About Hayat Anne Collins Osman Expertise I can answer questions about Islamic belief and practice, the Islamic way of life, Islamic education, teaching and learning about Islam, and community, women`s, and children`s issues.
I am not interested in political issues.
Experience I am former Christian who reverted to Islam in 1986.
Question Selam'u aleykum,
Is listening to music haram or not? and is all of kinds of music haram? and not looking to music just listening haram?
Answer Asalamu aleykum
Most Muslim scholars (but not all) say that listening to music is haram:
Islam Questions & Answers
www.islam-qa.com
Question Reference Number:: 26887
Title: Ruling on listening to some useful programs that contain music
Home > Jurisprudence and Islamic Rulings > Customs and traditions > Rulings on art and acting >
Question:
What is the ruling on listening to some useful programs, such as news programs etc, which include music?.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
There is nothing wrong with listening to them and benefitting from them, so long as you turn the speakers down when the music begins, until it ends, because music is something which is prohibited. May Allaah help us to avoid it.
Majmoo' Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Li'l-Shaykh Ibn Baaz, 6/389 (www.islam-qa.com)
Content of Reply Islam is not against happiness and pleasure. Good, clean, wholesome, and healthy entertainment is not only allowed but also encouraged in Islam. Singing, chanting and reciting poetry are all-acceptable in Islam as long as the songs or poems have good meanings and they do not make people forget their religious and social obligations. There is nothing wrong in listening to songs, but one must be very careful in selecting the songs. Do not listen to songs that praise sinful deeds or excite people to commit sin or to indulge in immoral behavior. Do not listen to the songs that turn you away from the path of Allah. Do not get addicted to songs that you keep on listening to them day and night. Unfortunately there are a lot of songs now a day that lead to sin and shameful deeds and they are very addictive. It is for this reason many conscientious Muslims forbid listening to songs.
We cannot forbid all songs and poetry. Good songs and poetry have been in Islamic culture since the time of the Prophet -peace be upon him. The Prophet -peace be upon him- himself listened to good poetry and encouraged Hassan bin Thabit, who was known as "the Poet of the Prophet" to say the poetry in the praise of Allah and in the honor of His Religion and His Messenger. When a woman was married to an Ansari (a man of Madinah) the Prophet said to his wife 'Aishah, "Did they have any entertainment? The Ansar are fond of entertainment." (Al-Bukhari) Ibn 'Abbas -may Allah be pleased with him- reported that when 'Aishah gave one of her female relatives in marriage to a man from the Ansar, the Prophet -peace be upon him- asked her, "Did you send a singer along with her?" "No", said 'Aishah. The Prophet -peace be upon him-then said, "The Ansar are a people who love poetry. You should have sent along someone who would sing, 'Here we come, to you we come, greet us as we greet you.'" (The Prophet even gave the words of a local song.) On the day of Eid, two girls came to the Prophet's house and they along with his wife 'Aishah played hand drum and sang a song. When Abu Bakr -may Allah be pleased with him- wanted to stop them, the Prophet -peace be upon him- said, "Leave them, Abu Bakr. These are the days of Eid" (Bukhari and Muslim).
Concerning the music the opinions differ. There are some Muslim scholars who have the opinion that all music is haram in Islam. They say that the Qur'an has forbidden "laghw and lahw" (idle things and things that distract, see Al-Mu'minun 32:3; Luqman 31:6). They say that music is part of the laghw and lahw that Allah has forbidden. They also quote some Ahadith, which prohibit music, or claim that, the Prophet -peace be upon him- said that he came in order to destroy to instruments of music.
But there are some other scholars and jurists who do not agree that all music is necessarily laghw and lahw. They say that reading some books could be also idle and distracting thing, while some music is soothing and relaxing and it does not mislead the people from the path of Allah. Imam Ibn Hazm was of the opinion that all those Ahadith that say that music was forbidden and prohibited were fabricated (mawdu') and unacceptable. Imam Shawkani in his famous Nail al-Awtar (vol. 8 pp. 260-271) has mentioned that some Sahabah, the Companions of the Prophet, used to listen to music. He even wrote a book with the title, "Ibtal Da'wa Al-Ijma' 'ala Tahrim Mutlaq al-Sama'" (The Refutation of the Alleged Claim of Consensus on the Absolute Prohibition of Music and Songs).
While it is not right to say that all music is prohibited in Islam, it is important to use great discretion in the case of music. A lot of music that is available in the markets now days are very dangerous and harmful. Muslim youth should be extremely careful. There are, however, some Muslim groups in different countries who are developing songs that are very good enjoyable, entertaining, and have good positive message.
http://www.islam-online.net/fatwa/english/FatwaDisplay.asp?hFatwaID=2314
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Title of Fatwa Singing and Music
Topic Of Fatwa Music
Question of Fatwa I have been Muslim for twelve years and stopped listening to music, because I was told that was Haram. Is it halal or haram to listen to songs and music?
