Islam came into being after the birth and prophetic wisdom of the Prophet
Muhammad. Born in the Arabian Peninsula in 570 AD, he became the source of the spread of a new religion in Arabia that was bound to reach far and wide areas. Muhammad was born to a prominent tribe named the Quraysh in Arabia. As it was a highly influential tribe, Muhammad was also a well-known member of the Quraysh and his teachings were heard by all far and wide. Muhammad was a trader, and he married a widow Khadijah who was a wealthy merchant and who helped Muhammad immensely. It was in the year 610 AD; it was when Muhammad was praying in the cave of Hira when the Angel Gabriel appeared before Muhammad, and he revealed the first revelation before him. This was the voice of God through Gabriel and God spoke in Arabic.
Thus, the religion of Islam was borne; Islam meaning to submit and the followers of the
religion, Muslim. Muhammad, however, spread the message to others, and he preached Islam in spite of the resistance and opposition he got from the Quraysh. Islam thus came into being through certain teachings which were specific to the religion, and they were against the existing beliefs of the Quraysh. Idolatry was the main belief system of the Quraysh. The main idols AL-Lat, Al-Uzza, and l-Mannan, were the idols mainly worshiped by the Quraysh. Islam, on the other hand, proposed that there is only God, and He does not have any son or father, and he is an Unseen force in the world. No other being can be associated with Him and Muhammad himself was only a Prophet and Messenger of God, in Islam named, Allah. These idols were kept in the Ka’aba, Arabic for the cube and it was the house of worship for God that was built by Abraham centuries ago. It was the center of worship and idolatry for the Quraysh. Muhammad, after gaining the support of the people and making people embrace Islam, cleansed the Ka’aba by breaking the idols and making it a sacred and holy place for the worship of One God.
The followers of Islam became to be known as the people of the Book because the
teachings of Islam are preserved in the form of a Holy Book named the Holy Quran. The other followers of the book are those who were the followers of the other prophets who also had Books revealed for them. These prophets came before the prophet Muhammad. The spread of Islam and its prevalence in the present day is because of the huge expanse of Arabia and the successful conquests that were won by the successors of Islam in the form of caliphs, due to which more lands were conquered, and the religion became popular because of the settlements of Muslims in the various areas of the world. The recitation of the Quran, the buildings of mosques and the presence of various imams and religious scholars led to the spread of Islam in the most precise way as it existed centuries ago since the time of the prophet Muhammad.
Along with the various teachings of Islam, Islam gave a lot of rights to women and
eliminated the difference between the genders in the world. Before Islam, the life in Arabia is termed as the period of Ignorance or Jahaliya in Arab. This is because of the ignorant ways of the Arabs and their treatment of the people with the less privileged. Women were the most oppressed in the community. This is because they were not considered even human by the men of the time. They were ill-treated and humiliated by the males. Women were kept as slaves; their lives were reduced to be considered chattels and they were a commodity for the people. Being born a female was a crime. This is because they were thought inferior and were a disgrace to the people. Moreover, the families considered female children a burden and many of the female babies born to them were buried alive at the time of their birth. Moreover, the treatment of women was unfair because their treatment varied according to their social caste and status. For example, while the poorer women would be sold as slaves, the richer ones would stand equal with men and even marry the man of their choice. The example of the Prophet Muhammad’s wife Khadijah is a popular example.
When Islam was revealed to the people, it provided many indigenous rights to the
women. The Quran was a book which intended to raise the status of women. Female infanticide was prohibited and killing them was a crime according to Islam. Women were guaranteed a share in the property owned by the family if they were widowed and divorced and that right could not be usurped under any circumstances. However, the equality of men and women is a debatable topic because conservative Muslims feel that the women are inferior to men. This is because of the word ‘qawammun’ in Arabic means ruler or leader and others say it means protector.
The various rules and mandates given by the Quran are still shaping and making
differences to the laws of various nations. Modern nations are at a crossroads, however, because they need to implement Shariah in accordance with the modern notions of the world. However in the Islamic world, the status of women today stands at different opinions because there are some countries which give women all the freedom that men have and provide them equal rights. On the other hand, some countries provide them basic rights, but they do not render them equal to men.
As far as music is concerned, Islamic views about music stand controversial. There are
certain Surah and Hadith that report music as forbidden and unlawful in Islam. Radical Muslims declare these traditions and verses as correct thus they forbid music. Surah 31:18 reports that ‘A hideous voice is that of the braying of an ass.’ Poetry is considered as frivolous talk and music is considered as the path which a person follows away from the path of God and righteousness. According to one Surah, Prophet Muhammad was against clapping and whistling. Imam Ghazali reports Muhammad said that music causes hypocrisy to grow in the heart as water makes the corn grow. And also, that Iblis (Satan) was the first who sang. However, the lawfulness lies in the sayings such as ‘Allah has not sent a prophet except with a beautiful voice.’ Also that the Prophet brought singing girls, and the companions sang the huda. In the history of Islam, women have played the role of educators and performers. Jamila, a servant in Medina, memorized songs, and she became a teacher of qaina. Then the girls playing lutes in the orchestras at the time of the Abbasids were a popular contribution. Uraib, a popular songstress, was known for her singing and instrumental skills. Ubaida was also skilled and played the instruments very well. The Afghan community represents the status of women under the strict Shariah Law. The code of pashtunwali, the code of chivalry and bravery is the predominant culture of the Afghans. Hence, women in Afghanistan are subjected to a male chauvinist culture that puts certain restrictions upon them and forces them to coerce into an inferior role to men in the society.
Sama polemic is the word for the art of listening or to listen. It is the main feature of
Sufism in Islam. Sama relates to the act of listening that is an integral part of Zikar and worship. Music and dance become a spiritual practice, and it is when a Sufi believer connects with God so intensely and deeply that all they do is listen. It is an ecstatic contact with God. Its connotation lies with the rhythmic, coordinated music and breathing and a physical exercise that establishes a contact between the believer and God and in that state of rhythm and serenity a person is nearest to God. Sama is all about listening, and it relates to the belief that even the Quran was an oral tradition that had transcended into its original form through recitation and memory. Hence, Sufism in Afghanistan has passed down through the Naqshbandi and Quadriya orders that practice zikar without music while the Chishti school practices it with harmonium, tabla and the clapping of the hands. Some theologians approve of sama while disapproving all other forms of music. Music did flourish before the advent of Islam and was a crucial element of the Arab culture. Even after Islam, however, there have been proponents of music, male and female singers and professional musicians who mastered the art of musical instruments. Moreover, many of the pagan cultures and festivals amalgamated into Islamic culture as well. Music thus got ingrained too.
Personally, I like to sing. I have always been a good singer. I have enjoyed singing as a
child and growing up then, music and singing were not problematic. However pursuing this interest in the future did get difficult for me. I wanted to sing in university and as a grown up then, it was considered unorthodox and unconventional. Moreover, there were concerns over my interest whether I would get serious and pursue an actual career as a singer. This is not just a religious notion but also a social one where people think musicians and singers end up wrecked and ruined. It has made me less confidence because the lack of support makes me feel dejected, and I would wish to become a singer if it affects my family or loved ones.
Bibliography
“Dukhtar-e-Afghan.” 7-17.
Karabell, Zacharey. “Peace be upon you.” The History of Muslim, Christian, and Jewish
Existence. New York. 11-39. 2007.
Nelson, Kristina. “The Art of reading the Quran.” 1-51. 1985
“Sama; the Art of Listening.” 34-37
