Select portions of “Halal Mix Tape Vol. 1“, featured in Lota Pani Pictures’ “Gandaghee (Dirty)” 2004 DVD release.
Also features an EXCLUSIVE performance of “Sunnahback”, from the forthcoming “Halal Mix Tape Vol. 2″ to be featured on the Fall 2008 DVD release of “Gandaghee 2: Return of the Lota”
Performed live at the 2008 MSA National East Zone USA Conference entertainment session on April 5th, 2008 in Newark, NJ.
61 Responses for "“I’m Bringing Sunnah Back” – Halal Mix Tape LIVE at EZ 2008"
Is the DVD still available for purchase?
lol may Allah guide you guys. ameen.
Asalamalykum..
All thou i enjoyed whatching it. I really dont believe this is anyway of bring the sunnah back.
These brothers have some talent, and i dont believe it should be used doing haraam like this.
To hear sisters singing and all that! I ask Allah swt to bring the deen back to the way it used to be.
May Allah guide me and us all ameen
Stony Brook was so WEAK!
not only haraam but Muslims mmm how do I say it suck at partying, lol!
HAHA… thats too funny man.
Jookes jookes….
el oh el
Yeah the brothers were weak. Surprising and shockingly the sisters were louder. Didn’t expect that.
I was there and I don’t recall any sisters singing except screaming and yelling. A brother went up right before the lecture and discussed the proper adab during the entertainment session. Unfortunately Muslims fail to listen. Islam is perfect, Muslims are not.
May Allah (swt) forgive us and guide us all.
One thing I love about this brothers is that the entire move and album of songs don’t contain any music at all. No instruments, no drums. It’s all vocal and beat boxing coming from the mouth. Finally some 100% halal hip hop.
bad sisters
bad sisters
shame on you
Girls will be girls.
And I think it’s the whole atmosphere of Muslim comedy/entertainment (not to mention the haraam-inspired tracks) all end up making Muslims very loose.
And MR, if the sisters are getting too rowdy, man up next time, in the middle of the thing and tell them to chill out and quiet down. If you wanna do it halaal–YOU are going to have to enforce it. Not only do the sisters make themselves look bad–but it ruins the entire song.
I’ll stress that point again.
MR and your crew should take responsibility to make sure this does not get out of hand.
Don’t act helpless like “What can we do?!” because YOU are the one in control here so if it is getting out of hand…stop it and set a good example for it.
I’m wondering how your fiancee reacted to the sisters cheering. LOL
you lazy muslims you better get on track…HOTNESS maan…but still BIG astaghfirullah, seems like Muslimoon partying…not at all nice….
I wasn’t doing much. They were cheering for the other two.
InshaAllah next time, we’ll yell at the Sisters on behalf of Dawud Israel.
Great point bro Yusuf, MR walahualim if you have ear problems but i can hear sister more then the bros!
Also how is it halal the means they use are haraam:S dont make sense.
Your right islam is perfect and people are the cause of making islam look like something else!
If people say this is halal then im going to faint!! for sure… its like saying im going to a club to give dawah…
well this kind of halal remix 2 looks like one:D
At the end of the day we will have to face Allah swt
May Allah forgive me and you.
The internet has haram, but Muslims use the internet for good. The original lyrics were haram, but the brothers changed it for good. What is the difference? The TV has a lot of haram, but Islamic TV channels use it for good. What is the difference?
MR, the method itself is not according to the Sunnah, and for you to call this “I’m Bringing Sunnah Back,” Which sunnah exactly are you trying to bring back? I don’t know of any instance in the sunnah that the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam was rapping. Wallahu alem.
Do you think at the end of the day people are going to be like “WOW, this rapping made me want to be a better Muslim!”
You may say “well something like soccer, doesnt bring people closer to Allah” Soccer is something mubah, it could be used for entertainment. However, soemthing like rapping is really imitating the Kuffar, not only kuffar but the trashiest of the kuffar. WAllahi even in my media classes they talk about how Music Videos, and Rappers they are trashy and they know its their “Guilty pleasure” but they know that’s not reality and that it’s just that, Entertainment.
