God Has Called Me...

[Muslimah]

O I forgot to tell u of course Insh a Allah keep posting your questions to this thread as u will be Insh a Allah a new Muslim, I just wished I could share the moment of u taking the shahada. But Alhamdulelah as long as Allah Shall be watching and lisenting

[Anyabwile]

Muslimah, Thank you for saying my post touched you, the feelings i expressed in the first post, haven't subdued, in fact they have strengthened. Today i took my family out to the park, it was amazing to look around and see the world from it's true perspective, it's the first time i've taken out my daughter and girlfriend to the park ever, she's only approaching 1 years of age but to think i haven't done this yet, only since i embraced Islam is amazing. I was actually squinting because i rarely go out, it was amazing to feel Allahs warmth via the sun and the freshness in the air. If i would have read what i'm writing now a week ago i wouldnt belive it.


I did plan to tell my girlfriend about my new choice of life at the park as well, but i didn't have the courage. As once i am Muslim i will have to marry her, or lose her, i don't want to lose her as i love her with all my heart. I know i can win her round, we've acted like a married couple anyway, this shouldn't be no different. In this relationship my only sin would have been sex outside of marriage with my girlfriend, i've always had one partner so i will pray hard god will forgive me. I'm not sure how she will take to wearing jilbab (is that right? Muslim headscarf) in fact i know how she'll take it. My coming days will be a challenge...any Muslim women can help me out here? Point out the benifits??


Anyway i did have a question for you Muslimah! Is there anywhere online i can find an audio version of the Shahada, I have read it but would really like to get the pronounciation correct if possible. Then what must i do after? I have this information somewhere on my PC, but i've collected nearly fifty Documents about Islam so could you jog my memory. For some reason i'm nervous about tonight, i don't even know why. I will also be posting another question in this forum in a few minutes. Thank you!

[Anyabwile]

Tonight i pronounce Shahada, and become a Muslim. I'm obviously very excited / scared by this but also a question i have, which no one seems to be able to answer for sure, is about Music. Music, before God spoke to me was my life. In what i was going to do for a career and money for my family, and within my own personal self. Some music is so powerful to me singers like Stevie Wonder who sing about God, but from a Christian perspective I imagine, and groups like JMT, who are Muslims if a little Militant.


So is music forbidden in Islam, if so would someone be able to quote a section of the Quran? Where it says this? I'm reading on another forum how it is, and another one how it isn't.


Some people in this debate say...


"this notion of music being allowed in Islam, for whatever purpose is a product of the rationalist school of thought. they fail to acknowledge the evidences from the quran, sunnah and the opinions of our scholars that clearly prohibit it. if u want to make or listen to music, that is between u and your Lord, however please dont try to justify this haram act using your ration, because in Islam we take what is given"


"The use of musical instruments is categorically forbid in Islam."


"There is one verse in the Koran which is used to argue that music is not allowed in Islam. The verse explains that music could lead Muslims away from the right path."


"Music is haram by which man lost his consiciousness for a while and forget Allah. Only music allowed in Islam is played for patriotism or exercises for Army etc."


And the other side argue...


"From ages past music in some form has been used to Praise the One. In Qur'an we find "Allah is beautiful and loves beauty." Allah (swt) did not give birds their song to suppress nor did He create the winds that blow through rocks or trees to create beautiful sounds to be ignored or not copied. To make music is "Sunnat Allah" since Allah (swt) has created the first sounds and orchestrated the songs of nature. We should speak to a people in a language they can understand. In the West music is a language in itself. The media are quick to promote negative music & rap quicker than positive music that will elevate minds. Our youths listen to music & rap like it is soul food so lets feed them what they need not what they want. Anything that will remind us of our Creator & that we are Divine beings & not just human doings then All Praises due...Peace!"


"Delivering the message of Islam via music is an age old formula. Islam was brought to the Sikhs of india via music and great numbers converted to Islam via this format. Even today The life of the Prophet Mohammed is expressed with such love in the forms of peotry, Nasheeds and Qawaali. If the message is one of love for the Prophet and the invitation to discover Islam then i agree, but if its a tool to express anger and incite malice then i disagree, this is not the message of Islam and would be counter productive."


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So you can see why i am confused! Personally i will only follow what god tells me not man/woman, so instead of endlessly searching net forums is there any verses that people could post here from the Quran, if they forbid music, then for me it's over. I'm almost scared to read what they will say, music has been played in my life everyday for the last twenty five years. I hope god will guide me through the silence without it. Plus i have a phobia of pidgeons and i play my headphones in town to block their Coo's So please as many verses from the Quran as any one knows that releate to music, could i possibly ask they stick them here?


Thank you!

