ANIMOSITY TOWARD THE ARTS, MUSIC AND CHESS
The entire universe is a product of God’s art. God manifests His art and power in the movements of the earth, in the rain, in the twittering of a bird and in the color of a violet, in a piece of music, in a sculpture, and in a painting. God is the creator of everything, the maker of all raw materials and the mastermind of laws of chemistry, physics and biology. Man shapes what God has provided him with in due conformity with physical laws; he invents machines, makes various calculations that, thanks to mathematics, lead to the production of cars and airplanes. A musician composes with what already exists in the world. A perceptive mind sees the existence of God behind all these things. Nowhere in the Quran is there a suggestion about the prohibition of music, sculpture or painting. Yet, many sects have banned the arts and have wanted to impose their gloomy world on others.
BAN ON MUSIC
SECTARIANS’ APPRECIATION OF SOLOMON
IS PAINTING WORSE THAN IDOLATRY?
Music listeners shall not be given the privilege to listen to the spiritual beings in heaven.
Kurtubi
A song sows dissension in one’s heart.
Abu Davud
God made songs, the exchange of music, money earned by music, the teaching of and listening to music unlawful.
Muhammad Ghazzali/Nabawi Sunna.
Muhammad Ghazzali (b. 1917, Egypt) who quotes this last hadith, having examined the transmitters, brings as evidence the accounts in Ibn Hazm and quotes from Caliph Omar to prove the inauthenticity of this and other hadiths. As a matter of fact, there are also hadiths that say that the Prophet listened to music and even encouraged it. Yet a great many sects, among others Hanafi having the largest congregation, have come under the influence of this prohibition. There are also absurd declarations to the effect that percussion instruments might be permitted as lawful while string instruments should be banned. Poetry also was made an object of derision although not so much as music. However, in general, non-devotional love poetry was looked at askance while poems of a religious nature were permitted.
It would be better for you were your insides full of vomit and blood rather than poetry.
M. Masabih
The raising of a hue and cry against poetry was not so intense as against sculpture. The reason was simple: sculpture would lead to idolatry! Given the fact that Hindus worship the cow, must all cows be killed then? The Magians worshipped fire. Did the Prophet ever prohibit the kindling of fire? Can one live in a dark cellar just because there are people that worship the sun? Only in one place in the Quran is there mention of statues and it is in praiseworthy terms.
13 - They worked for him as he desired: niches, statues, dishes large as water-troughs, and cauldrons firmly fixed. House of David! Act and give thanks. Only a few of My servants are appreciative.
34 Sheba, 13
Do you consider yourselves of a more religious cast of mind than Solomon or can it be that he is a sinner?
Whoever draws a picture, that person shall be punished on the Day of Judgment.
Bukhari, Tabir, Nesai Zinat
Angels do not enter the houses in which there is a dog or a picture.
Tirmizi
In the sectarians’ Islam painting and drawing are strictly limited. Despite the total absence of such a prohibition in the Quran, drawing a live figure is banned just like sculpture. The same fabricated hadith has also forbidden keeping pet dogs at home. There have been sarcastic questions derisively posed: “Considering that the Angel of Death is also an angel, shall I be spared death since he shall not visit me at home?”
32 - Say: “Who had prohibited the nice things God has created for His servants and the good provisions?” Say: “They are for believers in the world, and will be exclusively theirs on the Day of Resurrection.” That is how We explain Our signs in detail for those who understand.
7 The Purgatory, 32
The faithful, according to the Quran, draw benefit from beautiful things not prohibited by God for which he gives thanks to God. Traditionalist Islam is ever after prohibitions and seeks difficulties everywhere and in everything. Such mentalities are convinced that the more they render life difficult, the easier it will be for them to attain heaven. Yet God condemns all additions to and removals from His sayings.
87 - O you, who believe, do not forbid good things which God has made lawful for you and do not transgress. God does not love transgressors.
5 The Feast, 87
Here are a few more hadiths that illustrate the injustices done to the arts:
The retribution for those who draw and paint shall be severe punishment on the Day of Judgment. And they shall be told to resuscitate what they have drawn.
Suneni Ibn Maja
All those who made these figures shall be told to recall to life what they have drawn.
Sahihi Bukhari
The greatest suffering shall be the lot of the painters on the Day of Judgment.
Ibn Hajar al Haytami, The lawful and the unlawful in Islam, Bukhari, Tasawir
Especially according to the last hadith, painting seems to be a major sin, greater than adultery, manslaughter or idolatry. Yet according to another transmitter of hadiths:
The greatest suffering shall be the lot of chess players on the Day of Judgment.
Great Sinners, Hafýz Zahabi
Hafýz Zahabi recounts how Ibn Abbas had thrown into a fire the chess board of an orphan.
59 – Say: “Did you see how God sends down to you all kinds of provisions, then you render some of them unlawful, and some lawful?” Say: “Did God give you permission, or are you imputing lies to God?”
10 Jonah, 59
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