Friday, January 13, 2012

Some Food for Thought: Are Songs, Music, & Musical Instruments Haram?


If singing, music, and/or musical instruments are haram, then why does God speak of the Psalms in Qur'an? 

 Various ayat (verses) from Qur'an mentioning Psalms:

3:184
If they reject you, messengers before you have been rejected, even though they brought proofs, the Psalms, and the enlightening scripture.

4:163
We have inspired you, as we inspired Noah and the prophets after him. And we inspired Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, the Patriarchs, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon. And we gave David the Psalms.

17:55
Your Lord is the best knower of everyone in the heavens and the earth. In accordance with this knowledge, we preferred some prophets over others. For example, we gave David the Psalms.

21:105
We have decreed in the Psalms, as well as in other scriptures, that the earth shall be inherited by My righteous worshipers.

35:25
If they disbelieve you, those before them have also disbelieved. Their messengers went to them with clear proofs, and the Psalms, and the enlightening scriptures.

"The word psalms is derived from the Greek Ψαλμοί (Psalmoi), perhaps originally meaning "music of the lyre" or "songs sung to a harp" and then to any piece of music. From psallein "play upon a stringed instrument" and then to "make music in any fashion".

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psalms

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psalm
noun, often capitalized \ˈsäm, ˈsälm, ˈsȯm, ˈsȯlm\
Definition of PSALM
: a sacred song or poem used in worship; especially : one of the biblical hymns collected in the Book of Psalms
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Examples of PSALM
  1. <after the="" sermon="" we="" sang="" a="" brief="">psalm></after>
Origin of PSALM
Middle English, from Old English psealm, from Late Latin psalmus, from Greek psalmos, literally, twanging of a harp, from psallein to pluck, play a stringed instrument
First Known Use: before 12th century
Related to PSALM
Synonyms: anthem, canticle, carol, chorale, hymn, spiritual
Related Words: dirge, lament, requiem, threnody; Gloria Patri, hallelujah, paean; mass, oratorio; processional, recessional

Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psalm

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20:130
Yusuf Ali
Therefore be patient with what they say, and celebrate (constantly) the praises of thy Lord, before the rising of the sun, and before its setting; yea, celebrate them for part of the hours of the night, and at the sides of the day: that thou mayest have (spiritual) joy.

Pickthal
Therefor (O Muhammad), bear with what they say, and celebrate the praise of thy Lord ere the rising of the sun and ere the going down thereof. And glorify Him some hours of the night and at the two ends of the day, that thou mayst find acceptance.

Shakir
Bear then patiently what they say, and glorify your Lord by the praising of Him before the rising of the sun and before its setting, and during hours of the night do also glorify (Him) and during parts of the day, that you may be well pleased.

Sher Ali
Bear patiently then what they say, and glorify thy Lord with HIS praise before the rising of the sun and before its setting; and glorify HIM in the hours of the night and all parts of the day, that thou mayest find true happiness.

"Progressive Muslims"
So be patient to what they are saying and glorify the grace of your Lord before the rising of the sun, and before its setting, and from the early part of the night and the edges of the day that you may be content.

cel·e·brate
verb \ˈse-lə-ˌbrāt\
cel·e·brat·edcel·e·brat·ing
Definition of CELEBRATE
transitive verb
1
: to perform (a sacrament or solemn ceremony) publicly and with appropriate rites
2
a : to honor (as a holiday) especially by solemn ceremonies or by refraining from ordinary business b :to mark (as an anniversary) by festivities or other deviation from routine
3
: to hold up or play up for public notice <her poetry="">celebrates the glory of nature></her>
intransitive verb
1
: to observe a holiday, perform a religious ceremony, or take part in a festival
2
: to observe a notable occasion with festivities
— cel·e·bra·tion noun
— cel·e·bra·tive adjective
— cel·e·bra·tor noun
— cel·e·bra·to·ry adjective
See celebrate defined for English-language learners »
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Examples of CELEBRATE
  1. We are celebrating my birthday by going out to dinner.
  2. The family gathered to celebrate Christmas.
  3. We are celebrating our anniversary next week.
  4. They are celebrating the birth of their third child.
  5. The book celebrates the movies of the past.
  6. Her lecture celebrated the genius of the artist.
  7. He is celebrated for his contributions to modern science.
  8. A priest celebrates Mass at the church daily.
Origin of CELEBRATE
Middle English, from Latin celebratus, past participle of celebrare to frequent, celebrate, from celebr-, celeber much frequented, famous; perhaps akin to Latin celer
First Known Use: 15th century
Related to CELEBRATE
Synonyms: bless, carol, praise, emblazon, exalt, extol (also extoll), glorify, hymn, laud, magnify, resound
Related Words: adore, belaud, deify, idolize, worship; acclaim, applaud, commend, compliment, hail, renown, salute; chant, cheer, eulogize, rhapsodize; cite; flatter; crack up, recommend, tout

Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/celebrate

glo·ri·fy
verb \ˈglȯr-ə-ˌfī\
glo·ri·fiedglo·ri·fy·ing
Definition of GLORIFY
transitive verb
1
a : to make glorious by bestowing honor, praise, or admiration b : to elevate to celestial glory
2
: to light up brilliantly
3
4
: to give glory to (as in worship)
— glo·ri·fi·ca·tion noun
— glo·ri·fi·er noun
See glorify defined for English-language learners »
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Examples of GLORIFY
  1. Glorify and give thanks to God.
  2. glorify the university's school of medicine in the eyes of the medical world>
Origin of GLORIFY
Middle English glorifien, from Anglo-French glorifier, from Late Latin glorificare, from gloria
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to GLORIFY
Synonyms: aggrandize, canonize, deify, dignify, elevate, ennoble, enshrine, ensky, enthrone, exalt, magnify
Related Words: boost, lift, promote, raise, upgrade, uplift; heighten, intensify; idealize, romanticize, sanitize, sugarcoat; acclaim, extol (also extoll), honor, laud, praise

Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glorify

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