Mick Hartley

Shi'ite cleric Sheik Hassan Ghandour, on Lebanese TV, sets us straight on the subject of Islam and singing:

Hassan Ghandour: In general, singing is completely prohibited. Islamic law prohibits singing because it constitutes falsehood. Singing includes all kinds of lyrics that attribute false things to the other…

Interviewer: Singing is forbidden?!

Hassan Ghandour: Yes. The kind of singing prevalent in our Arab region and even in Europe…

Interviewer: Even among men?

Hassan Ghandour: Yes, even among men. Singing is categorically prohibited. […]

Interviewer: Any Muslim who sings is violating a prohibition?

Hassan Ghandour: Yes, undoubtedly. All the kinds of singing that we encounter on the streets are specifically prohibited.

If the reason for the ban is that the lyrics "attribute false things to the other", then presumably novels and films and plays should also be banned. Anything fictional, anything imaginative: anything, basically, beyond reciting the Koran. 

As Ayatolla Khomeini himself observed:

Allah did not create man so that he could have fun. The aim of creation was for mankind to be put to the test through hardship and prayer. An Islamic regime must be serious in every field. There are no jokes in Islam. There is no humor in Islam. There is no fun in Islam. There can be no fun and joy in whatever is serious. Islam does not allow swimming in the sea and is opposed to radio and television serials.

Even the Archers. Especially the Archers.

Ironically there was a famous Lebanese composer called Hassan Ghandour. His son Issa has followed in his father's footsteps and here – appropriate in this context, I think – is some of his belly-dance music, with singing. The poster himself admits that the accompanying video is "crappy", but there are plenty more to choose from on the right-hand column there, to remind us of the kind of delights that Arab culture was capable of before the joy was crushed out of it by the dead hand of Islamism.