Why would we want to imitate the trashiest of people? If you go back to your fitrah, and ask yourself .. is this closer to Halal or Haram.. what will your fitrah tell you?
Wallahu alem. Forget the fact that some sisters have no hiyaa, the action itself is not right.
I know the sunnah of poetry battles, which is very similar to rapping today. Spoken word poetry is a form rapping.
Anyways the main intention of the songs and lyrics were for halal entertainment purposes. The video and the songs are NOT suppose to teach you aqeedah, fiqh, tasawwuf, all in 30 seconds. It was simple made to make brothers and sisters smile.
That is why it was called the ‘entertainment session’.
My personal sole intention for participating with these brothers was to provide a halal type of entertainment that is within the popular trends of the youth.
And yes during the time of the Prophet (saas) and the salaf they entertained themselves in similar ways of poetry battles or rapping. Although it was probably not mixed.
May Allah (swt) forgive me if I have said anything wrong and done anything wrong. Ameen!
May Allah (swt) guide us all!. Ameen!
The rapping that was used is allowed under Islam. After consulting with several reputable sheikhs, rapping is not considered imitating the kuffar because you are doing something that was done at the time of the Prophet as well you are reciting poetry. You might be reciting it fast which could be considered imitating the kuffar but the hadith of imitating the kuffar does not apply in this instance because we are not imitating them. There was NO music played, the lyrics were not the same and were more Islamic. As for the comment about the sisters having no hiyya, I think it is incredibly irresponsible of you to make that assertion. What if only 3-5 of the sisters of the 100+ there were loud? this wouldm make your comment not correct.
Sorry I couldn’t see at the end of the comment. It is important to be careful of what we say because we would not want to offend anyone. And like you said Allahu-alim. Just some thoughts..
- http://www.musliminamerica.org
Entertainment Sessions always cause problems….Subhan knows what im talkin about
lol please tell me who these reputable sheiookh are. Saying that the sahaba rapped.. poetry is different than rapping. and who had the best poetry wasnt like a face off like in your face freestyle rap..
The problem is that people try to provide halal alternatives for entertainment, but the alternatives arent even halal!
Please dont speak out of stereotypes and bullshit that you see and hear. Rap was originally a form of poetry….
Read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rap
saying rapping has nothing to do with poetry is like saying islam has nothing to do with politics
rapping is poetry. even the commercial rap that is crap has a poetic flow.
btw your teacher imam suhaib webb who is an almaghrib scholar is an advisor for the brothers in the above video. also many of almaghrib videos contain ‘hip hop songs’ (the beat boxing beats). yes they represent hip hop songs whether you like it or not.
but one thing is for sure, sisters need to calm down.
LOL wow, yeah i’m really going to listen to someone who had no adaab whatsoever in speaking.
seriously, if you want someone to listen to your point… speak intelligently and with manners. just a tip.
I’m writing a book about persuasion according to the sunnah, i’ll send it to your for free when i;m done, you definitely need it.
However, If you want to prove a point, dont give me a wiki article which doesnt even prove anything.. show me something from the SUNNAH to prove that this was something the sahabah used to do….
Rap may be a form of “modern day trash” poetry…. but seriously, imagine getting on stage rapping like that in front of the sahabah or Rasool Allah salallahu alayhi wa sallam..SUBHANALLAH. if you really think about that and wouldnt feel ashamed in that situation then subhanallah may Allah guide you.
and to even FURTHER that, spoken word poetry evolved into rap.. they are rapping in this video, thus not calling it even poetry…. please .. i think you get the point.
however, please give people respect when talking to them and leave out your filthy curse words that you get from filthy rap songs, K? thanks. Jazak allah khair.
wow i’m really surprised at the lack of manners. are you secretly like 10 years old? May Allah guide you. You know I write columns for a Non-Muslim audience in my campus paper. They too like to use the personal attacks with their childish name-calling. It’s sad that you imitate the kuffar even in that, “Loser.”AKA Haqq (yeah that’s right, if you’re going to make another post with a different name, perhaps you should change the URL you use when you submit a comment, just sayin’ ”
My teacher Suhaib Webb? with all due respect to him. My Teacher is Sheikh Majdy Wardah, one of the few scholars in this country. A student of Sheikh Al Albaani, ibn Uthaymeen, Sheikh Abdur-razak Al afifi and sheikh Bin Baaz. Perhaps you want to read what THEY have to say about it.
