Islamic music is Muslim religious music, as sung or played in public services or private devotions. The classic heartland of Islam is Arabia and the Middle East, North Africa and Egypt, Iran, Central Asia, and northern India and Pakistan. The indigenous musical styles of these areas
have shaped the devotional music enjoyed by contemporary Muslims.
The Seljuk Turks, a nomadic tribe that converted to Islam, conquered Anatolia (now Turkey), and held the Caliphate as the Ottoman Empire, also had a strong influence on Islamic music. See:
Sub-saharan Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the southern Philippines also have large Muslim populations, but these areas have had less influence than the heartland on the various traditions of Islamic music.
All these regions were connected by trade long before the Islamic conquests of the 600s and later, and it is likely that musical styles traveled the same routes as trade goods. However, lacking recordings, we can only speculate as to the pre-Islamic music of these areas. Islam must have had a great influence on music, as it united vast areas under the first caliphs, and facilitated trade between distant lands. Certainly the Sufis, brotherhoods of Muslim mystics, spread their music far and wide.
Types of Muslim devotional recitation and music
Recitation without instrumental accompaniment
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Adhan -- the call to prayer, performed by a muezzin from a minaret, or (these days) blasted from a loudspeaker
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Salat -- the prayers to be recited five times daily
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Qur'an reading or recitation -- as performed by professional reciters of various traditions and styles
None of these forms of recitation, no matter how elaborately ornamented the vocals, are considered music by strict Muslims who shun music.
Sufi music
Sufi worship services are often called dhikr or zikr. See that article for further elaboration.
The dhikr of South Asian Muslims is "quietist". The Sufi services best known in the West are the chanting and rhythmic dancing of the whirling dervishes or Mevlevi Sufis of Turkey. Some Mevlana music can be heard on the Sufi Music CD recommended below.
However, Sufis may also perform devotional songs in public, for the enjoyment and edification of listeners. The mood is religious, but the gathering is not a worship service.
In Turkey, once the seat of the Ottoman Empire and the Caliphate, concerts of sacred song are called "Mehfil-e-Sama' " (or "gathering of Sama'"). Song forms include ilahi and nefe .
In northern India and Pakistan, these concerts, and the associated style of music, are called qawwali. A traditional qawwali programme would include:
- A hamd -- a song in praise of Allah
- A naat -- a song in praise of the Prophet Muhammad
- Manqabats -- songs in praise of the illustrious teachers of the Sufi brotherhood to which the musicians belong
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Ghazals -- songs of intoxication and yearning, which use the language of romantic love to express the soul's longing for union with the divine.
Shi'a concerts follow the naat with a song in praise of Ali (also manqabat) and a marsiya, a lamentation over the death of much of Ali's family at the Karbala
See Poetry in Islam for a discussion of the lyrics.
Qawwali is increasingly popular as a musical genre and performances may attract those who want to hear virtuoso singing rather than contemplate the divine. Some artists may skip the long sequence of praise songs and go straight from the introductory hamd to the popular romantic songs, or even dispense with the devotional content completely. This is cause for much consternation for traditional enthusiasts/devotees of the form.
Music for public religious celebrations
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Mawlid music -- performed for the birthday of Muhammad, in various regional styles.
- Ta'zieh music -- Ta'zieh is a passion play, part musical drama, part religious drama, rarely performed outside Iran. It depicts the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, venerated by Shia Muslims.
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Ashurah music -- performed during the Moharram mourning period, commemorating the deaths of Imam Hussein and his followers.
- Manzuma -- moral songs performed in Ethiopia.
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Madih nabawi -- Arabic hymns praising the prophet Muhammad.
Modes
Vocal styles
Melismatic
Instruments
Some Muslims believe that only vocal music is permissible (halal) and that instruments are forbidden (haram). Hence there is a strong tradition of a capella devotional singing.
Other Muslims will accept drums, but no other instruments.
Yet other Muslims believe that any instrument is lawful as long as it is used for the permissible kinds of music. Hence there is a long tradition of instrumental accompaniment to devotional songs. A wide variety of instruments may be used, depending on local musical traditions.
Traditional:
- Drums (daf, bendir, zarb...)
- Stringed instruments
- Bowed (rebab, kemencheh...)
- Plucked (tar, tanbour, oud ...)
- Psaltry (santur, qanun...)
- Wind instruments (ney...)
- Reed instruments (shehnai ...)
(to be expanded)
Recent introductions:
(to be expanded)
Lyrics
When lyrics are not simply repeated and elaborated invocations (Yah Nabi and the like) they are usually poems in forms and meters common in the local literature. For further information, see Poetry in Islam .
Is music haram (forbidden) for Muslims?
Many Muslim leaders, notably those of Salafi, Wahabi, and Deobandi tendencies, believe that music is forbidden both by the Qur'an and by the hadith, as well as by tradition. For extended argument to this effect, see these sites: [1]. and [2].
Other Muslims retort that music is forbidden only if it leads the believer into sins like drinking alcohol and carousing with courtesans. Music can be a harmless accompaniment to family or community celebrations or to public devotions. The caliphs, the leaders of the Islamic empire, entertained noted musicians. Respected philosophers such as Al-Kīndī , Al-Farābi , Avicenna, and Safi al-Din encouraged the practice of music through their study of music theory. For extended argument, see these sites: [3] and [4]
Suggestions for further listening
Listen to the call to prayer, prayers, and Qur'an recitation:
Noted Sufi singers:
Also noteworthy:
- Axiom of Choice, an Iranian New Age and Sufi group,
- Rough Guide to Sufi Music, World Music Network, 2001.
Listen online:
Also visit:
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Islamic music, with links to many other websites, including one for Muslim hip-hop!
Further reading
- Jenkins, Jean and Olsen, Poul Rovsing (1976). Music and Musical Instruments in the World of Islam. World of Islam Festival. ISBN 0905035119.
- Habib Hassan Touma (1996). The Music of the Arabs, trans. Laurie Schwartz. Portland, Oregon: Amadeus Press. ISBN 0931340888.
Last updated: 05-16-2005 20:58:51
