Kuala Lampur, Oct. 26 -- In his well-celebrated book Al-Halal Wa Al-Haram Fi Al-Islam (The Permissible and the Prohibited in Islam), the late Dr Yusuf al-Qardhawi recalled a hadith from Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him - pbuh) as follows:

A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated: "Allah's Messenger (pbuh), came to my house while two girls were singing beside me the songs of Bu'ath (a story about the pre-Islamic war between the two tribes of the Ansar, the Khazraj and the Awus). The Prophet (pbuh) laid down and turned his face to the other side. Then Abu Bakr came and spoke to me harshly saying, 'Musical instruments of Satan near the Prophet (pbuh)?' Thereupon, Allah's Messenger (pbuh) turned his face towards him and said, 'Lea...