Name of Mufti Yousif Ali Qardawi
Content of Reply Among the entertainments, which may comfort the soul, please the heart, and refresh the ear is singing. Islam permits singing under the condition that it is not in any way obscene or harmful to Islamic morals. There is no harm in its being accompanied by music, which is not exciting.
In order to create an atmosphere of joy and happiness, singing is recommended on festive occasions such as the days of 'Eid, weddings and wedding feasts, births, 'aqiqat (the celebration of the birth of a baby by the slaughter of sheep), and on the return of a traveler.
'Aishah narrated that when a woman was married to an Ansari man, the Prophet (peace be on him) said, " 'Aishah, did they have any entertainment? The Ansar are fond of entertainment.'' (Reported by al-Bukhari.)
Ibn 'Abbas said, " 'Aishah gave a girl relative of hers in marriage to a man of the Ansar. The Prophet (peace be on him) came and asked, 'Did you send a singer along with her?' 'No,' said 'Aishah. The Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) then said, The Ansar are a people who love poetry. You should have sent along someone who would sing, 'Here we come, to you we come, greet us as we greet you.' " (Reported by Ibn Majah.)
'Aishah narrated that during the days of Mina, on the day of 'Eid al-Adha, two girls were with her, singing and playing on a hand drum. The Prophet (peace be on him) was present, listening to them with his head under a shawl. Abu Bakr then entered and scolded the girls. The Prophet (peace be on him), uncovering his face, told him, "Let them be, Abu Bakr. These are the days of 'Eid." (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
In his book, Ihya ulum al-deen, (In the quarter on "Habits", in the book Listening to Singing.), Imam al-Ghazzali mentions the ahadith about the singing girls, the Abyssinians playing with spears in the Prophet's Mosque, the Prophet's encouraging them by saying, "Carry on, O Bani Arfidah," his asking his wife, 'Aishah, "Would you like to watch?" and standing there with her until she herself became tired and went away, and 'Aishah's playing with dolls with her friends. He then says:
Al-Bukhari and Muslim in the two Sahihs report all these ahadith, and they clearly prove that singing and playing are not haram. From them we may deduce the following:
First: The permissibility of playing; the Abyssinians were in the habit of dancing and playing.
Second: Doing this in the mosque.
Third: The Prophet's saying, 'Carry on, O Bani Arfidah,' was a command and a request that they should play; then how can their play be considered haram?
Fourth: The Prophet (peace be on him) prevented Abu Bakr and 'Umar from interrupting and scolding the players and singers. He told Abu Bakr that 'Eid was a joyous occasion and that singing was a means of enjoyment.
Fifth: On both occasions he stayed for a long time with 'Aishah, letting her watch the show of the Abyssinians and listening with her to the singing of the girls. This proves that it is far better to be good-humored in pleasing women and children with games than to express such disapproval of such amusements out of a sense of harsh piety and asceticism.
Sixth: The Prophet (peace be on him) himself encouraged 'Aishah by asking her, "Would you like to watch?" (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
Seventh: The permissibility of singing and playing on the drum...
and what follows, to the end of al-Ghazzali's discussion on singing.
It is reported that many Companions of the Prophet (may Allah be pleased with them) as well as second-generation Muslim scholars used to listen to singing and did not see anything wrong with it. As for the ahadith, which have been reported against singing, they are all weak and have been shown by researchers to be unsound. The jurist Abu Bakr al-'Arabi says, "No sound hadith is available concerning the prohibition of singing," while Ibn Hazm says, "All that is reported on this subject is false and fabricated "
However, since singing is in many cases associated with drinking parties and nightclubs, many scholars have declared it to be haram or at least makruh. They state that singing constitutes that kind of idle talk which is mentioned in the ayah, And among the people is the one who buys idle talk (at the expense of his soul) in order to lead (people) astray from the path of Allah without knowledge, holding it in mockery; for such there will be a humiliating punishment. (31:6)
Says Ibn Hazm: This verse condemns a particular behavior, that of doing something to mock the path of Allah. Anyone who does this is an unbeliever; if he even should buy a copy of the Qur'an, doing so in order to make it the object of his mockery and thereby leading people astray, he would be an unbeliever. It is this type of behavior, which is condemned by Allah and not the idle talk in which one may indulge for mere relaxation, without intending to lead people astray from the path of Allah.
Ibn Hazm also refutes the argument of those who say that since singing is not of "the truth" it must be of "error," referring to the verse, "And what is beyond the truth except error?" (10:32). He comments, The Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) said, 'Deeds will be judged according to intentions, and everyone will get what he intended.' (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.) Accordingly, the one who listens to singing with the intention of using it in support of a sin is a sinner, and this holds true of anything other than singing (as well), while one who listens to singing with the intention of refreshing his soul in order to gain strength to do his duty toward Allah Ta'ala and to do good deeds, is a good and obedient servant of Allah, and his action is of the truth. And he who listens to singing intending neither obedience nor disobedience is doing something neutral and harmless, which is similar to going to the park and walking around, standing by a window and looking at the sky, wearing blue or green cloths, and so on.