Also with the almaghrib trailers, who said I agree with the beat boxing. I’ve spoken to the brother who’s made the videos about it, and made it clear that I dont agree with it. He too isnt crazy about it, and has said that if anyone asks him he’d direct them to listen to Quran. Doesnt make those beats halal, but even HE understands that it falls in the grey area.
Seriously brother, if you want to respond learn proper adaab first in speaking with your brothers and sisters.
Bismillah, I’d like to begin by praising Allah for he has knowledge of all things.
It is not productive for us to be speaking to each other as we are. We disagree on a number of issues and let’s keep it that way at a disagreement. Scholars don’t always agree on everything and as far as I can tell none of us are scholars so we will disagree on things as well. I think we all need to calm down a bit and refer back to the Sunnah. We the Prophet (S) had a disagreement with someone, he didn’t call the other person names, or curse or try to demean the person, he made them understand and told them the message. We need to understand that there will be disagreements but at the end of the day we are all MUSLIM and are brothers. May Allah guide us all and guide us to the straight path.. Ameen.
- http://www.musliminamerica.org
Sometimes you need to just stop for one second, just stop everything. And think use your mind that Allah (swt) has blessed you with. You’ve put yourself into this bubble that you dont even think anymore. Everything in life isnt written down – you go through trials and tribulations that is when you find your true self. Thus finding the answer to most of life’s questions.
I dont get it… if you can get youths attention and teach them more through the means of hip hop, why not? …Why are you against the spreading of knowledge? Why are you against ilm?
Just listen to this and be honest whats your reaction?
http://tinyurl.com/4hnkkc
Oh yeah sorry for my profanity, didn’t think that word was a big deal…
the prophet sal Allaahu 3layhi wasSalaam said “If you knew that which I know you would laugh little and weep much.”
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YrwbblKaDJ0
Ok maybe rap is originated from poetry, that however makes just as correct as shirk because that spun of of Allah’s deen, because man tried to trick themselves into thinking it was ok. Just like you are doing now. One person said imagine doing that in front of Muhammad pbuh or any of the sahaba, if you think you could do that then you need to connect yourself to the messenger through his ahadith and the quran….some of the sahaba would probably beet you down, no joke..And not try to offend anyone but the truth needs to be pointed out wether we like it or not. no hard feelings against any of ya. peace
I’m having 2nd thoughts on my comment… I think it came off too strong and some people may take it and understand it different to what I meant to say.
Forgive me if I have said anything to hurt or misguide you.
Astrughfrillah.
Asalaam Alaikum.
Actually Haqq and Loser are two different people unless Haqq magically transported couple thousand miles to Loser’s location.
Ok, I was wrong. But my statement still stands. Learn how to speak with Adaab. Br. Haqq, jazak Allah khair for your apology. May Allah reward you for your sincerity. ameen
This Hadith is almost always quoted incompletely. The Prophet, Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam, said this to a group of his Companions when he happened upon them while they were laughing. He then left. The rest of the Hadith states that Jibreel then came to the Prophet, Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam, and chided him by saying “Allah asks you, ‘Why do you make My Servants Despair’” The Prophet, Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam, then returned to his Companions and said “Give good news, guide people and draw near to one another.”
Also, Sister Shirien, anytime someone doesn’t fill in a website when leaving a comment (which most people seem not to), it puts “http://yourwebsiteorblog/” so that in itself isn’t really proof that Haqq and Loser are the same person.
As far as the performance itself and whether it constitues Taqleed, Allahu A3lam. But it seems like rap is just a way of speaking. It’s the content itself that is either positive or negative. My mom paints Islamic art and calligraphy on ceramics using China paints, which presumably is not a “traditionally Islamic” medium. Is this Haram or Taqleed? Again, Allahu A3lam, but it doesn’t seem like it. The fact that there are other those who rap with filthy lyrics does not make the brothers accountable for that. You can just as easily have poetry with dirty lyrics and everyone here seems to agree that poetry is ok.
