Editing Hymn (section)

===Islam===
{{Further|Nasheed|Sufi music|Qawwali}}During the time of the Prophet Mohammed, [[Islamic music]] was originally defined by what it didn't contain: no strings, brass, or wind instruments and no female vocals. The only instrument initially allowed was minimal percussion by an Arabic drum called the ''[[daf]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hewer |first=Chris |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nGWmDwAAQBAJ |title=Understanding Islam: The First Ten Steps |date=2014-07-28 |publisher=SCM Press |isbn=978-0-334-05233-3 |pages=121 |language=en}}</ref> This minimal form remains widely practiced in the Gulf and some other parts of the [[Arab world]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Saeed |first=Saeed |date=2012-07-31 |title=Music of the Arab World: The sound of Islam |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/music/music-of-the-arab-world-the-sound-of-islam-1.403303 |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=The National |language=en}}</ref>

However, in places such as Turkey and Southeast Asia, several new styles of spiritual songs have developed. In Turkey, [[Sufism|Sufi]] adherents incorporate music into worship. The most popular are services undertaken by Mevlevi Sufis, which include chanting and the [[Mevlevi Order|whirling dervishes]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Mevlevi Sema Ceremony |url=http://www.unesco.org/culture/intangible-heritage/39eur_uk.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426232331/http://www.unesco.org/culture/intangible-heritage/39eur_uk.htm |archive-date=April 26, 2014 |access-date= |publisher=UNESCO}}</ref>

In Pakistan and Southeast Asia, the most recognized form of devotional music is ''[[qawwali]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Aaj rang hai' – Qawwali revisited |url=http://twocircles.net/2013mar07/‘aaj_rang_hai’_qawwali_revisited.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818214847/http://twocircles.net/2013mar07/%E2%80%98aaj_rang_hai%E2%80%99_qawwali_revisited.html |archive-date=2018-08-18}}</ref> Performed by up to nine men, a ''qawwali'' group would often use instruments such as the [[Pump organ|harmonium]] (a type of keyboard) and percussion instruments including a [[tabla]] and [[dholak]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Kamal Salhi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Dc5iAgAAQBAJ |title=Music, Culture and Identity in the Muslim World: Performance, Politics and Piety |publisher=Routledge |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-317-96310-3 |pages=183–184}}</ref> The songs often run from 15 to 30 minutes and include instrumental preludes, repeated refrains and vocal improvisation. In recent times, [[nasheed]] artists from the Gulf have found innovative ways to overcome the no-instrument rule.<ref name=":4" />

Albums by Sharjah's [[Ahmed Bukhatir]] and Kuwait's [[Mishari bin Rashid Alafasy|Mishary Rashid Al Afasy]] use studio trickery and manipulate backing vocals to sound like a synth piano or string section. In the West, groups such as America's [[Native Deen]] and Australia's The Brothahood use hip-hop music to get their spiritual message across to a new generation of young Muslims.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Native Deen's Muslim Rap |url=http://infousa.state.gov/education/overview/muslimlife/rap.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328045003/http://infousa.state.gov/education/overview/muslimlife/rap.htm |archive-date=2010-03-28}}</ref> The nasheeds in English by South Africa's Zain Bhikha secured him a large following in Europe and the Middle East.<ref name=":4" />