Music is a very controversial topic in islam

Music is a very controversial topic in Islam. With some, music is welcomed and incorporated into worship of Allah. With others, music is “ haram”, or forbidden.

The Sufis are the mystical denomination of Islam. They are usually tolerant and peace-loving, and through music and art, they show their love of Allah. In some forms of worship and ritual, they perform vicar, which is the remembrance of God; the ceremony is ceded by chanting, praying, and playing instrumental music. Their chanting consists of saying Allah’s name repeatedly. The music is very primeval, often leading the people to ecstasy, and the dancing that accompanies the ceremonies is trance-like.

All in all, music is very important to the Sufis, and of the instruments, the flute is perhaps the most powerful. It symbolizes the breath of life. It’s also interesting that the women are allowed to perform the music, since Islam is primarily paternal (Broughton). The Sufis are the part of Islam that allow and accept music as a legitimate form of worship. The traditional Islam religion does not typically accept music. Muhammad, the last prophet, taught the spiritual guidance that only the voice and the drum were acceptable forms of music.

The call to prayer and the recitation of the Qur’an are the only acceptable art forms of the Muslim culture. With that, the recitation has been developed to be such an exclusive, unique sound such that it is different from any other. “ In fact, Islamic tradition considers secular music spiritually suspect; hence, Qur’anic recitation, even if it sounds musical, is not conceived of as music.” (Qureshi) Music is not accepted in Islam. It often carries the ideas of individualism, sexuality, and sin, especially popular music.

To this point, musicians are not highly valued in the Muslim culture at all. So, though the call to prayer and the recitation of the Qur’an sound musical, they fall under the category of chant, which separates the sound into a category with the sole purpose of religious teachings.  To conclude, although Islam and music don’t generally mix, some orders, like the Sufis, use music for worship almost exclusively, while others abhor any music. Throughout the whole religion, however, the musical cantillations of the Qur’an and the call to prayer are acceptable and a crucial aspect of the religion.