Living Life By Harris J – Reasons To Love This Song

Harris J: Living Life Legal Download | Lyrics

The long wait is finally over!

On March 12th 2021, Harris J released his long awaited single & music video ‘Living Life’.

With Ramadan around the corner, i’ve been on the lookout for faith inspired music artists to interview on my radio show on www.ramadanfm.com (The Faisal and Kunzah Show). So the big question on my mind was:

Is there an Islamic reason to enjoy the song? If so, we would reach out to Harris to request an interview.

After some analysis, we did not find one Islamic reason to like this song… rather we found loads!

So, let’s take a look at our analysis.

Reasons to Love This Song From an Islamic Perspective

1. The Lyrics Are Positive

The first thing we look out for when analysing Islamic Music is positivity in lyrics.

Harris sings about being in love with love, and getting on with life despite people hating. This is a perfect message, and in-line with Islamic guidance.

How? Let’s take a look at an example.

Surah Kafirun teaches us to acknowledge people with different opinions, but stay strong in our belief.

Say, “O disbelievers,
I do not worship what you worship. Nor are you worshippers of what I worship, Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship, Nor will you be worshippers of what I worship. For you is your religion, and for me is my religion.“

(Quran 109:1-6)

But, how does this related to Harris J’s lyrics?

The song is all about doing what you believe in, despite others talking or trying to bring you down with bad opinions.

Why they tryna bring us down
Why they tryna bring us down
We ain’t bout to give it up

Living Life by Harris J

2. That Dashing Smile

The music video is full of shots of Harris and his dashing smile. In fact, he is pretty much smiling throughout.

Why is this Islamic? Because, a smile can be charity:

And, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Smiling in your brother’s face is an act of charity”

(At-Tirmidhi; Declared Authentic by Al-Albani)

And the Prophet smiled all the time too:

Abdullah ibn Al-Harith ibn Hazm said, “I have never seen anyone who smiles more than the Prophet does.”

(At-Tirmidhi)

In one scene in the video, Harris and Hamza Arshad (aka Dairy of a Badman) get together and smile at the camera. In fact, Harris is smiming all the way through.

The word ‘smile’ also appears in the lyrics:

Smile as long as I’m around
As long as I’m around
I just wanna spread the love

Harris J Lyrics

3. He Spreads Love

Not only does Harris sing about spreading love, but it’s evident in the music video itself.

One example of this is at the very beginning, where we hear voice notes from his fans asking him to release ‘Living Life’. The words ‘Sorry for the Wait’ appear on screen – an act of love towards his fans.

Why is it important to spread love in Islam? Because you cannot become a believer without it.

None of you [truly] believes until he loves for his brother that which he loves for himself.

(Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

4. There is Nothing Haram in the Lyrics or Video

Harris J’s last song, Kick down the door, contained some poor language. However, Living Life has nothing of the sort.

There are no club-like themes, no drinking, no in-decently dressed people. Harris has his arms around two girls at one point, but they are his sisters. 100% Halal.

Let’s analyse the music video in more detail.

Living Life Music Video

Kick Down the Door was full of hidden meanings, let’s see what we can extract from the music video for Living Life.

0:00 – Unbranded Milk and Cereal

Harris is an unsigned artist, the content produced comes from them rather than from a big record label.

At the very start of the music video, we see Harris eating breakfast. However, the cereal and milk have both had their branding removed.

Perhaps a reference to Harris who was once a signed artist and now doing it alone.

0:13 – Present day

Perhaps i’m analysing too deep here, but let’s give this one a go.

In today’s day and age, media moves fast. People always want to hear the latest song or wear the newest styles.

Therefore, any references to the present day are a great way to make the video contemporary. In this shot we see two references to modern themes.

1. Harris is wearing a mask, showing that this was filmed during Covid times (present times)
2. We get a clear view of the back of the TV and can see it’s a Smart TV from all the ports – perhaps a reference to how JJs will be viewing the video (through the Youtube app on their smart TV)

It seems the video is about Harris looking back on his life so far, the friends he has made and the great times he has had. He is so moved by the memories that he can’t help but get up and dance.

0:46 – We are one

The video features a person on crutches and people from different backgrounds.

The significance of this is that it shows people coming together no matter what their race or ability. Very much in-line with the message of the song, living life and loving love.

0:50 – Dairy of a Badman

Adding Muslim personalities into the mix is a great feature. We see a brief shot of Hamza Arshard (Dairy of a Badman), laughing and dancing with Harris J.

But check this out… there is something common between the two boys.

Hamza chose to star on his own Youtube channel rather than enter mainstream media, why? So that he could portray himself the way he wanted rather than allow the media to manipulate him. Harris is now doing the same thing, but with music instead of acting. Therefore, Hamza was a perfect choice to appear in this video.

1:09 – Arms Around Girls

Many mainstream music videos feature guys with their arms around girls. However there is an Islamic element to this one… they are Harris’ sisters! Much more Halal.

1:30 – Harris at the Control Station

In this shot we see Harris J in the studio, but he’s not singing behind a microphone. Rather, he is producing and editing his own song.

So?

It’s another reference to the unsigned, home-made nature of his work.

1:45 – Looking out for one Another

Our analysis of Kick Down The Door had a similar reference. In this shot, we see Harris and AJ hug one another, suggesting they are looking out for each other. This is really important in Islam and life in general.

