The Banning of Music and Imagery in Islam: Art and Expression Under Siege

Introduction: A Religion at War with Art

Islam is often presented as a religion that values beauty and creativity, but the reality is far more restrictive. For centuries, orthodox Islamic scholars have condemned music, sculpture, and imagery as sinful. In many Muslim-majority countries, these bans are enforced by religious authorities, leading to the censorship of artistic expression, the destruction of cultural heritage, and the suppression of human creativity.

This post will explore the religious foundations of Islam’s hostility to music and imagery, the historical suppression of art in the Muslim world, and the ongoing impact of these bans in the modern era.

1. The Religious Foundations of the Ban: Quran, Hadith, and Islamic Jurisprudence

1.1. The Quran’s Ambiguity: Silent but Interpreted

The Quran itself is mostly silent on the issue of music and imagery.
However, Islamic scholars have derived prohibitions from specific verses:
- Quran 31:6:
  - "And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks to mislead others from the path of Allah without knowledge..."
  - Many Islamic scholars interpret "idle talks" as a reference to music and entertainment.
- Quran 21:52:
  - "When he said to his father and his people, 'What are these images to which you are devoted?'"
  - This verse, describing Abraham condemning idol worship, has been used to justify the prohibition of imagery.

1.2. Hadith: The Direct Condemnation of Music and Imagery

The strongest prohibitions against music and imagery come from the Hadith (sayings of Muhammad):
- Sahih Bukhari 5590:
  - "There will be among my followers people who will consider as permissible illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks, and the use of musical instruments..."
- Sahih Muslim 2113:
  - "The most severely punished people on the Day of Resurrection will be those who try to imitate God by creating images."
- Sunan Abu Dawood 4928:
  - "Every image-maker will be in Hell. For every image he made, a soul will be created for him, and he will be punished in Hell."
These Hadiths have been used by Islamic scholars to declare music, sculpture, and even photography as sinful.

1.3. The Consensus of Islamic Scholars (Ijma)

The four major Sunni schools of jurisprudence (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali) have traditionally held that:
- Music is haram (forbidden) because it distracts from the worship of Allah.
- Sculptures and paintings of living beings are haram because they are seen as a form of idolatry.
- Even photography has been condemned by some scholars as a modern form of image-making.

2. The Destruction of Artistic Heritage: A History of Iconoclasm

2.1. The Early Caliphates: The Destruction of Statues and Idols

In the early Islamic conquests, Muslim armies destroyed the religious imagery of the lands they conquered:
- The Kaaba in Mecca, once filled with pagan idols, was purged by Muhammad and his followers in 630 AD.
- In Persia, Zoroastrian temples were destroyed, and their sacred fire altars were extinguished.
- In Egypt, Christian icons and statues were destroyed as Muslim armies conquered the region.

2.2. The Ottoman Empire: A Limited Exception

The Ottoman Empire (1299–1922) is often presented as a tolerant Islamic state, but even here, religious imagery was restricted:
- The Hagia Sophia, originally a Christian cathedral, was converted into a mosque, and its Christian mosaics were covered or destroyed.
- Ottoman mosques were decorated with geometric designs and calligraphy, but images of living beings were strictly forbidden.
- Music was tolerated in Ottoman courts, but this was a political decision, not a religious one.

2.3. The Destruction of Buddhist Heritage in Afghanistan

One of the most infamous examples of Islamic iconoclasm occurred in 2001 when the Taliban destroyed the Bamiyan Buddhas, two massive statues carved into a cliffside in Afghanistan:
- The Taliban declared the statues "idols" and used explosives to destroy them.
- This act of destruction was justified using the Hadith prohibiting images.
The international outcry did nothing to prevent the destruction, which became a symbol of Islamic hostility to cultural heritage.

3. The Suppression of Music: Silencing the Soul

3.1. The Religious Justification for Banning Music

Orthodox Islamic scholars have condemned music as haram (forbidden) for a variety of reasons:
- It is seen as a distraction from the worship of Allah.
- It is believed to encourage sinful behavior.
- Some scholars claim that musical instruments were condemned by Muhammad himself (Sahih Bukhari 5590).
In many Muslim-majority countries, these religious rulings are enforced by the state:
- Saudi Arabia: Music was banned for decades under strict Wahhabi doctrine.
- Afghanistan: The Taliban banned all music during their rule (1996–2001, 2021–present).
- Iran: Although not completely banned, music is heavily censored, and female musicians are often prohibited from performing publicly.

3.2. The Persecution of Musicians and Artists

Throughout Islamic history, musicians and artists who challenged religious orthodoxy have been persecuted:
- Al-Farabi (872–950): A Muslim philosopher and musician who was condemned by religious scholars for promoting music.
- Omar Khayyam (1048–1131): A Persian poet whose love for wine, music, and poetry was seen as a rebellion against religious orthodoxy.
- Female Singers in Saudi Arabia: Women are forbidden from performing music publicly, and female singers are shunned or persecuted.

4. The Modern War on Art: Censorship in the Muslim World

4.1. The Banning of Music and Imagery in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, under Wahhabi doctrine, banned all forms of music and imagery for decades:
- Public concerts were forbidden.
- Artists were prevented from creating images of living beings.
- Photography was discouraged as a form of image-making.
Although some restrictions have been lifted under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, religious scholars still condemn music as sinful.

4.2. The Taliban’s War on Music in Afghanistan

The Taliban (1996–2001, 2021–present) banned all forms of music:
- Musical instruments were destroyed.
- Singers were arrested or executed.
- Wedding celebrations were raided, and musicians were beaten.

4.3. Iran’s Censorship of Music and Imagery

In Iran, music and art are heavily censored:
- Women are forbidden from singing in public.
- Concerts are monitored by religious authorities, and "immoral" music is banned.
- Artists who create images of living beings are subject to religious scrutiny.

5. The Destruction of Imagination: Why Islam Fears Art

5.1. The Fear of Idolatry: The Shadow of Paganism

Islamic hostility to imagery is rooted in the fear of idolatry:
- Muhammad’s destruction of the idols in the Kaaba is seen as a defining moment of Islamic history.
- Religious scholars fear that any image of a living being could become an object of worship.
This fear has led to the destruction of countless works of art and the suppression of human creativity.

5.2. The Fear of Free Expression

Music, painting, and sculpture are forms of self-expression — but self-expression is dangerous to religious orthodoxy.
Art encourages critical thinking, imagination, and emotional exploration, which can lead to doubt.
For orthodox Islam, doubt is a threat because it can lead to disbelief.

6. Conclusion: A Religion at War with Beauty

Islamic doctrine’s hostility to music, sculpture, and imagery has transformed the Muslim world from a civilization of artistic diversity to a desert of dogma. From the destruction of ancient statues to the censorship of modern music, Islamic orthodoxy has waged a relentless war on human creativity.

For those who value freedom of expression, the Islamic prohibition of music and imagery is not just a restriction on art — it is a restriction on the human soul.

Refuting Islam

Thursday, May 8, 2025