Julia+Boyer



The issue of music in certain religions is a lot more important than people believe. Music in churches was influenced by Greek, Syrian and Hebrew forms of prayer. The churches composed hymns, which are chants put to melody. This later evolved when composers made the melodies so complex, the words could not be deciphered. Later, the "Liturgical Movement" looked to preserve the historical sounds but keep the modern needs. In other religions, music is viewed as a distraction from god. Because of rise in music popularity; many of them have been forced to reconsider banning music. It's a clash of different centuries; the people who follow the rules laid down by the bible versus the younger generation challenged by music in society.

__ISLAM:__
Islam is one of the religions with the biggest problem deciding whether music is legal. So, Islam avoids absolutely accepting or remaining indifferent to the issue of music. Music has rules and strict notes that are meant to be followed, this goes against the rule of Tajweed, which is the proper way to recite the Qur'an. (1) A person can recite the Qur'an in his "natural tones" which means he's moved to make his own beautiful melodies. But Muslims in historically UN-Islamic places think that music should be allowed in prayers.  And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music, singing, etc.) to mislead (men) from the Path of Allah without knowledge, and takes it (the Path of Allah, the Verses of the Qur'an) by way of mockery. For such there will be a humiliating torment (in the Hell-Fire). People who believe music should be legal have look at this rule and have said that 'idle talks' is a very vague term. They think that music that is religious won't be misleading but more it will unite them. One man said, "Muslims had no real term for music [when the Qur'an was written]; there was 'song' and 'instrument'; so when this [rule in the Qur'an] was written there was no intention of meaning music." Now scholars have to consider what the true meaning of 'idle talks' is. "It has been assumed in Islamic Civilization that if the music is leading toward a noble end then it will be judged according to that end." Medieval Muslim music was a big part of their culture. Ancient Muslims believed music was a cure for illnesses and this is still used in Western Civilization.(2)
 * //The Noble Qur'an - Luqman 31:6//**

Islam has also affected people who practiced music first. A rapper named Loon who was famous in the U.S. has recently converted to Islam in July of 2009. He is striving for a better lifestyle and looks for enlightenment. Loon has joined with a group and is attempting to change the tone of rap. "Music can be geared toward making people do positive things, but the actual part that detours people from practicing their religion or positive things, is the lifestyle." (3) If the lifestyle of a person is what makes them do negative things, then shouldn't religious music be perfectly acceptable? Muslims live in a humble way that is respectful toward god and their beliefs, add music and there could be an additional outlet for enlightenment.

__NATIVE AMERICAN:__
Native Americans used music to praise warriors, people in the tribe or elements such as the wind or earth. The music was an oral tradition so it is harder for historians to find the actual melodies used, as well as, figuring out how to duplicate the sound of the instruments. (4)

Native Americans celebrated singing, it was a form of enjoyment. Many legends have been past down in tribes about songs that men have sung. The message of most is that singing may save your life. In one story of a man that is going down a waterfall, his friends who are in the form of wolves say that singing to the river spirit will save him. They say, "Sing as you have never sung before. Sing from all your experiences, from all your adventures, from all your days on the Earth!"

Another story is about a brother that learns the songs of the birds. He tells his brother:"It is the song the people will sing when they wear feathers on their heads (War-song). You must be careful in singing it; if not, you will fall to the ground senseless. I sing what I have heard the birds sing. I give thanks as I have heard them do when I was hunting. I dance to my songs because I hear the birds sing and see them dance. We must do as they do. It will make us feel glad and happy." (6)

Singing was in the blood of all Native Americans, the kids were told these stories from a young age. To them singing was power and enlightenment.

There were times when music was all the Native Americans had. In the 1890's there was poverty among the Native American Tribes. The white men had taken over the west and had uprooted Tribes that relied heavily on the weather or location. A Paiute shaman named Wovok received a vision of the buffalo returning and the white man leaving. He created this religion of the Ghost Dance, where people would gather in a circle and sing and dance the Ghost dance. One woman recalls, "It was what the people needed at that time, it gave them hope." (5) This religion was peaceful and taught abstinence from alcohol. As it's popularity grew, especially in South Dakota, the American Government grew anxious at the amount of followers and considered this a form of rebellion. This led to the famous Massacre of Wounded Knee.

The issue of music is a lot more important than people outside of these religions believe. Many other religions use music in prayers, such as Judaism and Christianity. Music in Synagogues and Churches unites the people together. It's, also, another form of prayer for those who don't know the words. Music, in religions where it isn't accepted, is a form of rebellion or sinful pride. It's a big form of separation in religions and it needs to be discussed as the new generations take over for their elders. Native Americans celebrated their communities through music, it was their form of prayer and also their entertainment. Prayers should evolve from their normal solemn tone to a more lighthearted one.

__ADDITIONAL NOTES:__
(5) Youtube video of the origin of the Ghost Dance: "Paiute Native American shaman Wovoka and the Ghost Dance." //Youtube//. Web. 28 Oct 2009. .

Call to Prayer in Jerusalem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8QigvIBi2M&NR=1

Work Cited:
(1) Sabri, Mustafa. "A Topic of Dispute in Islam: Music." //anadolu// 5.4 (1995): n. pag. Web. 20 Oct 2009. . (2) "Traditional Islam and Music." //Youtube//. Web. 28 Oct 2009. . (3) "Interview with rap artist turned Muslim - 2 Jul 09." //Youtube//. Web. 28 Oct 2009. . (4) "The Songs of the Lakota." //Welcome to OglalaLakota Oyate//. Web. 21 Oct 2009. . (5) //Located in ADDITIONAL NOTES// (6) "Native American Legends." //First People-The legends//. Web. 28 Oct 2009. .