hanifa_g

Bruce Springsteen

Date: 29 Mar 2008, 4:27 pm / Mood: Other/None


peace. brothers, and sisters, i realize that many of us consider most forms of musical expression to be haram. however, i would like to mention Bruce Springsteen here, as an often unnoticed bridge to Muslims and a man of peace.



unlike many american songs written in response to 9/11, his song "The Rising" was not composed out of vengence or deaf and proud patriotism, but is a song allowing for grief, hope, and peace unilaterally. it is remarkably beautiful, and stirring.



his song "Worlds Apart" can be interpreted as describing, in metaphorically romantic laguage, the torn and tragic relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims after 9/11, and calls for reconciliation, and freedom from the barriers can that divide any "two worlds"



" Down from the mountain road where the highway rolls to dark

'Neath Allah's blessed rain we remain worlds apart...

May the living let us in before the dead tear us apart"



his song "Devils and Dust" holds a quiet, sad, and compassionately critical light to the US war in Iraq, and grieves the effects of fighting and killing, even "on God's side", on the human soul.



masha'allah. i admire Bruce a lot, as a musician, a man of peace, and as one who allows his music to be a bridge for ideas, cultures, and voices to move freely and meet. alhamdulillah, the guy has a compassionate heart, a wonderfully pensive, creative mind, and a stirring voice.



if you don't listen to music or only listen to nasheeds, at least brothers and sisters, be aware that the Boss is out there, and that he does speak for peace, dialogue, and hope. and that sometimes he does so in words that our hearts, especially, can respond to.











Maj (04 Apr 2008, 12:41 pm):
he just wants to make money and entertain really..any gimic for a quick dollar.

hanifa_g (30 Mar 2008, 10:29 pm):
oh yeah! good old Yusef Islam. such a beautiful voice he has. another awesome artist. thank you, brother. it's a great relief to see musicians using music for God's cause.

"A is for Allah, nothing but Allah..."

slave1428 (30 Mar 2008, 3:41 pm):
wow! a real artist finally doing his job! and don't forget good ole Cat Stevens who has been on our side for some time now. morning has broken, like the first morning. blackbird has spoken, like the first word...

hanifa_g (30 Mar 2008, 2:09 am):
brother- i hear you. music used to be awesome, and powerful. Springsteen was played a lot around me when i was little. his music is all kind of styles, but it's always good, imo. God willing brother, more will be able to listen to music and consider peace and empathy as options. and may our kids be able to walk away from the electronic toys, too. i really don;t like video games myself... they're lousy for kids.

Abufalah (29 Mar 2008, 6:24 pm):
u made my old days come back to my mind one of my favirote of his songs in 1984 when I was 14 years old is dancing in the dark it reach no 2  in the UK chart in the the US Billboard chart no 1 for 5 week maybe more I don't remember.  everyday pass u will feel this life is faked and full of liars and the good one is like a flower between bad grass soon will die , Springsteen, Bob Geldof, Simon & Garfincal, Simple mind, John Denver.......

Abufalah (29 Mar 2008, 5:40 pm):
 

Sister I remember many bands before the Kuwait war in 1990 or 91 they r in a big ship sealing around the world singing give the peace a chance by the Beatles & no one listen to them cause arms and power is more powerful than music and war happened and the language of peace no ear can listen to it these days look at the media it made the radicals famous more than anything and I think the people of the world become more & more radical because of the media look at our children what video game they r playing with & nowadays no one see the movie Toys by Robin Williams .....unfortunately. I am sorry for my optimistic opinion, but this is what I see only blood, & guns, is the flag that united the world