Remixing the call to prayer. Haram?
Earlier this evening, my friend and I were taking a break from this Satan-sponsored term paper week. We went for a small drive and I put in a random CD full of mixed music. One of the songs was “Mohammed” by The Dandy Warhols. As soon as the song came, she quickly turned it off. “This is haram,” she said. (Haram means “forbidden.”)
“You really think so?”
“This is haram. This is a call to prayer. It should not be associated with this kind of music.”
“It’s disrespectful, but it’s not really words of the Qur’an. I don’t think it’s haram.”
“I’m telling you it’s haram!”
“How do you know?”
“I just do! It’s bad!”
What do you guys think? Is it haram? Click below to listen to the song and also another song called “Honeymoon in Africa III” which features God’s name (the way it is said in the beginning of each Quranic verse.) According to my friend this is also “haram.” I’m curious to know what other Muslims think?
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Disrespectful yes, haram no. It is considered extremely rude to play songs or to even shout during the call to prayer. You won’t find any Muslims doing this ever.
You won’t find any Muslims doing this ever.
What about nasheeds?
Anasheed are different. They are songs about and in praise of Islam, something encouraged, an example being the music of Sami Yusuf. It’s not using existing Islamic material and then remixing it into non-Muslim compilations.
Esra’a, I have seen worse. The above samples you posted are disrespectful. If you want haram, you should look up what some bands are doing on MySpace, using the Quran and turning it into techno or whatever. It’s sad because they are obviously and very rudely making fun of the text.
I disagree. Many of my friends never turn the music down when it’s the call to prayer, and most local radio stations don’t pause the way stations in other countries do for prayer time. Not all Muslims pray on a daily basis or consider the call to prayer something that deserves respect. I do, but only because I grew up with my parents making sure I knew that. My grandmother would shut the TV off and make everyone shut up during each prayer time, so it’s like a family thing to be respectful. Otherwise I don’t think I would’ve really cared.
Concerning what you said, 50 Cent has a song called “Ghetto Quran.”
Remixing calls to prayers.. even hadiths… it doesn’t seem as bad, but the Quran is just a whole different story. I know the kind of songs you mean, there is no way I am going to post it here though, it doesn’t deserve to be listened to.
Not all Muslims pray on a daily basis or consider the call to prayer something that deserves respect
Then I wonder why they refer to themselves as Muslims? Do they just pray whenever they feel like it? Let me rephrase my statement, then: you won’t find any real Muslims doing it.
You shouldn’t, not just out of respect, but security. You’d be lynched by extremists!
No, they’re too busy going after Taslima Nasrin who wrote a book about the Muslim persecution of Hindus in India. She’s on the run for her life now. Muslims worldwide have a duty to condemn what she is being put through by Muslims in India. But that is another topic for another day.
Salaam!
The issue I see with these songs is one of Orientalism and cultural appropriation. I think the azan is beautiful, and I like to listen to it sometimes as if it were “music.” I don’t think the use of it is particularly haram, but I think that the way it is used here is disrespectful.
I see the Dandy Warhols’ appropriation of the bismillah and parts of the azan as an attempt to make their music “exotic,” and thus it’s disrespectful. Perhaps if these people were Muslim or Middle Eastern, I wouldn’t have a problem with it, because I wouldn’t consider them to be “stealing” something from my faith or my culture.
Sidenote: I think nasheeds were voice & percussion only, and so I don’t think Sami Yusuf fits into the “nasheed” category.
i’m reminded of this article by carter phipps. background music for the verses of quran
Nobody bitched about Freddy Mercury with the use of “Bismillah” in one of his songs from the 70′s, and rightfully so.
Personally, I don’t know why people are so concerned about what is haram and halal when it comes to petty disputes like this.
Zeynab, thanks for your comment!
Probably because not many heard of it?
No one here is “bitching” as you claim. I’m asking for people’s opinions, do you have a problem with that?
Zeynab hit the nail on the head with her solid comment. Personally I take no offense to either of these songs. The first one is harmless if you read the lyrics. The second one is just trying to embed Muslim culture into the song.
So you’re suggesting we look at this based on the artist’s intentions?
I beg to differ. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen is perhaps one of their best known songs where the opera (I stand corrected about Freddy Mercury singing it) says “Bismillah! We will not let you go – Let him go” in the song.
I know Esra’a, my rant wasn’t directed towards anyone here in particular. It was just a general rant by overzealous dogmatic individuals who are too concerned about what is halal and what is haram about basically everything.
I apologize for the lack of clarification on my part.
I stopped believing in Haram and Halal issues a very long while ago. I respect people’s belief’s, however. I think muslims tend to place a shield of untouchable sanctity over anything that relates even remotely to religion. This hinders any creative treatment of religion and religious issues and places constraints and restrictions on artists and intellectuals. Using the word Haram to restrict others actions is merely an infringements of these people’s rights to express themselves. So if someone thinks its Haram he or she shouldn’t do it, or listen or read such a production. But at the same time, he should not stop other people who enjoy it, and find nothing wrong wit it.
Well said, Ned!
LOL its just is??? then ppl with tht kinda beliefs wil take over…
calling everything haram..why? it just is
:S
Seriously Muneeb, I have to look for better friends.
Ned,
I think this is the most vital point. But I would extend this to religious people from most faiths.
@esra’a
its not only friends… I once suffered a ear-shattering knock on my car window by a mutawaa type dude, asking me 2 put down the music while stuck at a weekend rushhour during azan.. n he nearly ate my head off!! n it wasnt even tht loud!
ppl need to keep their religion 2 themselves in public places
Wow, I always wondered what Queen was saying. I thought it was “This will not”…I wonder why it’s even in the song?
I didn’t click the link (and thus don’t know the implication of this particular song) – but based upon the simple fact that is a song (with musical instruments, it is indeed haraam.
I like this quote by Ibn Al Qayyim which expounds upon the hikmah behind its prohibition:
“From among the artful machinations and entrapments of Allah’s enemy [Satan], with which he has snared those possessing little good sense, knowledge and deen [faith], and by which he has stalked the hearts of the false and ignorant people, there is the listening to whistling, wailing, handclapping and song to the accompaniment of forbidden [musical] instruments. Such things block the Quraan from people’s hearts and make them devoted to sin and disobedience. For song (to musical accompaniment) is the Quraan of Ash Shaytaan (Satan). It is a dense veil and barrier, preventing nearness to Ar-Rahmaan! (Allah) By way of such song, Satan deceives vain souls, making it appear pleasing to them through his cunning appeal to their vanities. He insidiously whispers false, specious arguments suggesting the’ goodness’ in song. These arguments are accepted, and as a result, the Quraan becomes an object of neglect and abandonment.”
Wa Salamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu
IT IS NOT FROM OUR CULTURE…. AND BEWARE
WE SHOULD READ QURAN
belly dancing music,take it from an Irish girl
Dear Brother,
There are no other verses except the Quraan coming from God Almighty.Songs are from Nasyid with all the good words thanking Allah Almighty and all the rasul and out last prophet Muhamad s.a.wasallam.
So plesae do not make this another issue and do practice what is taught by the Prophet Muhammad s.a. wasalam.
May Allah answer your prayers that the syaitan do not divert you away from the teaching of the truthful religion Islam..Ameen.
sorry .. text error NOT ” out” but
should read “our last Prophet , Nabi Muhammad s.a.wasalam.
Astafirlaah ….