Music is a form to revere divine
By Dr Aslam Abdullah
CA
Music holds a significant and often sacred place in many world religions. It serves as a medium to enhance worship, express devotion, and create a spiritual connection. Each religion has its traditions, musical forms, and views on music's role in worship and daily practice.
Hinduism
Sacred Chants and Mantras: In Hinduism, music plays a central role in worship and ritual. Mantras, such as the "Om" sound, are believed to resonate with the divine and are often chanted as a form of meditation or prayer.
Bhajans and Kirtans: These are devotional songs performed in temples and gatherings. Bhajans are often solo or small-group songs praising deities, while Kirtans are more interactive, with call-and-response singing accompanied by instruments like harmoniums and tablas.
Classical Music Traditions: Indian classical music, both Hindustani (North Indian) and Carnatic (South Indian), is closely linked to spirituality and has deep roots in Hindu philosophy. Many ragas, or musical scales, are associated with specific deities, times of day, and seasons.
Buddhism
Chanting: Chanting is central to spiritual practice in Buddhism. Buddhists chant sutras and mantras, which serve to calm the mind and bring practitioners closer to enlightenment. Tibetan Buddhism, in particular, is known for its deep, resonant throat chanting.
Instrumental Use: Instruments like the singing bowl, gongs, and bells are commonly used in Buddhist rituals, particularly in Tibetan and Zen Buddhist traditions, to signal the start of meditation and to create a peaceful, focused environment.
Influence on Meditation: Buddhist music is typically slow and meditative, intended to help practitioners achieve a state of mindfulness and inner peace.
Judaism
Sacred Songs and Psalms: Jewish music has ancient roots, especially through the singing of psalms, hymns, and prayers, which are central in synagogue services. Psalms, originally chanted in the Temple in Jerusalem, remain a significant part of Jewish worship.
Cantillation and Prayer: Cantillation involves chanting portions of the Hebrew Bible, especially the Torah, using traditional melodies known as "trope." Cantors lead the congregation in prayer and song, preserving the oral tradition.
Festivals and Celebrations: Music is also important in Jewish life-cycle events and festivals. Klezmer music, for example, originated with the Ashkenazi Jewish communities of Eastern Europe and is associated with joyous occasions like weddings.
Christianity
Hymns and Sacred Music: Hymns are central to Christian worship across denominations. These songs express theological beliefs, tell Biblical stories, and convey emotional devotion. Examples include the Gregorian chants in Catholic tradition and gospel music in Protestant churches.
Choirs and Sacred Composition: The role of choirs and sacred compositions has been significant in Christian history. Composers like Johann Sebastian Bach and Handel created elaborate works (e.g., "The Messiah") that have become staples of Christian sacred music.
Gospel and Contemporary Worship Music: Gospel music, which emerged in African American churches, combines praise with deeply expressive styles and is central to services. In modern churches, contemporary Christian music has gained popularity, often using contemporary instrumentation to appeal to younger generations.
Islam
Qur’anic Recitation (Tajweed): In Islam, the recitation of the Qur’an is a central practice requiring precision and care in pronunciation and melody. It is considered an art form and is performed without instrumental accompaniment.
Nasheeds are Islamic devotional songs that praise Allah, the Prophet Muhammad, or moral teachings. They are typically performed in a cappella or with minimal percussion, as some interpretations of Islam discourage the use of musical instruments.
Sufism and Sama: In the mystical branch of Islam known as Sufism, music (referred to as "sama") is used in spiritual practices to help practitioners experience divine love. The Whirling Dervishes, for example, perform a ritual that includes chanting, instrumental music, and movement to connect with God.
Sikhism
Kirtan and Shabad: In Sikhism, kirtan, or the singing of hymns, is worship. These hymns are drawn from the Guru Granth Sahib (the central Sikh scripture) and sung in ragas, reflecting the influence of classical Indian music.
Instruments: Traditional instruments like the harmonium, tabla, and rabab accompany kirtan in gurdwaras (Sikh temples). Singing shabads (verses) during services is intended to elevate the mind and connect with the divine.
Focus on Equality and Unity: Kirtan emphasizes equality and unity. Everyone in the congregation participates in the singing, breaking down social distinctions in favor of collective devotion.
Indigenous Religions
Nature-Based Spirituality: Many indigenous religions worldwide use music in ceremonies that honor nature and ancestral spirits. Songs often reflect the rhythms and cycles of the natural world and are used in rituals to seek blessings, healing, and protection.
Instruments: Drums, rattles, flutes, and other traditional instruments are standard in indigenous music. For example, Native American ceremonies incorporate drums and chanting, while Aboriginal Australians use the didgeridoo.
Sacred Dances: Music and dance are inseparable in indigenous spirituality. Songs often accompany ritual dances, reinforcing connections with the community and the spiritual world.
Baha'i Faith
Devotional Music and Unity: In the Baha'i Faith, music is seen as a gift from God and a way to foster unity and peace. There is an emphasis on using music to bring people together and promote harmony.
Diverse Cultural Influences: Baha'i communities worldwide draw on their diverse cultures for musical expression, using music in various languages and styles during devotional gatherings to reflect the unity of humanity.
Zoroastrianism
Chanting and Prayer: Zoroastrians use specific forms of chanting for their prayers, often reciting the Gathas—sacred hymns attributed to the Prophet Zoroaster. These chants are sacred for Zoroastrian priests in religious ceremonies.
Fire Temples and Music: Although traditional Zoroastrian rituals do not include music in the way other religions do, chanting is an essential part of worship in fire temples, where priests maintain a sacred fire while chanting verses.
In every religion, music expresses reverence, narrates sacred stories, and creates a shared spiritual experience. Whether through devotional songs, chants, or musical instruments, these traditions showcase the power of music to foster unity, devotion, and transcendence in human spiritual life.
(Dr Aslam Abdullah is a resident scholar at Islamicity.org and editor-in-chief of the Muslim Observer newspaper. He is also the Indian Islamic Heritage Project director of the American Federation of Muslims of Indian origin and the interim President of the World Council of Muslims for Interfaith Relations, WCMIR.)
