(2) Origin of Music No doubt music is one of the most...

(2) Origin of Music No doubt music is one of the most ancient methods of merrymaking and enjoyment, of expressing feelings and emotions. It is called 'international language', because it encompasses the whole world and does not know any geographical or political boundary. Let us find out what is the reason for its worldwide prevalence. We have it on the authority of Imam Jafer Sadique (a.s) that when Hadhrat Adam (a.s) died, his infamous son Cain (Quabil) and Satan were very happy.

Both gathered at a place and invented some musical instruments to celebrate the death of Hadhrat Adam (a.s). And in the words of Imam (a.s), all such musical things which people now use for merrymaking have originated from that. (Wasael-us-Shia; Babu Tahrim-e-lstimal-il-Malahi). So, religion and anthropology both agree that musk is a very ancient thing; and therefore, no wonder it has spread widely with the spread of the human race.

But how dare a sensible 'child of Adam ' especially if he is a Muslim) "enjoy" music, which is an invention of Satan and Cain, the rebellious and disloyal son of Adam? Here one may ask: But what is the harm in music? Why it has been forbidden in Islam? The answer is that music does have harmful effects on nervous system and is the cause of many ailments including ulcer, diabetes and madness. It creates imbalance in human faculties, retards spiritual development, and lowers the ethical values.

For details, read the following chapters. (3) Effects of Music on Nervous System Before explaining its effects on nerves it is necessary to briefly describe an intricate and awe-inspiring part of the nervous system itself. These details are quoted here from the "Foundation of Biology" (by William D. McElory & Carl P. Swanson and others; published by Prentice-Hall, Inc; Englewood Cliffs, New Jersyy U.S.A. 1968) and "How your Nervous System Works" (by J.D.

Ratcliff; Reader's Digest — Book of Human Body) : "Many reflexes that help control the internal environment involve a special part of the nervous system (ANS).

This system consists of nerves making up the motor pathway to the heart, stomach, intestine and other internal organs These nerves are not under voluntary control; that is, you can not make your heart beat faster on command." "The two major divisions of the automatic nervous system are called the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems." Sympathetic nerves leave the middle regions of the spinal cord.