Nazams With Musical Backgrounds
QUESTION:
There is an app called “Moises” which is used to remove background music from Nasheeds. Would it be permissible to use such apps and then listen to these Nasheeds after removing the music?
ANSWER:
We advise you to abstain from using such applications. Firstly, because many of these applications contain adverts with music. Secondly, in trying to remove the music from Nazams and Nasheeds, one will definitely listen to some music at the very beginning of the Nazam. Even one moment of music is enough to create hypocrisy in one’s heart. Allah Ta’ala states in the Quraan Majeed:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًا أُولَـئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ
“There are some people who purchase futile discourse to deviate (others) from the path Allah without knowledge and they mock it (Islam). There shall be a humiliating punishment for such people.” [Surah Luqmaan, Verse 6]
It is reported in a narration of Sayyidina Abdullah Ibn Masood, Abdullah Ibn Abbas and Jaabir Radiallahu Anhum, that the word “لهو الحديث”, translated as, “futile discourse” mentioned in the verse, refers to music and musical instruments. In other words, there is a painful punishment for those who purchase these musical instruments, whether it refers to the actual instruments or recordings of music, etc. [Ma’ariful Quraan Pg.20 Vol.7 / Ibn Katheer Pg.143 Vol.3]
It is recorded in a narration of Kanzul Ummaal that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “I have been sent to destroy musical instruments…”
عن علي قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: بعثت بكسر المزامير، وأقسم ربي عز وجل لا يشرب عبد في الدنيا خمرا إلا سقاه الله يوم القيامة حميما معذبا هو أو مغفورا . ثم قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: كسب المغني والمغنية حرام، وكسب الزانية سحت، وحق (كنز العمال 40689)
Yet again, it is recorded in another narration of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam:
عبد الرحمن بن غنم الأشعري قال حدثني أبو عامر أو أبو مالك الأشعري والله ما كذبني سمع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول ليكونن من أمتي أقوام يستحلون الحر والحرير والخمر والمعازف ولينزلن أقوام إلى جنب علم يروح عليهم بسارحة لهم يأتيهم يعني الفقير لحاجة فيقولون ارجع إلينا غدا فيبيتهم الله ويضع العلم ويمسخ آخرين قردة وخنازير إلى يوم القيامة (رواه البخاري 2/837)
“There will such people in my Ummah who will consider Zina (adultery), silk, alcohol, and musical instruments as Halaal. Some people will most certainly descend or settle on the side of a mountain. The shepherds will bring their flock to them in the evening; meaning that the poor will come to them with their needs. They will say, ‘Come to us tomorrow.’ Allah Ta’ala will destroy them in the evening by letting the mountain fall on them, and he will transform others into monkeys and swine until Qiyaamah.”
Furthermore, the jurists have written that all forms of music are Haraam to the extent that, if one produces a musical song by hitting a stick, then too, it is impermissible.
الملاهى كلها حرام حتى التغنى بضرب القضييب ( الهداىة ص 455(
Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “Listening to music is disobedience of Allah Ta’ala, sitting in gatherings of music is Fisq (transgressing laws of Shariah) and taking enjoyment from music is Kufr.”
[Re: – Fataawa Hindiyyah Pg. 356 vol.6 / Raddul Muhtaar Pg.349 Vol.6]
Allama Shaami Rahimahullah has written, “Listening to music is Haraam according to all Ulama, thus there is no concession for listening to music in our times, irrespective of the instruments used to produce musical sounds.
وَإِنْ كَانَ سَمَاعَ غِنَاءٍ فَهُوَ حَرَامٌ بِإِجْمَاعِ الْعُلَمَاءِ وَالْحَاصِلُ : أَنَّهُ لَا رُخْصَةَ فِي السَّمَاعِ فِي زَمَانِنَا (رد المحتار 6/348)
In conclusion, this is the plot of Shaytaan where he makes one feel that there is nothing wrong in merely listening to it for just a moment, but then gradually one gets trapped into the web of Shaytaan. Hence, we advise complete abstention from such Nasheed and Nazams.
May Allah Ta’ala protect one and all, Aameen!
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Abdul Kader Fazlani
Date: 24 Shawwaal 1447 / 13 April 2026
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:
Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb