Is Music a gift from God?

salman_s wrote: Angel wrote: salman_s wrote: Angel wrote: So why wouldn't music be something to understanding the creator? music is not the thing that should be used to understand the Creator (Allah). to understand the Creator, Allah has revealed the glorious Qur'an to the final prophet of Allah, that is, Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The Qur'an is a book full of guidance to mankind from the Lord of the alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).  and all of mankind has been ordered by Allah to believe in Allah, to worship Allah (alone), to believe in the Qur'an which has been revealed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and to follow the commandments of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Angel wrote: Birds sing and make songs, which can be musical in itself, I guess birds aren't honouring the creator   ofcourse , birds do celebrate the praises of their Creator (Allah). all that is in the heavens and on the earth and all that is between them celebrate the praises of their Creator. Allah is not in need of his creation, but the creation is in need of Allah. The scriptures don't help me personally to understand the creator, give me science, give me creative stuff like music, the world around us, people and at this moment can't think of any more Scriptures to me is only one part of so many things to understand the creator angel, Allah has mentioned in the Qur'an that the life of this world is a comfort of illusion. this world is nothing. Allah has also revealed in the Qur'an in Chapter Ar-Rahman (The Most Gracious) Whatever is there, everything will perish! And the face of your Lord full of majesty and honour will remain forever ! Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye (both classes of jinn and men) deny ?       i don't remember the verse number. so for understanding The Creator, don't go for worldly things. this life is temporary. for understanding the Creator, Allah has revealed the Qur'an to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and also Allah has also revealed in the Qur'an many scientific facts regarding the creation of universe how it was created, how it will decay, regarding life and death, regarding minute details of paradise and hell and many such other things which makes us ponder over the might and glory of Allah. angel, i suggest that you go through the translation of the Qur'an atleast once.

also angel, i want to say that Allah has kept his signs and proofs in the creation of this verse itself. so yes you can understand the Creator by looking at this world, what he has created, but not by music, and music is a thing which creates the desire for this world, and we muslims have been told by Allah that you should have the desire for the hereafter as the life of the hereafter is everlasting whereas the present life is temporary as i have already mentioned above.

and ponder over Allah's creations by making reference to the Qur'an -

Allah says in the Qur'an how Allah has spread the earth for His creatures, and He has set the mountains firm, and He has given sleep to us as a rest, and how the night and day follow ach other, the night is when we rest, the day is when we work.

Allah says in the Qur'an in Chapter Ya-Sin  Neither the sun overtakes the moon nor the night outstrips the day. They all float in an orbit (by the will of Allah)      

Allah can be best understood by referring to His word and that is The Qur'an. so i really would want you to go through the translation of the Qur'an atleast once. insha Allah

�The seven heavens and the earth, and all beings therein, declare His glory: there is not a thing but celebrates His praise; And yet ye understand not how they declare His glory! Verily He is Oft-Forbear, Most Forgiving!�  (Quran, Al-Isra, 17: 44).

The verse does not mention God by name, it says He. So it means whoever created these things, they glorify Him. So we start investigating the creation. In the way things are created, they glorify God. This verse is claiming that things themselves provide the proof to us. If we study an atom or a molecule, we will find that their Creator is Absolute. They glorify God with their tongue of disposition; by showing us how they are so perfectly created. Quran is teaching me how I should approach the creation, rather than how things are. Study a creation, and understand who can bring it into existence. Study an atom and understand that it requires absolute wisdom and knowledge to come into existence. This is how the heavens, the earth and all in them glorify God as if they were conscious. From our perspective, and for us to get to know God, this is what God is drawing our attention to.

Obviously I enjoy reading the Psalms.  They have a splendid melody to me.  I also am deeply enriched by the Gregorian Chants.  We have a song in church called "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation"....which is yet another beautiful song of praise to God.  One of the most beautiful and touching songs (imo) as a Catholic is the Ave Maria which is sung to honor the virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. 

I believe, as I've stated before I think, that the classical compositions are a touch of heaven here on earth.  I believe God gave these talents to certain individuals, just as he gave us many people with extraordinary talents, such as artists, physicians, scientists, religious scholars, etc.  We all have certain talents.  Many times we have talents we don't realize we have, but we should use whatever talents we do have all for the glory of God.  If we are good at talking with, or visiting those who are hurting, either physically or emotionally, then we should do that.  Helping others is one of the greatest talents of all (imo).