سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- فَاجْتَنِبُوا الرِّجْسَ مِنَ الْأَوْثانِ وَ اجْتَنِبُوا قَوْلَ الزُّورِ[1] قَالَ الْغِنَاءُ.
“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘Stay away from wickedness, idols, and false words.’ (22:30) He (the Imam) said, ‘It is music and singing.’”
الْغِنَاءُ عُشُّ النِّفَاقِ[2].
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Music (and singing) is the nest of hypocrisy.’”
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لَمَّا مَاتَ آدَمُ ع وَ شَمِتَ بِهِ إِبْلِيسُ وَ قَابِيلُ فَاجْتَمَعَا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَجَعَلَ إِبْلِيسُ وَ قَابِيلُ الْمَعَازِفَ وَ الْمَلَاهِيَ شَمَاتَةً بِآدَمَ ع فَكُلُّ مَا كَانَ فِي الْأَرْضِ مِنْ هَذَا الضَّرْبِ الَّذِي يَتَلَذَّذُ بِهِ النَّاسُ فَإِنَّمَا هُوَ مِنْ ذَاكَ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when Adam (a.s.), died, Iblis and Qabil expressed joy and came together in the land. Thereafter Iblis and Qabil set up musical instruments and means of amusement to rejoice at the death of Adam (a.s.). Thus whatever is there on earth of this sort in which people take pleasure is be
سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ الْغِنَاءُ مِمَّا وَعَدَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَيْهِ النَّارَ وَ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ- وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَ يَتَّخِذَها هُزُواً أُولئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذابٌ مُهِينٌ[3].
“I once heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), saying, ‘music (and singing) is of such things for which Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has warned with punishment in the fire.’ He (the Imam) then read this verse, ‘There are people who pay for worthless tales (or activities) that deviates them from the path of Allah without thei
سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ الْغِنَاءُ مِمَّا قَالَ اللَّهُ- وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ.
‘music (and singing) are of the things about which Allah has said, ‘Among people there are those who buy useless things in the form of words to mislead people from the path of Allah.’”
فِي قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ الَّذِينَ لا يَشْهَدُونَ الزُّورَ[4] قَالَ الْغِنَاءُ.
“About the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . those who do not attend al-Zur,’ (25:72) abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It (al-Zur’ah) is music (and singing).”’
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَنْهَاكُمْ عَنِ الزَّفْنِ وَ الْمِزْمَارِ وَ عَنِ الْكُوبَاتِ وَ الْكَبَرَاتِ[1].
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘I forbid dancing, use of flutes, smaller and bigger drums.’”
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع يَقُولُ سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْغِنَاءِ فَقَالَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ.
’It is in the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . among people there are those who buy useless things in the form of words to mislead others from the path of Allah.’”
نَزَلْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ فَأَتَيْنَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ لَنَا أَيْنَ نَزَلْتُمْ فَقُلْنَا عَلَى فُلَانٍ صَاحِبِ الْقِيَانِ[2] فَقَالَ كُونُوا كِرَاماً فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْنَا مَا أَرَادَ بِهِ وَ ظَنَنَّا أَنَّهُ يَقُولُ تَفَضَّلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَعُدْنَا إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْنَا إِنَّا لَا نَدْرِي مَا أَرَدْتَ بِقَوْلِكَ كُونُوا كِرَاماً فَقَالَ أَ مَا سَمِعْتُمْ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي كِتَابِهِ- وَ إِ
“Once we arrived in al-Madinah and visited abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), who asked us, ‘Where have you lodged?’ We said, ‘It is with so and so, the owner of singing slave-girls.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must remain honorable.’ By Allah we did not understand what he (the Imam) meant and we thought perhaps he wants us to be k
كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَ أُمِّي إِنَّنِي أَدْخُلُ كَنِيفاً لِي وَ لِي جِيرَانٌ عِنْدَهُمْ جَوَارٍ يَتَغَنَّيْنَ وَ يَضْرِبْنَ بِالْعُودِ فَرُبَّمَا أَطَلْتُ الْجُلُوسَ اسْتِمَاعاً مِنِّي لَهُنَّ فَقَالَ لَا تَفْعَلْ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ وَ اللَّهِ مَا آتِيهِنَّ إِنَّمَا هُوَ سَمَاعٌ أَسْمَعُهُ بِأُذُنِي فَقَالَ لِلَّهِ أَنْتَ أَ مَا سَمِعْتَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُول
