Saudi Man In Hot Water After Remixing the Quran At A Concert

Source - While the permissibility of playing music for Muslims is disputed, singing the religious text is generally not accepted in orthodox Islam. During Saudi Arabia’s national day celebrations on Saturday, Talal Salama was filmed singing the words of Surat al-Falaq.

As a video of the incident spread, enraged Saudis. In a nation where the very celebration of a non-religious occasion is condemned by religious authorities, unsurprisingly this incident provoked fury.

The issue of music is so controversial in ultraconservative Saudi Arabia that concerts are rare and often draw public anger and resistance.

Many of the comments revealed the rift that remains in attitudes between an increasingly liberal minority, reflected by the gradual liberalization of laws, and the majority of Saudi society where social and religious conservatism prevails.

No official statement has been made as to whether action will be taken against the singer.

I typically tread lightly when it comes to religion. Especially when said religion has a history of being thin-skinned. But Saudi Arabia needs to lighten the fuck up. Who gets mad when they hear music? It’s not like he was singing the new Taylor Swift song. He remixed the Quran, which should have been a hit considering his audience. Maybe they didn’t like the light show? The green was weak. So was the costume.

For the most part Saudi Arabia does a good job as coming off as western. But every few months, without fail, they show their true colors. Whether it’s putting a bounty on a woman for wearing a skirt or gripping an orb

like a Disney villain those motherfuckers are in the stone age. (To be fair, the orb is one of my all time favorite Donnie pictures but that’s not the point.) The point is that conservatism is on the rise in Saudi Arabia and Talal is screwed. Guy basically sung his way to the grave. Not only that, the song sucked so it’s not like he’s going to be remembered for his music. He’ll be remembered as the guy who got stoned to death for using a cheap synthesizer. If one person on his team had the balls to tell him mocking the Quaran was actually bad he’d have a chance but they didn’t. Best of luck Talal, you’re going to need it.