By Peter Burrows 12/24/19 elburropete@gmail.com - silvercityburro.com

One of the things I enjoy most about this time of year is the music. The religion of Christianity has inspired some of the most beautiful music ever written. Of course, that’s a subjective opinion but one shared by many people of all religions, with one exception: Islam. Muhammad disapproved of music.

Muhammad disapproved of a lot of things: infidels, hypocrites, apostates, alcohol, pictures of living things and even dogs, to name a few. Since the Holy Koran tells us in verse 4:80 that to obey Muhammad is to obey Allah, what Muhammad said about music is therefore Allah’s eternal law.

Let’s look at a few things Muhammad said about music, musicians and those who enjoy music. My favorite is, “On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will pour molten lead into the ears of whoever sits listening to a songstress.”

When I first read that, I thought to myself, “You’re going to need a BIG bucket of lead for me, Allah.” In my life I have spent countless hours listening to one songstress after another, from Roberta Peters to Lady Gaga.

It was Muhammad’s opinion that, “Song makes hypocrisy grow in the heart as water does herbage.” In Islam, hypocrisy is defined as claiming to be a Muslim but failing to pay attention to the required rituals, such as daily prayers. Music was considered something that would distract from those religious requirements, as would alcohol.

If you play any instrument, including the drum, on the Day of Judgement there will be “seventy thousand angels” with maces of fire pummeling you on the head. Singers and adulterers get the pummeling, too. We know that’s true because Muhammad said so.

However, sharia law says, “It is permissible to play the tambourine at weddings, circumcisions, and other times, even if it has bells on its sides.” Bells!?! Oh, thank you, Allah!!

The bottom line for Muslims, from al-islam.org: “Let us seek refuge from the temptations of Shaitaan so that he may never lead us into the disgraceful vice of listening to music.”

Unfortunately, Muslims also think Shaitaan shouldn’t tempt us non-Muslims, either, and in Muslim ruled nations strict adherence to sharia law means no Christian can recite aloud, let alone sing, the Evangel. While I can find no specific rule, if music is haram, forbidden, Christian music must be double haram.

I’m afraid it’s only a matter of time before Christian concerts are targeted by devout Muslims, much like the 2017 attack in Manchester, England, that killed 22 at an Ariana Grande concert. I pray this will never happen, but as you listen to Renee Fleming sing Schubert’e Ave Maria, be thankful you live in a nation where Islam does not rule.

Enjoy!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT_prP_MNaQ
Renee Fleming, Ave Maria, 5:15

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