Lesson video

Hello, my name's Ms. O'Malley and welcome to RE today's lesson, which forms parts of our unit on Religious law: What is the social context and relevance today? In today's lesson, which is lesson number six within the unit, we are going to explore using ijtihad to understand different Muslim attitudes to music.

Okay, let's start today's lesson.

Today's lesson outcome is I can analyse different Islamic source s to better understand different Muslim world views regarding music.

Today's lesson, we have five keywords to guide us through our learning.

Our keywords are halal, haram, ijtihad, Shariah, and worldview.

Halal are actions or things which are committed within Islam.

Haram are any actions or things which are forbidden within Islam.

Ijtihad is the human effort and reasoning used to work out the Shariah.

Shariah is a set of moral and religious laws that guide Muslims, and worldview is a person's way of understanding, experiencing, and responding to the world.

Today's lesson on using ijtihad to understand different Muslim attitudes to music takes two parts.

We're going to begin by exploring world views and ijtihad and then following on to consider music and different Muslim views.

A worldview is a person's way of understanding, interpreting, and living in the world.

I'd like you to consider the following questions.

Where were you born? Where do you live? Who are your family and friends? What language or languages do you speak? And how do you like to spend your spare time? Because a person's contact influences their worldview, so take some time to consider those questions.

Pause the video and press play when you're ready to move on with the lesson.

Our context, or where we live, can have a major influence on our worldview.

Muslims in India live in a population that is majority Hindu.

80% of the population in India is Hindu.

14% of the population in India is Muslim.

How might it feel to have a Muslim worldview in India? Pakistan is a Muslim majority country with a minority population of Sikhs.

The Punjab region is found in both Pakistan and India.

58% of the Punjab is Sikh.

How might being a Muslim in a Sikh majority area impact your worldview? Hassan, a Shia Muslim, explains how where a person lives can influence their worldview.

Hassan says, "I believe where we live has a major impact upon our worldview.

My family are from Pakistan.

Pakistan has historical significance for Sikhs too, due to it being the birthplace of Guru Nanak.

My father wears a kara, a steel bangle worn as one of the five signs of the Sikh Khalsa.

It is also common for us to call food at the mosque langar.

Langar is the same term used by Sikhs at the gurdwara." Okay, let's pause and check you've understood what we've just heard.

Select the correct meaning of worldview.

A, a theory about how the world was created, B, a person's religious perspective, or C, a person's way of understanding, experiencing, and responding to the world.

Pause the video and press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Well done if you said the correct answer is C, the meaning of worldview is a person's way of understanding, experiencing, and responding to the world.

One topic within Islam where there are different worldviews and interpretations is on music.

Music is something debated in Islam as to whether it is halal or haram.

Haram and halal are terms used to describe actions which are allowed or encouraged, halal, and those which are forbidden and discourage, haram.

Izzy wants to find out why there are different worldviews on music in Islam.

Izzy asks the question, "Why are there different views on music in Islam, Hassan?" Hassan answers, "Muslim scholars interpret Shariah law in different ways.

Some scholars believe it is acceptable, halal, depending on the lyrics and as long as it doesn't incite harm, others think it should be avoided, haram, because it might distract people from prayer or encourage harmful actions." Hassan further explains why there are different worldviews on music in Islam.

Hassan tells us, "Opinions on music come from different scholars within the Muslim world.

Muslim scholars can use a method of ijtihad to try to reach a conclusion.

However, not all Muslim scholars agree on what the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said about music.

Scholars can also be influenced by their worldviews." The term ijtihad comes from the word jihad, which means struggle, effort, or fight, i.

e, the effort or struggle to find the answer.

Ijtihad is the human effort of interpreting the Qur'an and hadith.

Remember that hadith are the recorded words of the Prophet Muhammad to identify the best action today.

Izzy wants to speak to a different Muslim about using ijtihad, so she speaks to Sarah, who is a Muslim living in the UK.

Izzy asks, "Did the Prophet Muhammad agree with using ijtihad?" Sarah replies, "Yes, even during his life when he sent his companion Muadh to be a judge in Yemen.

Muadh asked Muhammad if he can use his own reasoning alongside the Qur'an and sunnah to find the answer to a question that he cannot find evidence for.

Muhammad praised Muadh for using this method." Let's pause and complete a check for understanding.

Select the meaning of ijtihad.