“Once I was with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when a man said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul and the souls of my parents in service for your cause, I enter my WC (water-closet) and I have neighbors who have singing slave-girls who play musical instruments and perhaps I sit longer, listening to them.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘
مَنْ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ بِنِعْمَةٍ فَجَاءَ عِنْدَ تِلْكَ النِّعْمَةِ بِمِزْمَارٍ فَقَدْ كَفَرَهَا وَ مَنْ أُصِيبَ بِمُصِيبَةٍ فَجَاءَ عِنْدَ تِلْكَ الْمُصِيبَةِ بِنَائِحَةٍ فَقَدْ كَفَرَهَا.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If Allah grants a bounty to a person and that person comes to that bounty with a flute, he has not appreciated it; and if one is affected by a misfortune and he comes in such condition with mourning (professional mourner) he has disregarded it also.’” (Expressing joy and grief through
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْغِنَاءِ وَ قُلْتُ إِنَّهُمْ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص رَخَّصَ فِي أَنْ يُقَالَ جِئْنَاكُمْ جِئْنَاكُمْ حَيُّونَا حَيُّونَا نُحَيِّكُمْ فَقَالَ كَذَبُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- وَ ما خَلَقْنَا السَّماواتِ[1] وَ الْأَرْضَ وَ ما بَيْنَهُما لاعِبِينَ لَوْ أَرَدْنا أَنْ نَتَّخِذَ لَهْواً لَاتَّخَذْناهُ مِنْ لَدُنَّا إِنْ كُنَّا فاعِلِينَ. بَلْ نَقْذِفُ بِال
“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about music (and singing). I said that they think the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has granted permission in saying, ‘We have come to you, we have come to you, so offer us greetings, offer us greet
فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ الَّذِينَ لا يَشْهَدُونَ الزُّورَ قَالَ هُوَ الْغِنَاءُ.
“About the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . those who do not attend al-Zur . . .’ (25:72) abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is music (and singing).”’
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ إِنَّ شَيْطَاناً يُقَالُ لَهُ الْقَفَنْدَرُ[3] إِذَا ضُرِبَ فِي مَنْزِلِ رَجُلٍ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً بِالْبَرْبَطِ وَ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ الرِّجَالُ وَضَعَ ذَلِكَ الشَّيْطَانُ كُلَّ عُضْوٍ مِنْهُ عَلَى مِثْلِهِ مِنْ صَاحِبِ الْبَيْتِ ثُمَّ نَفَخَ فِيهِ نَفْخَةً فَلَا يَغَارُ بَعْدَهَا حَتَّى تُؤْتَى نِسَاؤُهُ فَلَا يَغَارُ.
“I once heard abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘There is Satan called al-Qafandar. If barbat (a musical instrument) is played in a house for forty days and men come to him then that Satan places every part of his (Satan’s) body on every part of the body of the owner of the house, then blows a blow; and thereafter he wil
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع بَيْتُ الْغِنَاءِ لَا تُؤْمَنُ فِيهِ الْفَجِيعَةُ وَ لَا تُجَابُ فِيهِ الدَّعْوَةُ وَ لَا يَدْخُلُهُ الْمَلَكُ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The house of music (and singing) is not safe from tragedy, prayers are not accepted and angels do not enter in it.’”
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ الْغِنَاءُ مَجْلِسٌ لَا يَنْظُرُ اللَّهُ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ وَ هُوَ مِمَّا قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ[4].
“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘(The gathering for) music (and singing) is a gathering to the participant of which Allah does not look. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, ‘There are people who pay for worthless tales (or activities) that deviates them from the path of Allah without their reali
مَنْ ضُرِبَ فِي بَيْتِهِ بَرْبَطٌ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً سَلَّطَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ شَيْطَاناً يُقَالُ لَهُ الْقَفَنْدَرُ فَلَا يُبْقِي عُضْواً مِنْ أَعْضَائِهِ إِلَّا قَعَدَ عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا كَانَ كَذَلِكَ نُزِعَ مِنْهُ الْحَيَاءُ وَ لَمْ يُبَالِ مَا قَالَ وَ لَا مَا قِيلَ فِيهِ.
“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘If barbat is played in one’s house for forty days Allah gives its control to a Satan called al-Qafandar who sits on every part of the body of the owner of the house. When this happens bashfulness (the sense to feel ashamed of one’s indecent acts) is taken away from him and he does not
سُئِلَ عَنِ الْغِنَاءِ وَ أَنَا حَاضِرٌ فَقَالَ لَا تَدْخُلُوا بُيُوتاً اللَّهُ مُعْرِضٌ عَنْ أَهْلِهَا.
