HALAL CALLING THE TUNE

I’m not sure if you heard about this to some shocking headline of late from Iran?

Iran broadcaster breaks rule over musical instruments played on TV

A morning program dared to show musicians playing traditional Persian instruments live on breakfast TV.

The Islamic republic of Iran broadcasting (IRIB) tolerates non-western music, and singers are regular guests there, but musical instruments have been band there for more than three decades.

Normally when bands are on TV there, only the singer can be seen. The musicians, they are back stage or hidden behind flowers or plants.  never shown    

As this band started to play in front of the camera, people at home started to take photos of their television screens in disbelief.

But the program makers said that it had been a mistake for ten seconds, the instruments were shown. I read this interesting news article.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all state matters, is skeptical of music and advises against practicing or teaching it in the country. "Although music is halal, promoting and teaching it is not compatible with the highest values of the sacred regime of the Islamic Republic,"

So what is halal?

It is an Arabic word which means permissible.

Halal meat is Permissible to Islamic law.

The meat can not be a cut from an animal’s hind quarters or pork.

The poor animal must be slaughtered when its heart is still beating and a Muslim must be at presence when the killing is occurring.

They slit the throat and the animal is hung upside down to drain all blood. As blood is not halal

So getting back to the story about musical instruments being shown live on Television, I never knew of such a fact as this article, did you?

OK, I get that it would be wrong to show certain dancers or moves. But an instrument?