What moves you – Listening to Nasheeds or the Qur’an?

It is an established fact that listening to the so called Islamic anasheed have made today’s generation of Muslims such that he is not moved when he hears or reads Qur’an, but he is moved when he hears nasheeds. Tears roll down a Muslim’s eyes when he listens to some of the nasheeds, but not a drop of it sheds when he recites the mighty words of Allaah, Exalted be He.
And the reason for this is quite simple. Nasheeds have taken a deep root in almost everything done in the name of Islaam, whether it be Islamic videos, concerts, conferences, workshops, or Islamic programs shown on television. Everything has a mix of nasheeds in it. The youngsters have been exposed to listening to these nasheeds from the very childhood and what is sad is that, the same amount of importance was not given to the book of Allaah. This is an alarming sign.
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan (may Allah preserve him) said:
“With regard to what you call Islamic nasheeds, they have been given more time, effort and organisation than they deserve, to the extent that they have become an art form that takes up space in curricula and school activities; people record them and reproduce them in large amounts for sale and distribution, and they fill most homes. Young men and women listen to them to such an extent that they take up a great deal of their time and listening to them takes precedence over recordings of the Holy Qur’an, the Prophet’s Sunnah, lectures and useful academic lessons.”
Source: “al-Bayaan li Akhta’ ba‘d al-Kuttaab”, page 342
Shaykh al-Albaani (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
“I remember full well that when I was in Damascus, two years before I migrated here to ‘Ammaan, some of the Muslim youth started to sing some anaasheed that had sound meanings, intending thereby to counteract the Sufi songs like the Busayri poems and others, and they recorded that on tapes, but soon it was accompanied by beating the duff!
At first they used it in wedding parties, on the basis that the duff is permissible in such parties, then the tapes became widespread and copies were made of them, and they started to be used in many homes, and they started to listen to them day and night, whether there was an occasion or not. That became their way of relaxing.
But that is due only to their whims and desires and their ignorance of the shaytaan’s tricks, so he diverted them from paying attention to the Qur’an and listening to it, let alone studying it, and it became forsaken by them, as it says in the verse: “And the Messenger (Muhammad ??? ???? ???? ????) will say: ‘O my Lord! Verily, my people deserted this Qur’an (neither listened to it nor acted on its laws and teachings)’” [al-Furqaan 25:30].
Source: “Tahreem Alaat al-Tarb”, pages 181-182.
Remember that the Qur’an is the best and most beneficial of speech, and the most moving and the most effective in guiding the soul. Allah, may He be exalted, says:
“Allaah has sent down the Best statement, a Book (this Qur’an), its parts resembling each other (in goodness and truth), and oft-repeated. The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it (when they recite it or hear it). Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allâh. That is the guidance of Allâh. He Guides therewith whom He wills and whomever Allâh sends astray, for him there is no guide” [al-Zumar 39:23]
It is very unfortunate that the one who listens to nasheed a great deal finds it difficult to read Qur’an or even to listen to it; this is something harmful which should not be taken lightly. Even if the harm is only causing him to miss out on a great deal of reward, that is should be sufficient deterrent for the people of faith from becoming attached to nasheeds and always listening to them.
It is well known that if a believer spends an hour reading Qur’an, thousands of hasanaat will be recorded for him, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“Whoever reads one letter of the Book of Allaah will have one hasanah for that, and a hasanah brings a tenfold reward. I do not say that alif-laam-meem is a letter, rather alif is a letter, laam is a letter, meem is a letter.” [Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2910; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.]
One hour is sufficient to read twenty pages of Qur’an, in which there are no less than nine thousand letters.
Make the best use of your time so that you may rise in status. Soon, by Allaah’s leave, you will find delight in reading Qur’an, and the joy of worship and the sweetness of faith, with the words of the Most Merciful.