A, human effort and reasoning used to work out the Shariah, B, actions of Prophet Muhammad recorded in the hadith, or C, a copy of the Shariah law.

Pause the video and press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Well done if you said the correct answer is A, the meaning of jihad is human effort and reasoning used to work out the Shariah.

Okay, so now we're gonna take some time to complete our first practise task.

So you need to complete the following sentences to show your understanding of the meaning of worldview and ijtihad.

Worldview can be interpreted to mean.

A person's worldview can be influenced by, for example, Muslims living in may be influenced by culture.

The meaning of is ijtihad is.

Music something debated in Islam as to whether it is or.

Muslim scholars can use a method of to try to, and scholars can be influenced by their.

Good luck completing the practise task.

Pause the video and then press play when you're ready to check your answers.

Okay, welcome back, everybody.

It's time to check your answers for the first practise task.

So your answers may look like this.

Worldviews can be interpreted to me in a person's way of understanding, experiencing, and responding to the world.

A person's worldview can be influenced by where they live.

For example, person living in Pakistan may be influenced by Sikh culture.

The meaning of ijtihad is the human effort and reasoning used to work out the Shariah.

Music is something debated in Islam as to whether it is halal or haram.

Muslim scholars can use a method of ijtihad to try to interpret Shariah, and scholars can be influenced by their worldview.

Well done on completing the first practise task.

So that moves us on in our lesson on using is ijtihad to understand different Muslim attitudes to music to the second part of our lesson where we're going to explore music and different Muslim views.

When ijtihad is used to analyse the Shariah, remember the Shariah is the Qur'an and hadith, on music, Muslim scholars look at the Islamic sources and ask questions such as what is being said? Is the source authentic? Can the words be understood in different ways? How might a Muslim scholar be influenced by their worldview when using is ijtihad? When Muslim scholars can look to the Qur'an to interpret teachings on music.

Here, we have a quote from the Qur'an.

It states, "Among the people is he who engages with lahw that he may lead astray from Allah's path." So just to note, in Arabic, lahw means idle speech.

That is speech that is useless or distracting.

So now I'd like you to consider answers to the following questions.

Why would some Muslim scholars say music is haram? Remember, haram means forbidden.

Using this verse.

I'd like you to pause the video here and either on your own, take some time to reflect or discuss a question with your partner.

Press play when you're ready to reflect on your answers.

Okay, welcome back.

So let's consider why some Muslim scholars may say that music is haram using this verse.

Well, music may be seen as haram because it is something that has no benefit and distracts you from God.

Listening to music can also be considered as idle and time wasting.

That's time that could be used for something more useful.

Okay, let's look towards another verse from the Qur'an.

"Successful are the believers that are humble when they pray and keep themselves away from lahw." Remember in Arabic, lahw means idle speech.

That is speech that is useless or distracting.

Why would some Muslim scholars say that music is not being haram? Remember, it's saying here, haram being forbidden using this verse.

So again, either on your own, take time to reflect or discuss the question with your partner.

Pause the video and then press play when you're ready to reflect on your answers.

Okay, welcome back, everybody.

So let's consider what you might have said in response to the question.

Well, music may not be seen as haram because the first does not use the word music.

Some scholars may not interpret the lahw as music.

True or false.

In Arabic, the word lahw means music.

Pause the video and press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Well done if you said that statement is false.

So why is that statement false? When Arabic lahw means idle speech, that is useless or distracting.

Muslim scholars can also look to the hadith to interpret teachings or music.

"There will be among my Ummah people who were considered illegal, sex outside of marriage, alcohol, and musical instruments as lawful." This is from the Hadith of Bukhari.

What does this hadith seem to suggest about the use of musical instruments and what might the prophet be saying by having them in this list? So with your partner, discuss that question or perhaps you'd like to join up with others and discuss these questions in a small group.

Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to reflect on your answers.

Okay, welcome back, everyone.

So what does this hadith seem to suggest about the use of musical instruments and what might the prophet be saying by having them in this list? Okay, so let's explore what you might have said in your answers.

What Izzy wants to find out more about this and about music.

So she speaks to Jamila, who is a Sunni Muslim.

Izzy asks, "What does that hadith mean to you, Jamila?" Jamila replies, "Some Muslim scholars note that musical instruments have been placed on a list of unacceptable or haram things like alcohol.

Therefore, they interpret the prophet as saying that musical instruments are not acceptable.

