The "Dancing President", social norms, religious view ...

In the last few days I have been finding myself involved in heated debates with a group of Maldivian friends I have come to make here in Mysore. Most of these debates, I can say are very informative and 'Academic'. Many of these (almost every single) debates start with conversations, that give birth to further topics and so on and on it goes. These heated debates may go on for hours and on occasions there might come a time when we have to 'stop for the night' and 'continue in the morning'. I have really come to enjoy these conversations and meetups though. 

So here on this particular day, one day after President Mohamed Nasheed 'danced' in a what I call a Socio-Political gathering in Thoddu Island Maldives, I happen to be in the sitting room of the place we have come to call 'Colony HQ' with four friends. The conversation began with a recap of the surprise party that took place in the afternoon. From which (I have no idea how it began) we started to talk about the 'dancing president' and how this is classified as an act of 'disrespect, immoral and a total havoc to social norms and values' whatsoever in the country.

Soon the conversation became rather too intense and loud. Arguments seem to sum up to which I suppose everyone agreed that its not actually against the so called 'social norms and values' of the country but it is perhaps against the 'Islamic values and norms'. I for one come to that conclusion.

After I got back home and logged on to Facebook I came across a group that was setup by Hilath called "I think our President is cool for dancing to Boduberu". Later I found myself in the group chat that was going on. Well most of the people chatting there seem to agree that 'Its no big deal', 'Prezii is not that good a dancer anyway', 'who cares', 'there is nothing wrong in dancing', 'whatever ...' 

Next I heard about the Adaalath Party press release on the same issue. Which strongly condemns what they referred to as 'barbaric acts' of the President and senior members of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), disrupting Islamic norms, social morals and leadership ethics. Also it went on to read that they were celebrating the increased membership to the party, including Members of the Parliament, who they say to have been paid handsomely to join MDP and so on it read. It seems that they had never seen any respectable leader (head of state) or senior government members dance on any public TV. 


Then again Adaalath Party is not a state institute nor an independent institute, but a political organization. 

Well ... My view on this issue maybe the least of concern to most of the people. But I guess article 27 allows me to write and say anything as long as it does not contradict any tenet of Islam. So here I go.

For over 800 years Maldives has been an Islamic nation. I believe it is a country that promotes Islam in every way of life and every aspect of being. A country that has a 100% Muslim population, with a constitution laying foundations on Islam. All these long years of our country as a Islamic Nation we still have our common culture and tradition of 'Bodu beru', a form of art very much involving singing and dancing on the sound of beating drums. A cultural form of art that spreads through out the Maldives, appreciated by many, which involves almost everyone, from young to old, the rich and the poor. On most occasions both genders are mixed when it comes to 'Foari' or climax of the dance. 

For long in the Island communities we have kept on the common practice of cultural games like the 'Koadijehun', a game for men and women in which a man is given a ornate hat, Koadi, prepared by women, that he must place in a coconut palm before another man can take his place. These games involve a lot of mixing in gender, (it is custom for the women to bath the man who succeeds in the task to place the hat in the palm), again dancing and more. Yet again these are games that we in the Maldives play as part of our culture and tradition. 

There are music and dance schools in Maldives today. On almost all occasion whether its a national celebration or parties after boys circumcision, music and dance seem to be the most appreciated method of entertainment of social gatherings. whether it be the former President Maumoon Abdul Gayyom or the current President Mohamed Nasheed, this is what we as Maldivians believed to be the common norm or common social norm. 

Recently I came to know from some of my friends that almost all religious scholars in Maldives agree that Music and singing is Haraam or forbidden is Islam. (I am not able to verify this information though). If this is at all the case I do not understand why the Ministry of Islamic Affairs has not issued a Fathwa, an Islamic religious ruling? I believe we have a Fiqh Academy in the Maldives today, why haven't this institute of religious scholars issued a doctrine on this? 

From what I have learned and understood, I come to a conclusion that it is not that Islam prohibits music or dance but its that Islam may not allow mixed gendered music and dance gatherings that may involve men and women to get aroused into a sexual ecstasy. For one thing I am pretty sure the MDP Thoddu gathering did not trigger any ecstasy among the gathered people (so I hope). There are good music and songs which I don't think Islam prohibits. National anthem's, patriotic, national and awareness songs for example I wont say  are prohibited. 


There are limitations for everything, of course. When a singer goes on singing songs supporting and encouraging fornication, violence, abuse and ecstasy now that for sure is not the music any religion will support and it will definitely be prohibited.

There are learned Islamic Scholar through out the world who can tell people about the real Islamic context on such issues of Music, dance and singing. I am not the best person nor the learned one. But I am a person who believes strongly in Islam, Quran and the teaching of our Prophet. 

Here is a video I came across on YouTube where we have the Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz takes part in the traditional Arda dance. 

Here is Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharaf singing at a gathering. 

Here is what one of the renown Islamic Scholar has to say on the issue of Music:

Another view ... :