I was just reading an article about entertainment in islam and I found a few interesting bits along with bits i had heard before...

For some reason I had thought acting etc was considered taboo atleast by the conservative parts of Muslim society, but that article suggests ... well, I will quote a section of the article:

Perhaps because entertainments in the wedding ceremonies were disregarded, Iyaz al-As’arî said: “Why do you not perform any plays as thay had been acted in the presence of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH), I am surprised” (Ibn Majah, Iqama: 163)

Ibn Qutayba says that the desire of entertainment exists in the nature of mankind and that resisting against creation and nature is impossible; he narrates this Hadith as a proof:

“Allah’s Prophet (PBUH) joked so that Muslims would joke with one another and he said to the ones playing sword-shield:” Oh the sons of Arfida go on playing! so that Jews will understand your religion has tolerance.” (Musnad, 6: 116)

When As’ad bin Zurara married his daughter, the Prophet (PBUH), thinking that As’ad bin Zurara liked entertainments, asked whether muganniyas (women singers) playing tambourine and singing had been sent.

Moreover, throwing candy, dates or similar things onto people and their effort to catch them during wedding ceremonies or during circumcision feasts is observed as another kind of entertainment. (Usdu’l-Ghaba, 3:488)

Abdullah bin Abbas, organized a feast for the circumcision of his son and hired actors for the party. (DIA, Dr. Nebi Bozkurt, “Entertainment” section.)

Entertainment tradition by playing tambourine continued in the era of four Caliphs, too. It is narrated that when Hazrat Umar, the 2nd Caliph, realized that the sound of songs and tambourine that he heard was coming from a wedding or a circumcision ceremony, he did not ban it. (Abdurrazzaq as-San’anî, al-Musannaf, 11:5)

A most interesting read IMO.

There once was a village in Muslimistan, where a young boy called Wali Nuteen lived. He was a kind, fun-loving adventurous boy, who was Sunni, practicing, tall, with a fair complexion, steady job and a healthy respect for Shia people, without appearing dogmatic. In fact, just the kind of description any Muslim lady scouring adverts on Muslim matrimonial sites would be happy with.

One day, Wali was walking along the main street of his village when he spied a beautiful lady. In an instant, he fell in love. The girl was called Begum; she was from a rival tribe. She was 23 years his senior, and already married. But he still, Walis love for Begum knew no bounds.

Usually, someone like Wali would be smacked silly at the very least by Begum’s husband, or by Begum’s family or more likely, by both. However, Wali was known as being an eccentric boy and decent if not very bright sort, so they didn’t kill him. Wali didn’t do much about his love either, just quietly waited for the right time.

Many years later, news reached Walis village that Begum’s husband had tragically chocked on his miswaak. Begum was distraught and her children fatherless. Wali, being the insensitive, selfish chap that people in love usually are, thought he had found his chance. Begum’s father, who was now 76, met with Wali.

“Your only chance with my daughter is if you can kiss your elbow”

For the next few days Wali wandered between his village and Begums village, vainly trying to kiss his elbows. At last, he couldn’t take it anymore. With the assistance of a local blacksmith, Wali dislocated both shoulders, and kissed both his elbows. Triumphant, he staggered to Begums house.

However the awkward angle of his drooping arms, along with the screams of pain, looked like an insult to Begum’s father. He promptly shot Wali through the heart. Begum did not know any of this as she was on a recuperative trip to the seaside. Begum’s father was a very very clever man.

The locals used this story to warn children about love, and the story became ‘Wali Nuteen Day’, which after visits by Crusaders, and many years of retelling, became ‘Valentine’s Day’. The moral, dear readers, is this:

Do not dislocate both your shoulders to kiss your elbows on Valentine’s Day, or any other day for that matter

Read more @ Mr Moo

A few profanities here and there, but I doubt this segment of video to subtitle will ever get old:

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQnT0zp8Ya4]