that are involved. Essentially, “Music provides a vehicle for the expression of religious emotions of awe, joy, and wonder” (Lesson 10).
In their journey to discover love, truth, and freedom Aladdin and Jasmine are accompanied by supernatural beings, incorrect interpretations, and must face temptations in order to gain what they seek. The story of Aladdin viewed through the lens of Sufi ideas can be used to understand the ways through which Sufi truths are revealed and the path through which those truths are revealed. Both the path of Aladdin and Jasmine, and the Sufi path cannot be walked by all,
Have you ever wondered, why do Judaism, Christianity, and Islam use and incorporate art in their faith? Judaism, Christianity, and Islam use and incorporate the art of music. Music is an essential type of art, that was used as a religious role. Also, music was a sin, it was a forbidden pleasure.
Music plays a huge role in the structure of a society. It can have both negative and positive influence on cultures and communities. First, musical sounds and instruments can be a dividing factor between the people within the same culture. These opposing social and economic identities within these cultures can lead unnecessary animosity between the members. However, music can also be one of the forces that unite members of a culture and provide a sense pride for everyone. This makes it easier for people to display their identification to that culture.