In This Biography

Religion and Music, History and Connection

Music and religion are closely linked in relationships as complex, diverse, and difficult to define as either term in itself. Religious believers have heard music as the voices of gods and the cacophony of devils praised it as the purest form of spirituality and condemned it as the ultimate in sensual depravity.

When we talk about Music, we are referring to the complete piece of work that one is listening to which includes the sounds (instruments) and the lyrics.

Through the centuries, priests, monks, and other specialists have sung the Christian masses, Buddhist pūjā s, Islamic calls to prayer, Hindu sacrifices, and other ceremonies that form the basis of organized religious observances in the world’s major religions.

IS ATHEISM A RELIGION?

Many religions and cultures do not have a concept corresponding to “music” or “religious music.” For Islam, al-mūsīqī (“music”) is, in principle, what the West might consider secular music, controversial for its potential to mislead believers into sensual distractions; melodic vocalizations of the Qurʾān and certain religious poetry are not “music,” however musical they may seem on technical and aesthetic grounds. To avoid violating the integrity of a tradition by imposing a dissonant external viewpoint, it might help to consider all such cases of performances that sound musical to the outsider but are not music to the insider, as “para-musical.

Luckily, many religions agreed the sin of music is taken away when it is used for worship.

Is Music Accepted in Christianity?

Christians have a tradition of declaring their faith through music; today gospel songs form a substantial part of all CDs sold.

it’s undeniable that music has always been an important part of Christian worship. From Gregorian chant and Bach cantatas to Gospel music, and contemporary Christian hip hop, jazz, and rock, there is a wealth of music, from all across the world, which is inspired by the Christian faith and written intentionally for liturgical settings.

There are numerous occasions in the Bible where the music breaks forth from the human spirit: King David dances and celebrates as the musicians make a joyful sound and the tabernacles are brought into Jerusalem (1 Chronicle)

Music is universal to every culture and, like language, it is a powerful form of expression.

The Bible speaks at length about praising the Lord with song and how the angels rejoice and sing of His goodness. The Bible also hints that not every song is good: “It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools (Ecc 7:5)”.

Is music permissible in Islam?

In Islam Playing instruments of music is a great Sin. It is a haram to play instruments such as the guitar, piano, tambourine, drums, etc. Listening to music is also a great sin.

And to be engrossed in musical instruments is also one of the great sins.

There are two main schools of thought in Islam, concerning the use of music.

The first most sacred source for those who are opposed to music and those who are not, is the Quran, although there is nothing specific in the Quran concerning music explicitly. The prophet Mohammed (SWS) enjoyed listening to the singing and playing of his young wife and her friends though he was known to have rebuked the reactions of his wife’s father in two incidences. The prophet (SWS) then declared that art, music, singing, and the playing of some specific instruments were permissible on occasions of birth, marriages, cultural folk festivities, funerals, and most of all for religious, spiritual occasions.

The prophet Mohammed did not approve of three things:

The clapping of hands in public performances (artistic hand clappers were allowed).
“Sensual singing which was combined with “sensual” dancing in public taverns by males and females)
The selling, buying, or teaching of performing girls

Is music Accepted in Judaism??

Music is used in direct religious worship at the Synagogue by virtually all Jewish denominations in the form of unaccompanied vocal recitation, Biblical cantillation, and sung prayers whose content is explicitly liturgical.

Music is an important part of Judaism

READ: RELIGION AND MUSIC HISTORY

Is music Accepted in Hinduism??

Music is essential to the worship experience, Hindus say because it arouses the senses and creates spiritual vibrations that enhance devotion

In Hindu Repetition and chanting help connect devotees to humankind and their spirituality. Sometimes there is improvisation, like jazz, in the singing. The sound of “om” is a sacred mantra.

Hindus are even said to have achieved Moksha through devoting music to God.

Is music Accepted in Buddhism??

Most Buddhist practices involve chant in some form, and some also make use of instrumental music and even dance. Music can act as an offering to the Buddha, as a means of memorizing Buddhist texts, and as a form of personal cultivation or meditation.

Is music Accepted in Sikhism?

Music plays an important part in Sikh Worship in the gurdwara (Sikh Temple)

Sikh worship aims to give praise to God. Singing or kirtan is very important and plays a major part in worship. Only sounds that are made by the voice-box are allowed therefore clapping and whistling are not allowed.

Role of music in religion.

Using music for religious reasons gave early humans the ability to experience and explore the tantalizing effects of music without sinning.
Music is a nearly universal part of the religion because it appeals to and heightens human senses in a pleasurable way which, in turn, allows humans to praise through a medium that makes worship more enjoyable.
Music has a way of filling in the gaps in thought, feeling, and emotion that words cannot do justice, which to can be incredibly powerful when accompanied by a spiritual belief.
Music can be used as a tool for praise that is appealing to the worshiper.
Music connects us to God in unique ways.