2:09 – Living Life the British-Muslim Way

Muslims can’t go to the bar or night club, so many British Muslims get together with their friends and go to a local desert place, like Kaspas!

In this shot, Harris has captured a typical day in the life of a young British Muslim. Smart.

2:50 – The Famous Pool Table

This is the second music video of Harris J’s where we see him playing pool with a group of friends.

As with the previous video screenshot, this is seen as a more Halal way for a group of Muslim youths to pass time. I like the way this scene transitions into the next, with flying pool balls.

Living Life Lyrics

Let’s analyse the lyrics, calling out references to Quran and Hadith.

We ain’t got no time for no haters (no time) – 1 read analysis
It’s just boring conversation – 2 read analysis
The negativity is dangerous
And we ain’t tryna make ’em famous (no-no, no-no)
No, I don’t care about these papers (I don’t, I don’t)
No, I don’t care about these fakers (I don’t, I don’t)
The positivity ain’t wasted
‘Cause this love is so contagious’

Chorus

Cause I’m in love with the love – 3 read analysis
I’m in love with the love, oh-oh, oh-oh
No, I can’t get it enough
I can’t get it enough, oh-oh, oh-ohI’m just living life (yeah, yeah)
But there’s people talking anyway
They’re tryna get up in my mind
But they know they cannot get to me
I’m just living life (yeah, yeah)
But there’s people taking anyway
They’re tryna get up in my mind
But they know they cannot get to me

And you already know this (you know)
I ain’t got no time ’cause I’m focused
They negativity is hopless
We don’t want no bad vibes, we want no stress’

Cause I’m in love with the love
I’m in love with the love, oh-oh, oh-oh
No, I can’t get it enough
I can’t get it enough, oh-oh, oh-oh

Chorus.

I’m just living life (yeah, yeah)
But there’s people talking anyway
They tryna get up in my mind
But they know they cannot get to me
I’m just living life (yeah, yeah)
But there’s people talking anyway
They tryna get up in my mind
But they know they cannot get to me

Why they tryna bring us down
Why they tryna bring us down
We ain’t bout to give it up – 4 read analysis
Smile as long as I’m around – 5 read analysis
As long as I’m around
I just wanna spread the love

They can never bring us down
They can never bring us down
We ain’t never giving up
All my people say it now
All my people say it loud
We just wanna spread the love

Chorus…

I’m just living life (I’m just living life)
But there’s people talking anyway
They tryna get up in my mind
But they know they cannot get to me
I’m just living life (I’m just living life)
But there’s people taking anyway
They tryna get up in my mind
But they know they cannot get to me (no they can’t, no they can’t)

I’m just living life
But there’s people talking anyay
They tryna get up in my mind
But they know they cannot get to me
I’m just living life (yeah, yeah)
But there’s people talking anyway
They tryna get up in my mind
But they know they cannot get to me

Lyrics Analysis – Finding the Hidden Meanings

1 – Don’t waste time arguing with haters

We ain’t got no time for no haters (no time)

It’s best not to argue with those who hate us, rather walk away or better, speak kind words.

The servants of the most merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them they say [words of] peace

(Quran 25:63)

2 – Idle talk is no good either

It’s just boring conversation

I love this line from the song!

Harris describes the talk of those who criticise and hate as ‘boring’.

In Islam, we are encouraged to keep away from Idle (pointless) talk and focus on things that are far more important.

And of the people is he who buys the amusement of speech to mislead [others] from the way of Allah without knowledge and who takes it in ridicule. Those will have a humiliating punishment.

(Quran 31:6)

3 – Love in Islam

I’m in love with the love

There are many reasons to love one another in Islam. We already discussed a Quranic quote earlier in this review, however there are more examples. Such as this Hadith highlighting the importance of uniting with one another.

The parable of the believers in their affection, mercy, and compassion for each other is that of a body. When any limb aches, the whole body reacts with sleeplessness and fever.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5665

4 – Never give up

We ain’t bout to give it up

You try and you try until you succeed – a famous saying.

But this concept of never giving up also has basis in Islam. For example, take a look at this Hadith:

Whoever asks often for forgiveness, God will provide for him a way out of each concern he has, and will solve all his troubles, and will provide him with livelihood from sources that were not known to him.

(Ahmad)

5 – Importance of smiling in Islam

Smile as long as i’m around

There are many Hadiths that indicate the importance of smiling in Islam. Here are three of them:

Abdullah ibn Al-Harith ibn Hazm said, “I have never seen anyone who smiles more than the Prophet does.”

(At-Tirmidhi)

Jarir ibn Abdullah said: “Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) never refused me permission to see him since I embraced Islam and never looked at me but with a smile”

(Sahih Muslim)

Abu Dhar narrated from the Prophet that he said, “Do not disdain a good deed, (no matter how small it may seem) even if it is your meeting with your brother with a cheerful face”

(Sahih Muslim)

Final Thoughts

Living Life is clean, positive and there are loads of Islamic reasons to love this song.

Harris J has been impressive in his career so far, and I have a feeling things are just getting started.

We will be reaching out to Harris J for an interview on our radio show this Ramadan. Fingers crossed he says yes…

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Lyrics: 8/10
Vocals: 9/10
Production: 10/10
Uniqueness: 7/10
References & Reflection: 6/10

IMH Rating: 40/50 
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