However, there are some limitations to be observed in the matter of singing:
1. The subject matter of songs should not be against the teachings of Islam. For example, if the song is in praise of wine, and it invites people to drink, singing or listening to it is haram.
2. Although the subject matter itself may not be against the Islamic teachings, the manner of singing may render it haram; this would be the case, for example, if suggestive sexual movement accompanied the singing.
3. Islam fights against excess and extravagance in anything, even in worship; how, then, can it tolerate excessive involvement with entertainment? Too much time should not be wasted in such activities; after all, what is time but life itself? One cannot dispute the fact that spending time in permissible activities consumes time, which ought to be resaved for carrying out religious obligations and doing good deeds. It is aptly said, "There is no excess except at the expense of a neglected duty."
4. Each individual is the best judge of himself. If a certain type of singing arouses one's passions, leads him towards sin, excites the animal instincts, and dulls spirituality, he must avoid it, thus closing the door to temptations.
5. There is unanimous agreement that if singing is done in conjunction with haram activities—for example, at a drinking party, or if it is mixed with obscenity and sin—it is haram. The Prophet (peace be on him) warned of a severe punishment for people who sing or listen to singing in such a situation when he said, Some people of my Ummah will drink wine, calling it by another name, while they listen to singers accompanied by musical instruments. Allah will cause the earth to swallow them and will turn some of them into monkeys and swine. (Reported by Ibn Majah.)
This does not mean that they will be physically transformed into the bodies and outward form of monkeys and swine but rather in heart and soul, carrying the heart of a monkey and the soul of a pig in their human bodies.
Title of Fatwa Music in Islam
Date of Reply 25/ April/ 2000
Topic Of Fatwa Music
Country Applied Denmark
Question of Fatwa Many Muslims consider music is Haram in general based on a hadeeth which mentions that it is Haram to listen to instrumental music.
What do you say about that famous hadeeth? And what is your opinion on the question of listening to the music?
Name of Mufti Muhammad Al-Hanuti
Content of Reply The majority of schools say music is haram, but there are some other reliable schools that say it is halal. The Hadith referred to in saying that it is haram as narrated by al Bukhari is not fulfilling the requirements of the Sahih in al Bukhari's collection.
1) Al Bukhari in Hadith al Ma'azif himself narrated the Hadith to be of a broken chain of narrators in which there is a gap between al Bukhari and the second narrator, so he drops the first narrator in his chain. That is called Mu'allaq. Some scholars tried to connect the chain through other means like whan ibn Hajar did in his dissertation (connecting what is disconnected) in which he connected the Isnad of this Hadith.
But still, one of the main narrators whose name is Hisham ibn Ammar as profiled in Tahthib at-Tahthib by ibn Hajar is not reliable enough for some scholars to be a source of a narration that depends on somebody like him.
2) Even when we said the Hadith is Sahih, there are questions that would emerge when we study the version of the Hadith when it says, "People will make adultery, pure silk, liquor and Ma'azif into Halal."
We know that adultery is Haram by another proof and it is a unanymous Hukum. Pure silk is not of consensus Hukum. If a Muslim says Zina is Halal deliberately, then they are considered a kafir. However, if a Muslim says pure silk is not Haram, he is not a kafir. We know that liquor is Haram as it is in the Qur'an, but where do we find an authentic hadith or Qur'an to tell us that Ma'azif are Haram other than this source.
The last point is to get the clear meaning of Ma'azif in arabic dictionaries because there are more than one meaning for Ma'azif. It is acceptable for a Muslim to hear somebody says Makruh but not Haram because Haram is in need of clear-cut meaning and certain narration.
http://www.islam-online.net/fatwa/english/FatwaDisplay.asp?hFatwaID=8293
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Details of Fatwa
Title of Fatwa Music in Islam
Date of Reply 5/ May/ 2000
Topic Of Fatwa Music
Question of Fatwa What is the Islamic ruling on music?
Name of Mufti Muhammad Al-Hanuti
Content of Reply Musical instruments are Halal according to some schools; Al Qardawi had adapted the Fatwa of music and songs by men to be Halal. Of course any bad music or song can never be accepted unanimously. Dr. Abdelkarim Zaydan in his excellent "Al-Mufassal Fi Ahkam Al-Mar'a" elaborated all the opinions of scholars in Islam. He puts the Halal option equally to the other different options.
Abu Hamed Al-Ghazali goes for lawfulness of music and cleanse songs.
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As you can see, there is a difference of opinion. Clearly, music that excites the senses,distracts a person from remembering Allah, encourages a person to think about or do haram things, or causes a person to delay salat, is haram.
