Teaching Islam with music

We can note a varied use and attitudes to song and music in Islam. In the classroom of Sana-a primary school teacher of Islamic religious education (IRE) in a Muslim school in Sweden-music is an important but not uncontested part of IRE. The music not only supports themes discussed in the classroom but also gives variation to the education. A popular feature is when Sana shows music videos of Sami Yusuf, a young Muslim artist in the 'Eurovision song contest' genre, who sings Islamic pop songs. It happens that children comment and say that the pop music she plays in the classroom is haram, forbidden. Sana seldom touches upon the notion of music as forbidden or unlawful in the classroom, but nevertheless it is visible in her choices of music and the way she presents the music for the children. Outside the classroom, in discussion Sana talks about the necessity of finding Islamic role models that attract the young, instead of 'bearded old men' that might have interesting things to say but have neither 'the looks nor the language' to attract young people. Sana's use of music within IRE is discussed to seize the meanings associated with music and understand the educational choices Sana makes in relation to music. This paper is based on fieldwork that took place during 2005 and 2006.