Islam and the arts

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[edit] Performing arts

Many Islamic rulings relating to the performing arts are gender and event specific.

[edit] Music

Main article: Muslim music

There is no clear position in Islam regarding Music.[1]

Certain schools of Sunnis as well as some Shiites hold that music is forbidden with the sole exception being that women can play the Daf, a traditional one sided drum, at celebrations and festivals.[2] However some Islamic groups and denominations deem music permissible including many Sufi orders who use music as part of their worship.[3]

Islam does allow singing without musical accompaniment within prescribed circumstances - namely that the performer be of the same gender as the audience.[4]

However, the general consensus is that music is permitted in Islam provided that the lyrics are not obscene or vulgar.[5]

[edit] Dance

Gender based rulings are also evident in Islam's position on dance. Dance is permissible for women within a female only environment and is often performed at celebrations.[6] Dancing is prohibited for men.[7] Again, some Sufi orders are the exception to this rule.[8] They include the whirling dervishes who use dance as a means of worship.[9]

[edit] Theatre

Whilst theatre is permitted by Islam,[10] Islam does not allow for any performances to depict Allah, the Prophet Muhammad, his companions, the angels or matters detailed in the religion that are unseen.

[edit] Poetry

Poetry and the spoken word have a strong heritage within Islam as it places a special significance on the word. Many Muslim poets and writers explore issues of faith and belief in their work.

[edit] Visual arts

Calligraphy, geometric patterns and mosaics are the most widely practiced visual art forms in the Islamic world and are often integrated into architecture and the design and decoration of Islamic buildings, including mosques.

[edit] Depiction of animate beings

Some considered that Islam prohibits the depiction of animate beings in paintings and drawings. One possible reason for this is that it removes the risk of idol worship. Islam teaches that Allah alone should be worshipped, and banning pictures of Muhammad or any other creature reduces the risk that they will be worshipped in his place.

However, some others argue that the depiction of animated beings is permissible if the art was not meant to be worshipped, and the creator did not intend to rival God (or intended any heresy) in the creation. This is due to the hadith that mentioned the Prophet had once asked his wife to move a picture of two birds in the room in which he prays, to somewhere. However, he didn't ask the picture to be destroyed. This, along with other hadiths, made some believe that pictures of animated beings that is not worshipped or to be considered heresy, is permissible (although using it as a form of luxury, such as hanging them in the wall, is discouraged).

[edit] References

  1. ^ Youssefzadeh, Ameneh (2000). "The Situation of Music in Iran since the Revolution: The Role of Official Organizations". British Journal of Ethnomusicology 9 (2): 35–61. 
  2. ^ Music and Singing: A Detailed Fatwa. SunniPath. Retrieved on 2008-04-01.
  3. ^ "Is there room for music in Islam?", BBC, 2007-08-07. Retrieved on 2008-04-01. 
  4. ^ Magrini, Tullia (2005). Music and Gender: Perspectives from the Mediterranean. University of Chicago Press, p. 270. ISBN 0226501655. 
  5. ^ Magrini, Tullia (2005). Music and Gender: Perspectives from the Mediterranean. University of Chicago Press, p. 270. ISBN 0226501655. 
  6. ^ Mack, Beverly B. (2004). Muslim Women Sing: Hausa Popular Song. Indiana University Press, p. 4. ISBN 0253217296. 
  7. ^ Cahill, Lisa Sowle; Farley, Margaret A. (1995). Embodiment, Morality, and Medicine. Springer, p. 43. ISBN 079233342X. 
  8. ^ Glassé, Cyril (2001). The New Encyclopedia of Islam. Rowman Altamira, p. 403. ISBN 0759101906. 
  9. ^ Friedlander, Shems; Uzel, Nezih (1992). The Whirling Dervishes. SUNY Press. ISBN 0791411559. 
  10. ^ Meri, Josef W.; Bacharach, Jere L. (2006). Medieval Islamic Civilization: An Encyclopedia. Taylor & Francis, p. 807. ISBN 0415966914. 

[edit] See also