ابراہیمی مذاہب میں موسیقی کا تصور: مشترکہ اقدار اور فرق

The Concept of Music in Abrahamic Religions: Common Values and Differences

Abstract

This article examines the concept of music within the Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—through a comparative and historical lens. Rooted in monotheistic traditions, music in all three faiths is closely tied to divine praise, spiritual elevation, and communal identity. The study highlights shared values, such as the acknowledgment of music as a means of devotion and emotional refinement, alongside differences that emerge from theological, legal, and historical contexts. Judaism integrates music into liturgy but restricts instrumental use on the Sabbath and after the destruction of the Second Temple; Christianity embraces diverse forms from psalmody and Gregorian chant to polyphony and instrumental hymns, while simultaneously grappling with concerns over sensuality; Islam presents the most contested terrain, where prohibitions on instruments coexist with Sufi practices of samāʿ and devotional nasheeds. The article argues that while music serves as a bridge of spiritual transcendence, differences stem from varying strategies to discipline the senses and avoid idolatry or negligence. In the contemporary era, music emerges as a potential medium for interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding, underscoring its enduring significance in shaping religious identity and modernity.