As I said before, Allah Knows Best and may He Guide us to it. I enjoyed the video and the original Halal Mix Tape and wish the best for the brothers, Insha’Allah.
I just want to say! if you want say anything give daeel otherwise keep quiet.
I would love to know who these ulema are Shaikh Nur ha meem keller did any amazing talk about rapping and singing how its not halal.
Also Abu Khadeejah did called music a means of dawah.
I know in my heart singing rapping like THIS! will not bring people back to the way of the sunnah.
Maybe if you drop the back beats and did it like that it would be good!
May Allah guide us all before its to late!
Again, that goes back to my soccer analogy. Art is something found in every country in the world. Rap, is something known from the west, from the kuffar, and is associated with the trashy part of society.
again I ask you, if you were to stand in front of Rasool Allah salallahu alayhi wa sallam and say that this is halal, or actually stand up there and rap. What do you think his (salallahu alayhi wa sallam’s) response would be?
It’s really as simple as that. EVEN with all the evidence out there.. if one just asks themselves this one question, they will get the answer.
salaamu’alaikum,
Insha’Allah, I pray that all who reads this reaches you in the best of health and iman. I wanted to respond to the comments that are being made about halal mix tape and gandaghee. I feel that there is so much negative feedback going on with this video. These brothers have the purest intentions to purely bring in halal entertainment. They do everything to please Allah (SWT) and everything that they have performed has been reviewed by scholars or brothers/sisters that they look up to. They aren’t saying that by making a song is going to change someone’s life or teach them about Islam in a couple of minutes, but its just for halal entertainment purposes. I feel that there is so much hatred happening within these comments and pray that you all can just stop. Everyone has different opinions, but that doesn’t mean that we have to hate on one another. I understand that there were sisters screaming and yelling, but that is not the brothers fault. What happeend to always have excuses ready for your brother and sisters. We sit here and watch a video and criticize them so harshly. If you have an issue with the video, that’s fine..you can always express your differences in opinion and could also give them suggestions on how they can improve, but what we shouldn’t do is judge and assume we understand what their intentions are.
Salaam…
I’m wondering how the team of Gandaghee produces these ‘halalized’ songs…don’t they have to listen to these songs very often to get the beat, the tune, the melody, the text and so on? Ain’t that haraam? And why is Brother Ibrahim calling for ‘Takbir’? I think the Takbir was just used to make some noise, no sense at all. Of course, the Takbir is one of the most beautiful things to say, but the context was in my opinion not at all appropiate.
And the sisters: Please, no Haya, no life! This reminds me of Sister Yvonne Ridley’s great article and I think she’s definitely right pointing out that muslim sisters tend to adore muslim artists just like non-muslim girls.
how is it haraam? they are only beat boxing and humming and they made up their own lyrics..rather than sitting here and criticizing your brothers, why don’t you learn to respect one another..my god.
uhhhh…ahem…i just thought i’d say that i thought the performance was hilarious, albeit a tad lame.
I think everyone needs to calm down! MashAllah these brothers did an amazing job and like Rubina said they cant control other peoples actions. SubhanAllah everyone here has so much issue with the fact that they are taking songs that are labeled haram and making them halal. Do you all not realize that we live in a day and age where youth express themselves through the arts aka MUSIC. So why are we so fast to critisize when a Muslim is trying to fit the culture and approach it in an Islamic matter. MashAllah i was there and think it was awesome! Keep it up and I know myself as well as a whole bunch of other support and cant wait to see the new Ghandagee DVD
some of the posters on here are acting like they are sinless, mashaAllah.
give your naseeha with the adab and be done with it. you did your job. in fact it is not your responsibility to be preaching. it would be the teachers, scholars, ulema, and parents of the brothers. from what i know, they have contacted there elders. im almost positive they have seen it and there parents have seen it. in fact i know Umm MR reads his blog.and she usually tells him to take down stuff she doesnt like. this post is still here.
if you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say it all.
