In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [rahimahullaah] stated regarding the effect of Music upon the souls:

*It is the intoxicant of the souls.

*When the souls are intoxicated with the sounds [from Music and musical instruments], Shirk [gradually] comes to them; they incline towards lewd acts and oppression, and thus they begin to commit Shirk, murder and fornication. These three deeds are present – a lot – amongst the people who listen to music. [Ref 1]

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] said:

“That which we and others have witnessed, and know based on experience, is that indeed musical instruments and instruments used for forbidden amusement do not appear amongst a people, spread amongst them and they busy themselves with it, except that Allaah [allows] their enemy to overcome them, and they are afflicted with famine, drought and evil rulers (ref 2). Therefore, the sensible person reflects on the state of affairs of the world and examines. And Allaah’s Aid is sought! [Ref 3]

Reminder to The Musician Who Belittles Allaah’s Angel Israafeel

Allaah [The Most High] said:

قُلْ مَنْ كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِجِبْرِيلَ فَإِنَّهُ نَزَّلَهُ عَلَى قَلْبِكَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

مَنْ كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِلَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَجِبْرِيلَ وَمِيكَالَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَدُوٌّ لِلْكَافِرِينَ

Say (O Muhammad Peace be upon him ): “Whoever is an enemy to Jibrael (Gabriel) (let him die in his fury), for indeed he has brought it (this Qur’an) down to your heart by Allah’s Permission, confirming what came before it [i.e. the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] and guidance and glad tidings for the believers. “Whoever is an enemy to Allah, His Angels, His Messengers, Jibrael (Gabriel) and Mikael (Michael), then verily, Allah is an enemy to the disbelievers.” [Ref 4]

Israafeel is one of Allaah’s noble angels mentioned specifically in the authentic Sunnah. The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] used to say in a supplication of the night prayer – after Takbeer and before recitation:

اللّهُـمَّ رَبَّ جِـبْرائيل ، وَميكـائيل ، وَإِسْـرافيل، فاطِـرَ السَّمواتِ وَالأَرْض ، عالـِمَ الغَيْـبِ وَالشَّهـادَةِ أَنْـتَ تَحْـكمُ بَيْـنَ عِبـادِكَ فيـما كانوا فيهِ يَخْتَلِفـون. اهدِنـي لِمـا اخْتُـلِفَ فيـهِ مِنَ الْحَـقِّ بِإِذْنِك ، إِنَّـكَ تَهْـدي مَنْ تَشـاءُ إِلى صِراطٍ مُسْتَقـيم

O Allaah! Lord of Jibraa’eel, Meekaa’eel and Israafeel, Creator of the heavens and the Earth, The Knower of the seen and the unseen. You judge  between Your slaves regarding in that which they differ. Guide me to the truth regarding that in which there is differing, by Your Will. Verily, You guide whomever you will to the straight path. [Ref 5]

The scholars say that these creations [i.e. Jibraa’eel, Meekaa’eel, Israafeel, the heavens and the earth] have been specifically mentioned, even though Allaah is the Creator of all the creation, just as has been established in the Qur’aan and authentic Sunnah with regards to the specific mention of every created thing that has a great and mighty status as one of Allaah’s creation, such as the statement, “Lord of the Heavens and the Earth”, “Lord of the Supreme Throne”, “Lord of the Angels and Jibreel”, “The Lord of the two Easts (places of sunrise during early summer and early winter) and the Lord of the two Wests (places of sunset during early summer and early winter)”, “The Lord of Humankind”, “The King of Humankind”, “The Only True God of Humankind”, “The Lord of all Created Things”, “The Lord of the Prophets”, The Creator of the Heavens and the Earth”, “The Originator of the Heavens and the Earth” etc. All these things and what is similar to them shows Allaah’s greatness, All-encompassing Power and absolute Sovereignty. [Ref 6]

In this supplication, one employs the means of seeking Allaah’s [love, aid, pleasure, assistance etc] by way of belief and affirmation that He is the Lord – in general and specific – of these three Angels, who have been given a means of giving life. Jibra’eel is given the responsibility to convey the revelation [to the Prophets] by way of which the hearts and souls are given that type of life which necessitates the presence of sound belief in the heart that leads to all righteous deeds. Meekaa’eel is given the responsibility to bring the rain by way of which the earth, the vegetation and animals are given life, and Israafeel is given the responsibility to blow the trumpet by way of which the creation are resurrected after their death. Also employing the means of seeking Allaah’s [love, aid, assistance, pleasure etc] by way of belief and affirmation that Allaah alone is the Originator of the heavens and earth, meaning, He is their Creator and the one who brought them into existence prior to their non-existence, and that He is the knower of the unseen and the seen- meaning, the hidden and apparent, and due to the fact that He alone is the One Who judges between the servants in that which they differ, so that He guides you to the truth in that which they differ.

As for guidance, it is knowledge of the truth together with having the intent to follow the truth, and preferring it over other things. The guided person is that one who acts upon the truth and desires it, and it is the Greatest blessing of Allaah bestowed on the servants. We ask Allaah to guide us all to the straight path and grant us every good. [Ref 7]

Abu Hurayrah [radiyallaahu-anhu] said, “The Messenger of Allaah [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said, ‘The gaze of the one who will blow the Trumpet has been fixed since he was entrusted with it, looking towards the throne, ready (to blow it), in case he will be commanded to do so before he blinks, as if his eyes are two shining stars’”. [Ref 8]

May Allaah protect us from disbelief, sin and transgression Aameen.

[Ref 1: Majmoo Al-Fataawaa 10/417]

Ref 2: Can the tyranny of the rulers be a justification for rebellion?!

The Tyranny Of The Rulers, A Reason For Rebellion?

Regarding the Origins and Nature of The Tyranny and Oppression of the Rulers:

http://www.islamagainstextremism.com/articles/gtrea-regarding-the-origins-and-nature-of-the-tyranny-and-oppression-of-the-rulers.cfm

[Ref 3: Madaarij As-Saalikeen 1/500]

[Ref 4: Surah Al-Baqarah. Aayaat 97-98]

[Ref 5: Saheeh Muslim 770. Slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 6: Sharh Saheeh Muslim 5/50]

[Ref 7: Fiqh Al-Ad’iyah Wal Ad’kaar 3/139-140. By Shaikh Abdur Razzaaq Al-Badr (hafidhahullaah). Slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 8: Silsilah As-Saheehah. Number 1078]