[radiyah]

Alsalam 'alaykom


Maha'Allah Allahu Akbar, welcome brother to Islam, or shall I say WELCOME BACK


Alhamdulilah that u were guided to the right light Alhamdulilah .


About music brother, well there is one aya I dont remember it right now, but all the scholars, refer its meaning to music and singing. But now there are Islamic songs and Anasheed, for praise of Allah(SWT) and praise of Prophet(SWS), patriotic ones and so on, that is not haram, look at yusif Islam, he turned his talent to serve Islam and Insha'Allah Allah will accept from him.


I found this fatwa for u, I hope it will solve your confusion.


This was the question:


As-Salamu `alaykum! In his fatwa " Does Islam Go against Laughter? ", Sheikh Yusuf `Abdullah Al-Qaradawi stated that when Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq (may Allah be pleased with him) tried to stop two young girls from singing in the Prophet’s house, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) told him: 'Let it be, for we are now in the feast.'



However, Sheikh Qaradawi did not refer to the following hadiths: Ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) used to swear by Allah that the ayah "And of mankind is he who purchases idle talk to mislead (men) from the Path of Allah . . .” (Luqman: 6) referred to singing. Abu ‘Amir and Abu Malik al-Ash`ari (may Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Among my Ummah will be those who make permissible al-hira (adultery), silk, khamr and musical instruments . . .” (Reported by al-Bukhari; see al-Fath, 10/51). Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “In this Ummah there will be punishments of earthquakes, showers of stones and deformity (transformation into animals); that will be when the people drink khamr, listen to female singers and play musical instruments.” (See al-Silsilah as-Saheehah, 2203; attributed to Ibn Abid-Dunya, Dhamm al-Malahi; the hadith was narrated by at-Tirmidhi, no. 2212).


Also, Sheikh Qaradawi did not mention the following facts: It is reported in a Sahih hadith that the Prophet's laughter was never more than a smile. (Reported by Ahmad) According to another hadith, he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to remain silent for long periods, and laugh little. (Reported by Ahmad) ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “I never saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) laughing so heartily that his back teeth showed; he would only smile.” (Reported by Abu Dawud)


Now, don't the readers have the right to know the other side of the coin too? But then again, perhaps I am wrong about it. I would however, appreciate it, if the fatwa issuer could reply to my objections. Wassalam


and this is the answer


http://www.islamonline.net/fatwa/english/F...?hFatwaID=40116


for me personally I prefer to listen to Quran all the time, I might listen to some nasheeds from time to time, but I never feel at peace until I listen to Quran reciting , it is better than any song or nasheed.


Again welcome to Islam and May Allah The Exalted strengthen your faith and guide u to what He Loves and Pleases.


Wasalam 'alaykom Wa Rahmat Allah Wa Barakatuh

[radiyah]

Alsalam 'alaykom brother Anyabwile,


u r a muslim now, u pronounced your shahaada on another post Allahu Akbar may Allah strengthen your eeman, and keep on shooting your questions, we will answer, if we did not know it, we will dig it up for u dont worry.


U r very lucky to be chosen by Allah, keep it up step by step as sister Muslimah and brother dan said, and by Allah's guidance u will reach to the highest point of eeman.


and about Hijab here are the conditions for hijab as a muslim woman should wear:


http://www.islamworld.net/hijabconds.html


http://home.swipnet.se/islam/hijab.htm


May Allah guides your girlfriend to the right path, and insha'Allah u will be rejoined in the correct way that Allah pleases for both of u, Marriage.


Wasalam

[Anyabwile]

Radiyah thanks! i read everything at the link you directed me to, and also another link contained in the page you directed me to, where a teacher asked about music and Islam. It seems no one knows 100% which is strange, surely there should be no confusion if it's in the quran. These sections stood out to me...


"In the subject of musical instruments, scholars disagree on the matter. Some of them permit all sorts of singing, be it accompanied with musical instruments or not, and even consider it recommended. A second group of scholars permit singing only when is not accompanied with a musical instrument. A third group declare it to be prohibited whether it be accompanied with a musical instrument or not; they even consider it as a major sin."


"If we are to delve deeply into this matter, we will find that love for singing and melodic voices are almost a human instinct. We can observe an infant lying in his cradle soothed and sleeping by the sound of a lullaby. Mothers and nannies are always in the habit of singing for babies and children. Moreover, birds and animals respond to nice voices and rhythmic melodies."


"As a matter of fact, we know from the authentic traditions that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, not only allowed music in the weddings but also listened to girls singing: While listening to girls singing on such an occasion, he interrupted them only once when they sang the following verse, “In our midst is a prophet who knows what will happen tomorrow”; whence, the Prophet, peace be upon him, told them, “Cut this sentence out, and continue singing what you have been singing earlier.” There is nothing in the sources to indicate that the above permission is limited to the occasion of wedding, as some people tend to think."


