Saudi Scholars Agonize over Opera, Concertos, Carmina Burana, and possibly Lady Gaga………
“Riyadh: A majority of the Saudi scholars, whether in the official religious establishment or outside it, are unanimous in their stand against singing and music despite the fact that a huge singing opera is presented every year during the National Cultural and Heritage Festival (Janadriya). A fatwa (religious ruling) issued by Shaikh Adel Al Kalbani, a former imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, in which he claimed that Islam does not forbid singing and music has split Saudi scholars, Islamic thinkers and secularists. "There is no clear-cut religious ruling that says singing and music are not permissible in Islam," Al Kalbani has said. His fatwa shocked many of his supporters and students because he was one of the most fanatical scholars during the 1980s who strongly opposed singing and music. People are astonished by this 180 degrees shift in attitude. A number of Saudi scholars, preachers, men of letters and writers who spoke to Gulf News were divided on the fatwa…….”
So what do these guys listen to in their spare time?
I think it all depends on what the royals want: the shaikhs usually fall in line behind the princes. In exchange for other favors
Cheers
mhg
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