The clergyman who declared music forbidden has been interrogated

The law enforcement agencies of the city of Penjikent summoned a clergyman for questioning after he stated that music is prohibited according to the teachings of the Hanafi madhhab.

On November 2 of this year, Abdulkodir Talbakov, a social media activist and former director of the A. Lokhuti Library, published a video of the clergyman’s sermon on Facebook. During his sermon, the clergyman claimed that music is forbidden in Islam, and that scholars of the Hanafi madhhab strictly prohibit it. “Imam Abu Hanifa himself said that music is forbidden in all religions,” he stated in the video.

Talbakov sharply criticized the clergyman’s words.

“1150 years ago, Rudaki played musical instruments and sang, yet in the 21st century, a compatriot of this great man in the ‘Nuri Mogiyon’ mosque of Penjikent considers music forbidden not only in Islam but in all religions,” Talbakov wrote.

The press secretary of the Committee on Religious Affairs, Regulation of Customs and Traditions of Tajikistan, Afshin Mukim, told Asia-Plus that the video published by Abdulkodir Talbakov “was filmed about 8 months ago at the ‘Nuri Mogiyon’ cathedral mosque, in the Fon village of the Mogiyon rural community of Penjikent.”

“The person who spoke at the mosque’s podium is a resident of Penjikent, 31-year-old Manuchehr Habibulloev, who graduated from the Islamic Institute of Tajikistan in 2013, but is not an employee of the ‘Nuri Mogiyon’ cathedral mosque,” noted the press secretary of the Committee on Religious Affairs.

It is reported that Habibulloev delivered the sermon in the mosque during the absence of the imam and khatib.

According to the press secretary of the Committee on Religious Affairs, law enforcement agencies questioned Habibulloev regarding his statements that music is forbidden.

“Law enforcement agencies will provide a legal assessment of his actions,” added Afshin Mukim. He did not specify whether a criminal case had been initiated against him.

For many years, the authorities of Tajikistan have accused dozens and even hundreds of young people of extremism over minor reasons, such as “likes” on social media under videos of clergymen or political opposition, and have imprisoned them for long terms. Despite numerous criticisms from human rights organizations, the authorities of Tajikistan continue their policy.