These are the scholars I follow." Izzy has another question for Jamila.

She asks, "Does that mean you don't listen to any music, Jamila?" Jamila answers, "For me, scholars have used ijtihad to say that musical instruments should not accompany a voice.

They are following that hadith.

So I do listen to the ijtihad.

This is Islamic singing that does not have instruments.

The intention is to glorify God and not distract.

I believe this is halal and acceptable." Muslim scholars can also look to other Islamic scholars to interpret teachings on music.

Musical instruments were played in front of the prophet to welcome him during his first arrival in Madinah and Abu Bakr wanted to tell off those who were playing the instruments, but the prophet stopped him saying, "Leave them alone Our religion is relaxed and accommodating." Why does Al Qurtubi argue music is halal, permissible using the instant of Muhammad? Consider an answer to this question.

Pause the video and then press play when you're ready to reflect on your answer.

So why does Al Qurtubi argue that music is halal using the instant of Muhammad? Well, Muhammad didn't stop music being played in front of him on a happy occasion, so music may be halal permitted, if nothing haram is happening.

Let's pause and complete a check for understanding.

Select two reasons when music may be considered halal by some Muslims. A, if it is used for good intention, B, if nothing haram is happening, or C, if haram is happening.

Pause a video here and press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Okay, welcome back and well done if you selected answers A and B.

Two reasons when music may be considered halal or permitted by some Muslims is if it is used for good intention and if nothing haram is happening.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn, who lived between 1948 and 1997 is a famous Muslim musician of modern times.

He used music as a way of showing love and devotion towards Allah and Prophet Muhammad.

In 1997, Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn said, "When I sing for God, I feel myself in a accord with Allah and the house of God, Makkah, is in front of me and I worship.

When I sing for Muhammad, peace be upon him, our prophet, I feel like I am sitting right next to his tomb, Madinah, and paying him respect and admitting to myself that I accept his message." Why does Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn sing for God and Muhammad? With your partner, discuss that question, pause a video and then press play when you're ready to move on with the lesson.

Okay, welcome back.

So maybe in your discussions, you identified Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn said that he sang for God and Muhammad because he felt a connection with God and he felt a sense of showing respect and showing that he accepted Prophet Muhammad's message.

Izzy ask Hassan how his worldview impacts his thoughts on music.

"Do you listen to music, Hassan?" Hassan replies, "I grew up in my house listening to Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn.

As a Shia Muslim, I think intention is really important.

I do listen to music with instruments that is part of my tradition.

I believe it helps bring me to God, but I don't listen to modern pop music with lyrics that are distracting or immoral." True or false.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn use music as a way of showing love and devotion towards Allah and Prophet Muhammad.

You've got five seconds to choose the answer that you think is correct.

Well done if you said that statement is true.

So that brings us to our second and final practise task.

Here we have the statement, "All Muslim scholars believe music is haram." Remember, haram means not permitted.

You need to give one reason why Muslim scholar would agree with the statement.

Give one reason why a Muslim scholar would disagree with the statement.

Explain your answer using evidence from Islamic sources.

Good luck completing the practise task.

Pause the video and then press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Okay, welcome back, everyone.

So time to check your answers for the second practise task.

So you might have said the following points in your answer.

Some Muslim scholars would agree with this statement because they believe Allah taught that music distracts from Allah.

The Qur'an states among the people is he who engages with lahw and he may lead astray from Allah's path.

Some scholars interpret lahw to mean idle speech, speech that is useless or distracting and apply this to music.

Other Muslim scholars would disagree because they do not interpret lahw as meaning music.

If music has a good intention and isn't causing haram, not permitted, it is halal, permitted.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn is an example of a Muslim who used music as a way of showing love and devotion towards Allah and Prophet Muhammad.

Fantastic, well done on completing the second and final practise task for today's lesson.

So that brings us to the end of today's lesson on using is ijtihad to understand different Muslim attitudes to music.

Here is a summary of our key learning points from today's lesson.

A world view is a person's way of understanding, experiencing, and responding to the world.

Muslim scholars use a method of ijtihad to try to interpret Shariah.

Interpretations can be influenced by worldviews.

Music is something debated in Islam as to whether it is halal, permitted, or haram, not permitted.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn is a famous Muslim musician who used music as a way of showing love and devotion towards Allah and Prophet Muhammad.

Well done on all of your hard work completing today's lesson.

Thank you very much for joining me.

Goodbye.