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Yesterday hundreds of people gathered in Manchester to mark the first anniversary of the Manchester arena attacks in which 22 people died. Like many remembrance events nowadays, alongside a church service and a minute’s silence, there was an evening concert. Music has always been part of Manchester’s rich cultural history and so it’s fitting that the city brings itself together through the healing power of this art. I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the way music is used to both celebrate and remember – it is as essential to our culture now as words. Almost every significant occasion in our lives is set against some form of melody and singing. Last December the Grenfell tower fire memorial was testament to the power of music as St Paul’s cathedral echoed with beautiful hymns and exquisite vocals within a multicultural context and it was musicians from all backgrounds who kept the focus on the survivors through concerts and charity singles. More recently those of us watching the royal wedding at the weekend would have enjoyed both the soulful and the uplifting variety of performances, soprano, gospel, cello and organ, all conveyed the different moods and histories tied intimately to this occasion. The healing and transformative power of music lies in its ability to move us and change the way we are feeling. Researchers increasingly claim that musical aptitude and music appreciation are two of the last remaining abilities in patients with Alzheimer’s and that music is an excellent way to reach beyond the disease and reach the person.’ Sometimes words simply fail and music is left to fill the void in our lives. I think that’s why I wanted my children to learn and play music – it became as an important a part of their education as anything else. I saw it as both a gift and a blessing in their lives something that would help them through those moments when both words and silence are inadequate. It’s often argued by some Muslims that music or at least certain types is forbidden, that the inherent sensuality of this art takes you away from God. But even a brief reflection on the centrality and variety of music in the Islamic world shows that musical instruments and singing in all their forms have been an integral part of Islamic civilisations. A famous tradition says, `Whoever says that all music is prohibited, let him also claim that the songs of the birds are prohibited.’ Of course, neither words nor prayers nor music can bring back those who have died. Yet often the combination of all three can even for a brief moment remind us of the joy when those we have lost were still in our lives.