BLOG 116 - Fine Arts

[Dr. Shabbir]

FINE ARTS, MUSIC, PAINTINGS & SCULPTURES

The Qur’an nowhere curbs the aesthetic sense, but ask any Mullah and chances are that he will declare music and painting Haraam.

7:32 Say, "Who has forbidden the beauty and nice things Allah has brought forth for His servants, and the pure clean things of your choice?” Say, “Such things are for those in this world who attain conviction in the Divine Laws. And on the Day of Resurrection they will be exclusively for those who attained conviction.” We thus explain Our Laws for those who make good use of what they learn.

The Nine Commandments given in the Qur’an 6:151-152 exclude one of the Ten Commandments of the Bible. Which one? ‘Graven images’!

The Qur’an repeatedly encourages good aesthetic sense. But ask any Mullah and he will declare most of the fine arts Forbidden.

30:15 As for those who attained belief and fulfilled the needs of others, they will be made happy in a Meadow of delight listening to beautiful music.

See a brief panorama of Prophet Solomon’s empire:

34:12 And to Solomon, --- We gave him abundance in mining of copper and minerals ---.
34:13 They worked for him as he desired, making forts, statues, sculptures, paintings and images, pools, and boilers well-dug into the ground. We said, “Labor O Children of David, in gratitude for what you have been given. Few of My servants are truly grateful in practice.”

43:70 Enter the Garden, you and your spouses, rejoicing and singing. [Hibr = Singing in delight, lovely music]

7:33 Say, "My Lord forbids only:
 Indecent shameful deeds, open or secret.
 Actions that hurt the “Self” and drag down the individual and collective human potential.
 Unjust aggression.
 Idol worship in any form. It has been completely unauthorized by Allah,
 And that you say things about Allah that you know not.”

Mullahs know very well that we find many Ahadith describing men and women companions of the exalted Prophet enjoying dance, singing and music in his presence.

LAHWAL HADITH:
31:6 But among people, there are those who invest their time in Hadith which is unfounded, so as to lead those without knowledge away from the path of God, making mockery of it (the Qur’an). For such there is a humiliating punishment in store.

[In order to defend the ‘Imams’ of Hadith, some commentators try to explain away Lahwal Hadith as music. This obviously makes no linguistic or contextual sense]