Problematic Thoughts in Islam

The claim that music is unlawful

Ruling Against

“Whoever says that all music is prohibited, let him also claim that the songs of the birds are prohibited”
-Abu Hamed Al Gazzali

The Quran makes no mention of music being forbidden; rather, it says:

16:116 “You shall not utter lies with your own tongues stating: "This is Halal (lawful), and this is Haram (unlawful)," to fabricate lies and attribute them to GOD. Surely, those who fabricate lies and attribute them to GOD will never succeed”

During the time of prophet, it was common to buy singing girls. Some people who bought them would made them sing so loudly, So that Muslims cannot pray. They would purchase them with evil intention of distracting others from the path of Allah.

Often quoted is the Ayah (31:6): But there are some who employ theatrics, only to lead others away from Allah’s Way—without any knowledge—and to make a mockery of it. They will suffer a humiliating punishment.

But theatrics here refer to not music or dances itself, but their use to distract a person from Allah's Way. Even as a secular person, I can see the point in this, because theatrics are often deployed as a tool for deception.

So, this does not include that music itself is haram. But clearly states that using music to mislead from the path of Allah is haram.

Another translation goes like:
31:006 "But there are, among men, those who purchase idle (Arabic: Lahwa-l) tales (Arabic: Hadith), without knowledge, to mislead from the Path of God and throw ridicule (on the Path): for such there will be a Humiliating Penalty"

By this, it looks like the Hadiths are worse than music itself, because music by itself is not prohibited by the Quran, only its misuse is. Also, by the literal translation of Ayah 31:6, it says "idle tales", which more conventionally means "utter nonsense". Hadith can be said to fit this description, as it makes a further interpretation of the Quran, which itself was to be interpreted on its own.

Halal meat

Sikhism has a ruling against consuming Halal meat, and I wondered why because I thought Halal meat was about respecting the animal before consuming it. Rather, I realized it was on the contrary!

Halal meat requires that the throat of the animal be slit, and the blood be drained, however, the spinal cord must not be cut. This is to ensure that the animal is kept alive while it's blood is being removed.

This is horrible!

On the contrary, Sikhism