Assalaamu alaykum
I said Takbir during the performance to stop the people who were yelling, screaming, and clapping and suggest to them that they recognize the greatness of Allah swt.
As lay Muslims, we are responsible for running our creative expression by the ulema, and we have done so. We have had numerous ulema from different madhaahib comment on our productions and they have given us criticism, while maintaining that we have not done anything that is Haram. I am comfortable with that and though you all are entitled to your own opinion, do recognize that there is a method to our madness.
Allah and His Messenger know best
Ibrahim
Wow masha’Allah. You guys need to learn how to criticize!!!
I disagree with the whole mixtape thing and don’t find it too funny. However, the brothers who did it are very pious brothers, masha’Allah. Ya’ll need to stop hatin.
Where the hufaadh at? *Silence* lol.
I love you for the sake of Allah
assalamuailikum,may Allah guide us all in trying to follow this deen may Allah gives us
proper understanding in following the sunnah of our master Muhammad s.a.w.and may Allah let us take advantage of time in a better way then this video.
I’m not saying that it is totally haram what you are doing, noooo, I really enjoy your lyrics etc, but I was just wondering how you get the whole thing on.
Halal Mixtape Volume 1 was interesting because at that time most of the young muslims had freshly gone into the Deen and for some it was hard to accept that music is haram…in 2004 I still listened to music astaghfirullah and actually knew all of these songs you ‘halalized’ in Volume 1. I think I don’t know one single song from Volume 2 alhamdulillah that’s why I wonder how you got to know about these songs…you had to listen to them, didn’t you, to get to know the melody and the lyrics? I don’t know if you understand what I mean…but I don’t see any reason behind Volume 2. It’s not necessary…
May Allah forgive me if I offensed any of you, didn’t mean it, and Allah knows best.
I totally understand what you are saying, and I feel exactly the same way you do: I wasnt listening to music for about 2 years when we started making Mixtape 1, and so the main obstacle with making a sequel for me is that, I dont know any new songs to remake (which alhumdulillah is not a problem at all). Im not sure what you mean by “not knowing a single song from the sequel” because we havent let anyone hear any of the songs except “SunnahBack”. Most of the songs are actually from even before when the last mixtape came out with a few songs being from the time between mixtape 1 and now.
I have no doubt in my mind that Popular music of today is haram by the content (ijmaa’) and/or the instruments (ikhtilaaf), and so I dont listen to it. But unfortunately, though I dont listen to it, I do hear music from time to time from a third party (work, driving, someone else’s car who has music playing, etc. My view towards music has not changed since the last mixtape and we are using the same process to make the songs as we did then, and that does not mean we need to listen to songs over and over. Though I shouldn’t need to explain, I do not mind explaining it to you if it means itmi’naan of the heart inshallah: Most songs are from the past and are songs we were familiar with, other songs that are popular may have been heard, and then I research the lyrics online and then rewrite them. As for the beat, the brother who makes the beats follows the opinion that music is not necessarily forbidden and he listens to the instrumentals and remakes the beat.
I just want to remind us all that when we see our brother or sister doing something which is troubling to us, we should not call them names and pass judgment, but instead we should conduct ourselves with adab and respond with an educated response knowing that it is quite possible that ikhtilaaf is permitted in the issue. In this case, as I said before, reputed scholars were approached before, during, and after our production and they all gave us advice while maintaining that there were no major fouls committed on our parts which would have forced us to remove our video.
May Allah swt purify our hearts, allow us all to respect ikhtilaaf, and give us the knowledge of the responsibility that we all have to serve this deen in any way we can within the parameters of the Sharia…ameen
Sister Shirien,
Based on your responses you seem like an intelligent person.
Think of hip hop/rap as a language and you just may see things in a different perspective. The Prophet (saw) sent his companions to other lands specifically to get to know and understand their way of life and their LANGUAGE.
You may associate hip hop/rap with the “trashiest” people, but who are you to call any group of people trashy? Your views are based on what you see in the media, as Muslims we should know better. I can tell you first hand that those who listen to this kind of music are genuinely good people for the most part.
That was a really good point. Actually, I would say about 90% of the youth in America regardless of faith listen to some sort of hip hop. For these brothers to creatively twist it but keep it pop will attract many Muslims who are not as religious as Shirien.
