Abdul Rahman, President, Islamiya Ilakkiya Kazhagam, addressing the Eighth World Islamic Tamil Literary Conference in Kumbakonam on Friday. / Photo: B. Velankanni Raj / The Hindu

Eighth World Tamil Islamic Literary conference gets under way

Islam is not against music though there has been a controversy whether Islam permitted music or not, said Abdul Rahman, President, Islamiya Ilakkiya Kazhagam and former chairman of Tamil Nadu Wakf Board here on Friday.

Mr. Rahman, speaking at the eighth World Islamic Tamil Literary Conference, said music was permitted in Islam while there were others who said that Islam had not permitted music. But there were instances to show that music was permitted in Islam and in fact singing and happiness was part and parcel during festival days, said Mr. Rahman.

Citing examples from the lives of Islamic saints and scholars, Mr. Rahman explained how music was permitted in Islam and children and old people were allowed to sing. Koran itself was made of musical verses.

“If we hear the rendering of Koran by persons who have musical voice, we can understand that the holy book is made of musical verses. One has to have the mind and ear to understand this. Many people became ecstatic on hearing Koran,” Mr. Rahman said. “That Koran itself is made musical verses was enough proof to show that Islam did not prevent music,” Mr. Rahman said.

K.N. Basha, Chairman, Intellectual Property Appellate Tribunal, said that Islam preached peace, communal harmony, and brotherhood. “People cannot forget songs like Iraivanidam Kaiyendhungal of Nagore Hanifa. It is sung by people belonging to various religions,” said Mr. Basha.

Datto Haji Jmarulkhan from Malaysia released a souvenir and K. Anbalagan, MLA, received the first copy.

Kaviyarangam, Pattimandram, seminar on Islamic literature, and music form part of the three day conference. Awards will also be distributed to Islamic writers.

source:  http://www.thehindu.com  / The Hindu /  Home> News> Cities> Tiruchirapalli / by Special Correspondent / Kumbakonam – February 15th, 2014