“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about music (and singing) when I was present. He (the Imam) said, ‘Do not enter the houses whose inhabitants Allah disregards.’”
مَنْ نَزَّهَ نَفْسَهُ عَنِ الْغِنَاءِ فَإِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ شَجَرَةً يَأْمُرُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الرِّيَاحَ أَنْ تُحَرِّكَهَا فَيَسْمَعُ لَهَا صَوْتاً لَمْ يَسْمَعْ بِمِثْلِهِ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَتَنَزَّهْ عَنْهُ لَمْ يَسْمَعْهُ.
“Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), has said, ‘If one keeps his soul clean of al-Ghina’ (music (and singing)), Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, commands the winds to move a tree in the garden (paradises). From this tree a sound is heard the like of which is never heard, and those who fail to keep their souls clean of
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ ضَرْبُ الْعِيدَانِ يُنْبِتُ النِّفَاقَ فِي الْقَلْبِ كَمَا يُنْبِتُ الْمَاءُ الْخُضْرَةَ.
“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Playing ‘Ud (a certain musical instrument) grows hypocrisy just as water grows green plants.’”
لَا يُقَدِّسُ اللَّهُ أُمَّةً فِيهَا بَرْبَطٌ يُقَعْقِعُ وَ تَائِهٌ تُفَجِّعُ[1].
“Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘Allah does not grant holiness to a nation in which barbat sounds and the (false) eulogies that cause pain.’”
قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَّى كُنْتَ فَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ قَدْ عَرَفَ الْمَوْضِعَ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مَرَرْتُ بِفُلَانٍ فَاحْتَبَسَنِي فَدَخَلْتُ إِلَى دَارِهِ وَ نَظَرْتُ إِلَى جَوَارِيهِ فَقَالَ لِي ذَلِكَ مَجْلِسٌ لَا يَنْظُرُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ أَمِنْتَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى أَهْلِكَ وَ مَالِكَ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once asked me, ‘Where have you been?’ I then thought that he knows the place where I was. I then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I was passing by so and so and he kept me, I went in his house and looked at his slave-girls.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘That is such a ga
اسْتِمَاعُ الْغِنَاءِ وَ اللَّهْوِ يُنْبِتُ النِّفَاقَ فِي الْقَلْبِ كَمَا يُنْبِتُ الْمَاءُ الزَّرْعَ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Listening to al-Ghina’ (music (and singing)) and useless things grows hypocrisy just as water grows green plants.’”
مَنْ أَصْغَى إِلَى نَاطِقٍ فَقَدْ عَبَدَهُ فَإِنْ كَانَ النَّاطِقُ يُؤَدِّي عَنِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَقَدْ عَبَدَ اللَّهَ وَ إِنْ كَانَ النَّاطِقُ يُؤَدِّي عَنِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَقَدْ عَبَدَ الشَّيْطَانَ.
‘If one listens to a speaker he worships him. If the speaker conveys from Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, he has worshipped Allah; but if he conveys from Satan he has worshipped Satan.’”
سَأَلْتُ الْخُرَاسَانِيَّ ع وَ قُلْتُ إِنَّ الْعَبَّاسِيَ[1] ذَكَرَ أَنَّكَ تُرَخِّصُ فِي الْغِنَاءِ فَقَالَ كَذَبَ الزِّنْدِيقُ مَا هَكَذَا قُلْتُ لَهُ سَأَلَنِي عَنِ الْغِنَاءِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَى أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع فَسَأَلَهُ عَنِ الْغِنَاءِ فَقَالَ يَا فُلَانُ إِذَا مَيَّزَ اللَّهُ بَيْنَ الْحَقِّ وَ الْبَاطِلِ فَأَنَّى يَكُونُ الْغِنَاءُ فَقَالَ مَعَ الْبَاطِلِ فَقَالَ قَدْ حَكَمْتَ.
“I once asked al-Khurasaniy (a.s.), saying, ‘Al-‘Abbasiy has said that you allow al-Ghina’ (music (and singing)). He (the Imam) said, ‘The infidel has spoken a lie. I did not say so to him. He asked me about al-Ghina’ (music (and singing)) and I said, ‘Once a man came to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), and asked him about al-Ghina’