Title: Some Observations on the Opinion Regarding Music Question/Comments: O brother(s)-in-Islam! I wish to express my gratitude regarding your site- a truly beautiful one. Out of the many criticisms you have received, I believe you have dealt with them carefully- jazakallahu'khairan . I would humbly like to point out with the aid of Allah (swt) for spreading the Truth in all sincerity ( Surah 16:125), that all human beings on earth are being recorded by two 'receivers', and to a much greater extent, all humans will be judged according to the use of all his faculties- Surah 17:36, "...verily! of the hearing, the sight, and the heart, for each of those you will be questioned." The conscious mind can immediately pick up from this verse that everything we do in this life of probation, is under careful inspection. It is under inspection from the One who surrounds all things by His Knowledge (al-Qur'an). Thus, we are unable to escape Allah (swt) no matter how hard we try. This is a message, which I wish to send across to all narrow-minded readers taking Islam as merely 'a religion'. For unlike other religions, Islam escapes the boundaries of philosophical teachings and progresses towards the implementation of such concepts in an entirely revolutionary framework. This ('framework') lies in one's entire life; the far-reaching implications of one constantly being watched with values being attached to their actions (good and bad deeds) tends to refine the soul in a manner unlike any other religion. O brother(s)-in-Islam, I tend to ponder over one's awareness of this truth ( Surah 17:36), for I believe my eyes have not caught a glimpse of this in the 'queries section' (yet do correct me otherwise). As Muslims we must always aim to present replies and answers according to that which our inner conscious wishes to exhort. As an example, let us take the subject of music. A person in your site inquired into the allowance of music according to Islam. Now the Shari'ah has made no restrictions on this subject, but does this mean that you must immediately comply with this and not allow your inner conscious to spurt out the true answer? A more apt reply according to an Islamic viewpoint would be to "stop music which contains obscene and foul language, and better still, avoid all that which takes you away from the submissive mind". This reply of mine is according to Surah 17:36 for we know that the ears will be inquired into on the Day of Reckoning. And do we want to continue listening to music just because the Shari'ah has not prohibited it? Or, is it, O' you with god-given sense, that you would prefer to abstain from all that is bad, and enjoin all that is good ( Surah 9:71,122)? In fact, all brothers and sisters should regard Surah 17:36 as a 'jewel of conduct'. One must consciously accept that whatever we see, hear and intend is being recorded accordingly. Therefore, my purpose in writing this comment may be summarized as follows: 1) I wish to send my greetings and gratitude upon the team for their efforts to spread Islam according to their understanding. 2) I wish to point out that although the Shari'ah has not prohibited something does not mean that one may continue to pursue that activity - music and sport (football, in particular) are examples - and that in order to truly judge ourselves as to whether issues like these are to continue, we must immediately accept the verdict of our inner conscious in accordance with Surah 17:36 (or indeed, any other Surah of the like) - that is, everything we see, hear and feel are under watch; what does our immediate reactions persuade us to do? May Allah (swt) reward you well and may Allah(swt) protect you. I pray that Allah (swt) may direct both our conscious and unconscious motives towards the Truth, which is Universal. Your's truly, Answer: I thank you for your invaluable suggestions. I do, to the best of my own limited abilities, try to follow the spirit entailed in your suggestions. Thus, in my response to the first question on the said topic [2] , I had written: Islam does not prohibit any entertainment as long as it does not have a bad effect on the desired ethical and moral standards of the individuals. Man, it must be remembered, is being tested in the life of this world. Only those individuals who try to cleanse their souls from all sin shall succeed in the ultimate life. The process and method of cleansing our souls is to fill our hearts and souls with the remembrance of our Creator and our Lord. A person who has fully understood this fact cannot let any entertainment take hold of him to the extent that it makes him negligent and unmindful of his Lord and Creator. Music and all other entertainments are not disallowed in Islam, but a true Muslim never allows any of these activities make him unmindful of his duties towards his Lord as well as his fellow human beings. Nevertheless, as per my present opinion and understanding, Islam does not, in the least, hinders or even disapproves taking part in any entertainment (including relaxing activities like listening to music as well as physical activities like playing football), except in the case where taking part in such entertainment has a detrimental effect upon the morals of individuals, I therefore do not think it would be correct on my part to discourage people from taking part in such activities. The referred verse of Al-Israa (i.e. 17: 36) is not aimed toward dissuading people from taking part in any healthy and positive entertainment; On the contrary, it is a condemnation of slander, hearsay, gossip and the like. The complete verse reads as: Do not be after [1] things, which you are not certain about [2] , for indeed the hearing, the sight and [that which is in] the heart each shall be inquired. If you consider the words closely, you shall see that the verse is not aimed at discouraging man from any positive entertainment, but to admonish man from involving and engrossing himself in activities like slander, hearsay and gossip, the sin of which is hidden from no one. All of man's faculties shall soon be questioned regarding the use they were put to. Every moral act that such faculties were put to, shall on that day, be greatly rewarded, while every evil that these faculties earned shall be grievously punished. I hope this helps. September 27, 2000 [1] The phrase 'be after' or 'follow' implies 'deep involvement' and 'engrossment'. [2] i.e. things, of which you do not possess clear knowledge, which are not certain. This, obviously, is a reference to evils like slander, gossip etc.