Ruling on Songs by M.H. Fadlallah part (2)

Q: Is this also applied on the star actors and some leaders whom some teenagers put their pictures in their bedrooms?

A: The influence of singing on man through arousing the instincts indicates a particular meaning. Hence, the issue is not just a matter of being attracted towards a person, since, singing leaves negative effects on the instinct and lust aspects…etc. And if we leave this issue without control, things will be developed to turn into an immoral social situation like what is happening nowadays all around the world. So, why insisting on arousing the youth's instincts? Islam does not want man to be submitted to the things that are a source of corruption. Allah says in His Holy Quran: {They ask you about intoxicants and games of chance. Say: In both of them there is a great sin and means of profit for men, and their sin is greater than their profit} (2:219). Therefore, everything whose disadvantages are more than its advantages is deemed prohibited. The advantages of the songs which arouse the instincts and destroy the nerves, and even that which glorify the tyrants and the corrupted regimes are certainly more than their advantages.

Q: If the Islamic law (Sharia') was applied in Lebanon, would you prohibit singing?

A: Let us examine the Iranian experience in this respect where singing is not prohibited. There are some songs which are philosophical poems such as, the poems of Al-Fardawsi, Omar El-Khiam, Ikbal and the like. Moreover, the music that elevates the spirit and sublimates it such as the music of Chopin and Mozart is not prohibited. In general, we say that the classical music is not prohibited, as well as the music that soothes the nerves and elevates the soul and contains cultural elements that nourish the soul.

Q: Are there any impermissible musical instruments?

A: No, we do not say that there are impermissible musical instruments. Hence, if the instruments are accompanied with the permissible singing, they are permissible and if they are played with impermissible singing, they are impermissible.

Q: Some youths love songs, but they do not listen to them because they are prohibited; thus, they suffer from doing something against their will. What do you tell them?

A: We tell them that nowadays, we have some musical groups whose songs are broadcasted at “Al-Manar” television. These songs are not prohibited from a religious point of view. Moreover, the Iranian media broadcasts high-class songs and beautiful music. Hence, art, whether singing, acting, drawing or poetry aims at serving man. When art causes man spiritual or emotional behavioral damage, it will be dangerous. Otherwise, why are drugs prohibited all over the world? Are not they prohibited because of their negative effects? Accordingly, everything that has negative effects and whose disadvantages is more than its advantages is considered prohibited.

Q: Do you consider that all the songs which the media broadcasts nowadays have negative effects on the youth?

A: If we want to think about the results, we should think about how to differentiate between the negative effects and the positive effects. For example, if we examine the Western world, we realize that the freedom in these countries has no limits such as the freedom of nudeness. Every Western person does not see any problem in these issues. This is true, hence, according to their culture and traditions this is not prohibited because as to them, the negative attitudes do not constitute any problem in this respect. Nowadays, we can see the encroachment made by boys or girls, this type of encroachment may be practiced from a song here and a song there…

Q: This encroachment may also be practiced through poems since it is not done through singing exclusively…

A: This reality exists and certain people may not live its experience, but, these issues happen in the unreserved countries.

Q: But even in the conservative countries, the phenomenon of encroachment is being spread?

A: If a girl wears the veil (Hijab), this does not mean that her behavior is good. Hence, there is an outer reservation and a behavioral reservation. Not every veiled woman is considered Fatima Al-Zahraa (a.s.) or Virgin Mary (a.s.).

The woman’s voice is not a “Awra” (something that should be veiled having the same ruling as some parts of the body)?

Q: Returning to the issue of singing is the woman’s voice considered a “Awra” (something that should be veiled having the same ruling as some parts of the body). Accordingly, is it impermissible for her to sing in the presence of a man?

A: The woman’s voice is not a “Awra”. Therefore, it is permissible for a woman to sing in the presence of a man in case the song is in conformity of the aforementioned conditions. Thus, the songs should be sublime such as the way we recite the Holy Quran and the songs whose words hold sublime concepts or the songs whose melody does not arouse the instincts.

Q: I know that you do not like to mention details and names, but I would like to ask you a question only to clarify the idea. If the famous Lebanese singer Fayrouz, sings “Bhibbak ya lubnan” (I love you Lebanon), do you consider this song a prohibited one?

A: I am not talking about any song in particular, but I am drawing a general line. Thus, if the meanings elevate the spirit and the mind and do not leave a negative effect, they are not prohibited whether they are sung by a man or by a woman.

Q: Some rigorous scholars consider that what we say is a kind of deviation and a revolution against Islamic concepts?!

A: Some people oppose my opinion. However, I am not only the one who holds this opinion, but there are many religious authorities and pious scholars who consider that the problem of singing lies in the content of the song and not only in the melody.