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STAMPEDES, tragically, can take place in all manner of circumstances. It could be a religious festival or a musical concert where those attending the festivities sense fear, real or perceived, and try to make a dash for the exits with disastrous consequences. An act of terrorism or even unbridled enthusiasm could also trigger similar results. The fact of the matter is that people can be crushed or suffocated to death in stampedes anywhere. One such incident took place recently in Lahore, where three young women, all of them students, lost their lives in Lahore at a concert at the Alhamra Cultural Complex.
The organisers may be faulted for a disaster that could possibly have been averted through measures aimed at preventing such fatalities. But what did the Punjab Assembly do in response? On Tuesday, the assembly approved a resolution moved by a member of the PML-Q which called for a complete ban on ‘objectionable’ concerts in all public and private educational institutions in Punjab. There are several points to be considered here, and they are not to be taken lightly. One, who gets to define, and on what grounds, the precise meaning of the term ‘objectionable’? Why shouldn’t students, or anyone else for that matter, be allowed to enjoy a concert in a country that offers few avenues for entertainment? Then there is a larger question. Many believe that the move in the provincial assembly has its origins in an ultra-conservative mindset that is simply using the stampede as an excuse to further an ideology of persons of a certain bent. It could also be argued that other parties in the assembly possibly backed the resolution because they did not wish to be seen as condoning ‘objectionable’ behaviour. Banning the right to entertainment makes no sense and we hope better counsel will prevail when it comes to lawmaking.
1. The Prophet (SallAllahu `alayhi wa sallam) said (which means), "From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as lawful. And there will be some people who will stay near the side of a mountain and in the evening their shepherd will come to them with their sheep and ask them for something, but they will say to him, 'Return to us tomorrow.' Allah will destroy them during the night and will let the mountain fall on them, and He will transform the rest of them into monkeys and pigs and they will remain so till the Day of Resurrection." [Al-Bukhari Volume 7, Book 69, Number 494v].
This Hadeeth states that musical instruments are Haram, and there is no disagreement among the scholars on this. In his book, Ighathat Al-Lahfan, Ibn Al-Qayyim (Rahimullah) said, "When the Prophet (SallAllahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, 'render as lawful,' he meant that it was unlawful, then the people made it lawful."
2. Abu Hurayrah (RadiyAllahu`anhu) narrated that the Prophet (SallAllahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, what translated means, group of this nation will be transformed into monkeys and swine." They said, "Do not they testify that there is no god except Allah and that Muhammed is His Messenger?" He said, "Yes. And also they fast pray and perform Hajj." They said, "Then, what is their problem?" He said, "They use musical instruments, drums and female singers. (One day) they will go to sleep after a night of drinking and having fun, In the morning, they will be transformed (by Allah) into monkeys and swine." [Iughathat Al-Lahfan].
So it is a humble request to that dont try to misguide people by saying music is not haram. Remember you have to face Allah on theday of judgement so be prepared for it.
Banning concerts and other such activities are much easier than thinking about as to how to organise such things in a safe manner for the wellfare of the citizens.