Dr Charlene TanNational Institute of Edu-

cation Nanyang Technolog-ical University

Singapore

DIFFERENT WAYS OF

LISTENING TO ISLAMIC

POP MUSIC IN ASIA

• Principal investigator of a research project on Islamic education in Singapore•Author of ‘Islamic Education and Indoctrination: The Case in Indonesia’ (Routledge, 2011)

•Acknowledgement: Thanks to Ms Diwi Binti Abbas for her research assistance.

A note on my personal interest on this topic

Objective of Presentation

•This presentation focuses on a new music phenomenon that is gaining popularity in Asia: Islamic pop mu-sic. •It highlights the disparate ways of listening to Islamic pop music in Asia.

Introduction to Islam in Asia

• Islam was first introduced to Asia in the 7th century in Northeast India.• Islam was spread to Southeast Asia around the 14th century by Arab and Indian traders. •The bulk of the world’s 1.57 billion Muslims are located in Asia (62 percent).• Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world ( 203 million Muslims), accounting for 80% of all Muslims in Southeast Asia. •Most Muslims in South and South-east Asia are Sunni Muslims belonging to Hanafi and Shafi’i schools of law.

What is Islamic Pop Music?

•Nasyid (literally ‘chanting’) = Islamic music•This type of music incorporates verses from the Qur’an and Islamic prayers into contemporary and catchy tunes. • Islamic groups such as Raihan have become very popular in countries such as Malaysia and Singapore, selling many albums and winning music awards. •The prospects of Islamic pop music appear strong, with many music companies competing to launch new boy and girl bands, and Islamist political parties such as PAS party in Malaysia opening supporting these groups.

• Example 1: Raihan (Malaysia)• The group’s name means ‘Fragrance of Heaven’, formed in 1996• Very popular in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.•MTV: ‘İtiraf’• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F07G6hQbHH0&feature=related• Example 2: Maher Zain, Muslim Swedish singer• Very popular in Malaysia and Indonesia•MTV: ‘Insha Allah’• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfXIF2Mm2Kc&feature=relmfu• Example 3: Permata Female Nasheed Group - Lihat Dengar Rasakan (Indonesia)• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JJUWHeHwWU

Different Views on Islamic Pop Music

•But Islamic pop music has triggered disagreements and debates among Muslims. •On the one hand, supporters of such music argue that listening to Islamic pop music helps Muslims in their - religious devotion and growth,- values inculcation, and - proselytisation, especially for the young

generation.

Different Views on Islamic Pop Music

•On the other hand, detractors object to listening to Islamic pop music as they believe that it is - inappropriate,- disrespectful and - even blasphemous to quote Qu’ranic

verses in pop music and ‘commercialise’ their faith through popular culture.

Different Views on Islamic Pop Music

•Some conservative Muslims also disapprove of female performers - revealing their faces and - appearing in public without being

accompanied by their male relatives.

•The disparate ways of listening to Islamic pop music in Asia illustrates:- the blurring of boundary between the sacred and secular, illustrated through the (uneasy) relationship between religion and popular culture.

Different Views on Islamic Pop Music

• Those who interpret ‘secular’ as non-religious believe that the world and all of its contents are God’s creations. • There is no distinction between ‘sacred’ and ‘secular’. • Muslims are free to use the world’s resources to promote the faith.• Hence Islamic pop music is helpful for religious

devotion and growth, values inculcation, and proselytisation.

Meaning of ‘secular’: non-religious or anti-religious?

• Those who interpret ‘secular’ as anti-religious believe that Muslims should avoid all things that are ‘worldly’ and ‘unIslamic’. • Many in this group wish to purify Islam by returning to what was practised during the Prophet Muhammad’s time.•Hence Islamic pop music is unacceptable it is perceived to be inappropriate, disrespectful and even blasphemous.

Meaning of ‘secular’: non-religious or anti-religious?

•The disparate ways of listening to Islamic pop music in Asia illustrates:- the diversity of and ongoing debates among Islamic traditions and schools of thoughts in Asia. - Shafi’i school of law (strong sufi influence) versus Hanbali/Wahhabi school- The disagreements are reflected in all aspects

of the Muslim daily lives, such as type of mu-sic, attire, schooling, relationship with non-Muslims etc.

Different Views on Islamic Pop Music