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So from what i've read on these pages, Music isn't forbidden, only if it goes against the teaching and guidance from Allah. So there's nothing in the Quran that specifically says no music? Nothing directly from Allah that says this. It just has to be music that will not corrupt the mind against the teachings of Allah?


Thank you for the link Radiyah much appreciated. I should really go to sleep now but i'm currently reading through this...http://www.evolutiondeceit.com/ but that's another debate no doubt already discussed, this music one is cleared up for me for now. But i would like to know if it actually says anywhere in the Quran that music is forbidden, if it doesn't or it does, then there's no debate right? Only what the music contains lyrically would be forbidden? Let me know if i'm right or wrong here though, thanks

[Qutuz]

congratulation a milliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiion times Anyabwile


i used to listen to music before i became devoted Muslim until i realised that Quran and Music can't get well together..and at this point i had to make the choice and so i let go the Music..that was a decision i never imagained i would take


try to learn Arabic and read Quran in Arabic to know what i mean.


and also think carefuly how Music became a hadny tool for Shaytan...all this Rap and Rock 'n' Roll music which decorate sins like drinking alcohol and adultery and even taking drugs.


Wasslam

[Anyabwile]

try to learn Arabic and read Quran in Arabic to know what i mean.


and also think carefuly how Music became a hadny tool for Shaytan...all this Rap and Rock 'n' Roll music which decorate sins like drinking alcohol and adultery and even taking drugs.


Wasslam

Thank you Qutuz for your congratulations and yes, i am at the very start of my long and what i'm told is going to be very very <b>very</b> hard quest of learning Arabic, i just last night booked a beginners basic Arabic course and Islamic studies course starting near the end of september. I realise it's going to take me a very long time, to speak and read it but the goal is worth more than anything i can imagine, to read gods words without the translation of man. Some would say it doesnt matter, it's still the Quran english or whatever, of course it is, but it's a choice i've made and i'm going to stick with it. Wish me luck all.


As for the music, no, the music i listen to i imagine wouldn't sit well with God, i can't imagine how i'm going to feel when i have to say goodbye to it i have over 700 cds. But everythings different now. Hopefully i can fill the coming years learning Arabic with also the aquisition of knowledge, so that i wont need music, so the time will pass quick and i can read the words how i really want to! But my music If i see that verse in the Quran, then there's no option. I think i kind of know anyway, i'm just finding exuses for myself. Devoting my life to god now seems easy, it's letting go of all the baggage i've aquired since before that's the hard part. So much to clear up, and so much that's so difficult to let go. It's that western living, no excuses but it hasn't helped!

[NaSra]

Asalamalaykum


Congratulations


Alhamdulillah, words can't express the joy I am feeling right now, to know that Allah(swt) has again showed mercy to another soul that was lost, but found it's way back home to Islam


May Allah SWT fill your days with happiness and enlightment inshallah.

In this relationship my only sin would have been sex outside of marriage with my girlfriend, i've always had one partner so i will pray hard god will forgive me.

About your past sins Brother, when a person accepts Islam, all his or her past sins are forgiven and his or her record is wiped clean and they start again from that moment as if they were just born. You are so blessed!


<b>ALahu AKbar</b>

[wel_mel_2]

Assalamo ALikum


ALLAHU AKBAR .. ALLAHU AKBAR .. ALLAHU AKBAR..


Welcome to Islam brother Anyabwile.. welcome back to your original way of life, May Allah protect you from every evil thing. Ameen.


well, i was a singer before in Egypt/Alexandria.. and music was absolutely my everything. it affect on my study, my health, and even affect on my relationship with my family. but i didnt care this time because as i said it was my everthing,


for more than 10 years i am fighting with my family because of my life system (come home very late, sleep in the morning and wake up very late in the afternoon to prepare for my first show, alchol, drugs, and girls etc etc...) so this career is full of evil and i am sure that you are aware of that..


so anyway, when i decided to practice Islam i found that it would be a contradiction to practice Islam and to play music, sing at the same time, because if i keep on singing then i will miss all my obligatory prayers.. of course i am sleeping the whole day and my daytime start at 7PM so how will i perform my daily prayers ??? so it was very difficult to keep both ways up!! but Alhamdulelah i was struggling till Allah (SW) guided me to leave this career at all.


so my advise is, since you are in UK as i understand.. why dont you find brother Yusuf Islam's location (Cat Steven before) ? he was a singer before and now Mashaa ALlah he have Islamic School or Islamic Centre in UK.. i think he can help alot Inshaa ALlah.


and if you need anything else please let us know.


Salam and once again, welcome to the house of Islam.


wel_mel