ENDLESS BLISS FASCICLE-4
ENDLESS BLISS FASCICLE-4
ENDLESS BLISS FASCICLE-4
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where it will be spoilt and where it will not. For this, it is necessary to learn tajwid. It is<br />
mustahab to recite the Qur'an al-karim, the dhikr and the ilahis with a beautiful voice provided<br />
that it does not spoil the meaning. And this is done by reciting compatibly with the tajwid. The<br />
effect of this on the heart and the soul is tremendous. Reciting with a beautiful voice does not<br />
mean making melody and moving ones chin; it means reciting with the fear of Allah. Anbiya<br />
(salawatullahi ta'ala 'alaihim ajmain) and Awliya (rahmat-Allahi ta'ala 'alaihim ajmain) used to<br />
recite with a beautiful voice. It was prohibited by a hadith ash-Sharif to recite with a sad voice<br />
and to listen to it like the fasiqs and the Ahl-i kitab. To spoil the tajwid by elhan, that is, by<br />
keeping up with a musical tune, is an ugly bidat and to listen to it is a grave sin.<br />
To give a complete explanation of taghanni and music, the eighth article of the first chapter of<br />
Kimya-yi saadat is translated below. There is detailed information on singing on page 182 of the<br />
book Akhlaq-i 'ala'i and in the last chapter of Tibb-un-nabawi by Muhammad ibn Ahmad Zahabi.<br />
Imam-i-Ghazali's account is as follows:<br />
"There is a force called qalb or inclination in the heart. Beautiful and harmonious sound sets this<br />
hidden force into motion, like a piece of steel when it hits flintstone generates spark, as a spark<br />
will be generated when flintstone is struck against a piece of steel [and as a glass or a bakelite<br />
rod when rubbed with wool attracts pieces of paper]. Beautiful sounds penetrate into one's heart,<br />
de spite one's will, because the qalb (heart) and ruh (soul) have a connection with the 'alam alarwah,<br />
which is above the 'Arsh. This non-material and immeasurable 'alam is the 'alam of 'husn<br />
al jamal' or beauty, and the basic element of beauty is tanasub (harmony). Every kind of beauty<br />
in this world comes from the beauty of that 'alam. Beautiful, rhythmic and harmonious sounds<br />
resemble that 'alam. The hearts of those who obey the Shariat become pure and strong. Such<br />
hearts have a strong connection with the 'alam al-amr, and music influences and sets them into<br />
motion in the direction of their inclinations or orientations as the wind sets the glowing fire into<br />
flames. If there is love for Allahu ta'ala in the heart, a beautiful voice causes that love to increase,<br />
and, therefore, it is beneficial. Contrary to this is the case of a person whose heart is corrupt and<br />
whose nafs has become stronger because he does not obey the Shariat but follows his nafs,<br />
instead. The sick heart of such a person cannot enjoy music because his nafs is excited by music,<br />
and music, therefore, is harmful and haram for him. Those who cannot understand that there can<br />
be love for Allahu ta'ala in the heart say that any beautiful voice is haram. They say man can love<br />
his like and man's heart cannot have any relation with anything which is not of his kind, and,<br />
therefore, they do not believe in love for Allahu ta'ala. When they are told that the Shariat orders<br />
man to have love for Allahu ta'ala, they say this means that we should obey His orders lovingly.<br />
"A beautiful sound does not bring to the heart anything from the outside. It excites the halal<br />
'connections' in the healthy heart, and, therefore, it is halal to listen to taghanni (singing) for a<br />
heart that is not sick. If there is no inclination (or connection) in the heart, his enjoying a<br />
beautiful voice is similar to his listening to birds, singing, or his looking at green plants, beautiful<br />
streams and flowers. As these refresh the eyes, fragrant scents are pleasurable to the nose,<br />
delicious food gives delight to the mouth, scientific knowledge and discoveries are sweet to the<br />
intellect, so a beautiful voice is pleasurable to the ears and is mubah as they are.<br />
"The nafs of a person with a sick heart fancies a na-mahram girl or boy. This desire in his or her<br />
nafs becomes more intense when he or she listens to music. Since it is haram for him or her to be<br />
with her or him, listening to any kind of taghanni (singing) causes haram activities.<br />
"He whose heart is not sick does not enjoy hearing the voice which is describing girls, love and<br />
desire; he even feels uncomfortable. But if the heart happens to be sick, the nafs enjoys it and is<br />
excited towards the haram. Therefore, it is haram for such people to listen to music. All young<br />
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