Shirien, you remind of an uncle/aunty type of person who are part of a typical Masjid executive board and completely turn away the youth from the masjid. I was reading your blog and it appears that islamonline.net removed you from the youth section. You claim that it was due to your writing with “too much” Qur’an and Hadith. I think it’s your uncle/aunty attitude towards the youth. I am not sure how old you are, but you need to realize that back in your past, you too were young and wanted to have fun but also stay Islamic. I highly doubt you were this way when you were young. Anyways, may Allah (swt) bless you sister! Ameen!
woow you totally took the words out of my mouth, In the United Kingdom in order to attract the young youths we set up circles and events that complys with the sunnah and shariah now matter how hard it is to get their attention or get them involved more in the deen you dont water down the sunnah or modify it just to fulfil their desires. I thought the mixtape was funny and im sure the brothers had good intentions behind it , but the shaytan has his ways you may be thinking your carrying out a good deed but you may be doing more harm to the audience than good.
continued from last post:
The sisters at the front screaming and yelling subhanallah is this the way teh female sahabas behaved when the males where in presence , i know you said you asked ppl to adhere to the correct adab but even that was not enough to stop the fitnah from occuring, So know next time that such thing must never happen because people will see that video ” Brining back the sunnah” and think this is the sunnah the prophet ( saw) had brought down, How the shaytan is laughing at us! I know brothers who have tried doing Halal concerts with strict guidance and believe me no matter how hard you try to keep it will never work if you try to modify the sunnah to suit your audience’s.
Lastly , ppl need to modify themselves in order to adhere to the sunnah not the other way around.
LOL..i knew this would happen in a post on MUSIC!
i personally enjoy these mixes.
The sisters sound proper jahil with their screaming!
subhanallah its embarassing to see muslims performing such acts similar to the kuffars . Especially when the prophet(peace be upon him) said do not imitate the kuffar. How is singing and playing music bring backing the sunnah or uplifting it in anyway. People need to educate themselves. All of a sudden music becomes a sunnah whats next dating lol . Subhanallah if they claim that such vain entertainment is from the sunnah. Then they have deviated from the straight path.
May Allah guide us all and bless the shabaab (youths). Ameen
allahu maslih shabaabal muslimeen. Ameen
http://www.al-sunnah.com/call_to_islam/articles/notes_on_the_evils_of_innovation.html
http://www.sunnahonline.com/ilm/aqeedah/0017.htm
everyone needs to calm down
..Zecchetti
May 27th, 2008 at 8:08 am
The sisters sound proper jahil with their screaming!
^^^^^this entertainment was for the sisters.. wat do u expect them to do? Sit down like little kids and listen?
and having this entertainment and songs can help a muslim child to learn Islam…Thats the reason it is there for, not for imitating the kuffars
….you do know that in the Prophet Muhammad’s (S) time, the people were allowed to play a daff (small drum) that is considered a musical instrument.
as’sallamu alaykum
ive just posted something and its not there. anyone noes why?
I have no comments in the moderation queue. I have not deleted any comments (only spam).
@whatsup29,
You say the duff was considered a musical instrument at the time of the Prophet (SAW) – and you are using this to justify music are you?
Was the duff the only instrument available at that time? No. All intruments were expressly forbidden – except the duff. And so that prohibition clearly applies today as well.
May Allah make us understand. Ameen.
[...] of Lota-Pani Pictures, the production company that brought you Gandaghee and soon to be released Gandaghee 2: Return of the Lota: Asalaamualikum [...]
Salaams,
This is completely against the sunnah of rasool(saw). To follow the kafir in this manner is going against the rules of the shariah. Just makes me think “whos is our role model today??”
This of mukar(evil) and as muslims we must regect this evil. Some one must give these brothers Halaqa; for them to realise what they are doing is haram.
To imitate the kufar is forbidden. “Rasool(saw) said “dont take them (the kufar) as your example”.
May Allah protect us all. Ameeen.
Fear Allah(swt).
as-salâmu ‘alaykum
Muslims in America are very hmmm… special !
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