Permissibility of listening to music in Islam

QUESTION:-

Please comment on the publications by a scholar in the UK who claims that music isn’t Haraam? His book is titled ‘A balanced Islamic view on music and singing.’

ANSWER:-

Allah Ta’ala states in the Quraan Sharif, “He misguides many by it (the examples cited in the Quraan Sharif) and He guides many by it.” [Re:- Surah Baqarah, Verse 26] Similarly, there are many who will misinterpret the verses of the Quraan Sharif and the blessed Ahadith of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam, and thereby derive the incorrect meaning from it. The booklet entitled ‘A balanced Islamic view on music and singing’, is a compilation of verses of the Quraan Sharif and Ahadith of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam which have been misinterpreted by the author attempting to legalize music, which has always been prohibited in Shariah. We have recorded some verses and narrations below, which clearly indicate that music is Haraam:

Allah Ta’ala states:

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 that 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 Ummat 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 till 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)

Abdul Hay Al Hasani writes, it is well-known according to the four schools of thought that Mazameer (wind instruments), Awtaar (stringed instruments), Kubah (drums) are all prohibited, thus playing with them or listening to them is Haraam, according to all four Madhaahib. This covers almost all musical instruments based on the method of producing sound;  musical instruments fall into 3 categories i.e. wind instruments, stringed and percussion instruments (musical instruments hit by hand/stick), like the drum. There is consensus that all stand-alone musical instruments (i.e. instruments that can be used for entertainment by themselves in the absence of singing) are Haraam. This also includes the “Duff” that contains rattles. In our times, due to technological advancement, musical sounds that were previously created by means of musical instruments, are now created digitally, thus it is also Haraam. Creating such recordings and selling such recordings, are both impermissible.

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 (R.A) 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 المحتارص349/348   ج6)

If music was permitted in Shariah, then why would the punishment of Allah Ta’ala descend on those that consider music as Halaal, and why would Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam state that he was sent to destroy musical instruments? These clearly indicate towards the impermissibility of music. In conclusion, the explanation provided in the booklet is a clear misinterpretation of the Quraan and Hadith and a means of deviation. May Allah Ta’ala protect us all. Ameen!

AND ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:-

Maulana Ahmed Saeed

Date:- 01 Dhul Hijjah  1444 / 20  June 2023

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:-

Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb