RNA – Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Mohammad-Ali Alavi-Gorgani has met with a group of members of the organizers of a conference on the knowledge of danger of music to culture. This movement says that in order to reform society, it is necessary that society knows the dangers of music.
The prophets and imams sent by God worked to persuade society to obey God and tried to invite society to Islam because this work has much value for society.
The revered professor in the Islamic Seminary of Qom stressed that people have both individual and social responsibilities. He said that Islam specifies certain social responsibilities upon the Muslims. These responsibilities propel society towards reform. “Individuals must never look after their own needs alone and say that they have no responsibilities to help others. Everyone has responsibilities in relation to others,” Ayatollah Alavi-Gorgani.
Ayatollah Alavi-Gorgani stated that one way to reform society, especially the youth, is to prevent them from getting caught in the dangerous trap of musical instruments and Islamically unacceptable music. “[Forbidden] music leads to destruction of society,” he stated.
“We have the responsibility to explain the correct path on the subject of music. If people choose the wrong path, we have no responsibility upon them. Our responsibility is just to show society the correct path,” His Eminence added.
Ayatollah Alavi-Gorgani warned individuals and the media against the broadcasting and playing of unacceptable music, saying that it harms the dignity of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Iranian nation. “Music is often broadcasted during ceremonies. This music is not befitting to the dignity of our nation and people,” he said.
The revered source of emulation stated that according to verses of the Holy Quran and narrations from the Prophet Muhammad and the Ahlul-Bayt, specific types of music are impermissible. Since the time of the Prophet until now, people have been trying to make forbidden music, singing and dancing permissible and lawful, but Islam clearly states that music is forbidden.
One of the many narrations we have states: “In a house where music is played, God does not bestow his grace on the inhabitants of that house.”
Ayatollah Alavi-Gorgani stated that some think that the reason that music is only forbidden in Islam due to its pleasing melody or only due to its lyrical content, but it is due to both of these things, as well as music’s negative effects on the emotional, psychological and physical states of both individuals and society.
It should be noted that in Islamic law, specific types of music are forbidden. Forbidden music is that which has a great influence on one’s heart and mind, both due to its pleasing melody or captivating and illicit lyrics. Music is like an intoxicant as it makes one forget their surroundings and one does not know what is happening to him or her.
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