OCCASION OF REVELATION

 NAZR-IBN-HARITH, was a merchant who travelled to Iran. There he was acquainted with Persian Epic stories and heroic tales and fictions, and when he returned to Arabia, rehearsed the stories he had learned to the pagan Arabs, who were then gathered around Qurän's literature. He compared himself with our prophet saying; he recites to you the stories of Äd and Thamud, but I rehearse to you the history of Rostam and Esfandiar, and Persian kings. Thus he made an assembly of audience for himself, among whom were some of the nominal Moslem.

      TABARSI, the great expounder of Qurän has narrated another occasion for the above revelation. He says:- A reach Arab bought a beautiful maid slave who sang sweetly and danced swiftly and with beauty. He made her to sing and dance for him in his leisure and the above verses came to this effect.

MUSIC; THE SATAN'S TRAP

      Here in these verses a group of people have been introduced, who are opposite to the good-doers aforementioned. The word now goes round a people who spend their time, wealth, and capital, to lead people astray from the way of God. In return they purchase the misfortune of this life, and the affliction of the life to come:-

      ``And of the people is he who purchases the amusing narrations to lead others astray from the way of Allah, without any knowledge; taking serious matters in mockery. For them awaits a humiliating punishment.''

      Buying false narrative for amusement can be the purchase of untrue stories and fictions for a play toy and amusement, as NAZR-IBN-HÄRITH did; or it can be manifested through beauties who dance or sing to amuse others by their sexual attractions. Wasting money, power, and life, upon such vain affairs, is not becoming to Man.

      The Arabic, ``LAHV-AL-HADITH'' translated to, ``amusing narration'' has a wide range of meaning in its general sense. It may include any vain and useless act that may be used for play and amusement, that renders man neglectful and careless.

      Man should know that life is real. It is not a jest, to be taken for a laughing stock. It is more serious than we think.

      There are some people who prefer idle talks, and amusing narrations over true realities of life, and hold the fables in legends and fictions, in greater favour than the true stories that have already happened. In such a bargain they will lose the higher things of life, and fall down through their ignorance and arrogance.

WHAT IS GHENAA?

      The Arabic, ``GHENÄ'' that we have translated to, ``MUSIC'' is not any kind of sweet and beautiful song or voice, because we enjoin people to rehearsed Qurän with good song. So is our wish for AZÄN, by which we call people to perform their prayer. Therefore ``GHENÄ'' which is supposed to be unlawful music is that kind of music which will suit the parties of debauchery, immoral merrymaking, and unbecoming jollifications. In other word; unlawful is the kind of music that incites lustful and sexual passions and desires in people.

      Music may deprive man and woman of shame and shyness; increase lusts and sexual emotions. It may have effects similar to heavy drinks, and intoxicate people. It can make man to forget his Lord, and neglect his duties. It may also be harmful to the nerves and mental life of man. Voices and songs, or poems, that suit battle-fields or the grounds of sports, cannot be called unlawful.

      Here, our comments are only applicable to songs and voices uttered for amusement, and the problem of musical instrument is a different question which here is not the position to discuss and answer it.

      The ending of the above passage is:-

      ``The promise of Allah is true, and He is exalted in might, All-wise.''

      Nothing can stop Allah to fulfill His promise, because Creator's promise is some sort of a natural rule in the creation, and among creatures. The promise is full of meaning and with serious purpose in God's general plan.