The First Opinion

Music is Allowed

In the Hadith collections of Abu Dawud, there is an issue about music made with wind instruments, in this case, a pipe: Book 41, Number 4906: Narrated Abdullah ibn Omar:

1- Nafi' said: Ibn Omar heard a pipe, put his fingers in his ears and went away from the road. He said to me: Are you hearing anything? I said: No. He then took his fingers out of his ears and said:

I was with the Prophet (May the peace and blessings of Allah SWT² be upon him), and he heard like this and he did like this.

Of course, there is nothing in this Hadith that indicates a definite prohibition of music. Many of those who believe that music is haram use this Hadith as one of their proofs, whereas the others say that The Prophet SAW never said anything about it being haram or even makruh when he heard the pipe, and that this can be considered an approval through his silence on the matter when it was done in front of him.

2- Ibn `Abbas said: `Aishah gave a girl relative of hers in marriage to a man of the Ansar (people of Madinah). The Prophet (peace be on him) came and asked, "Did you send a singer along with her?" "No," said `Aishah. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) 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.'

3- Aisha (R) 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 SAW was present, listening to them with his head under a shawl. Abu Bakr then entered and scolded the girls. The Prophet SAW, uncovering his face, told him, "Let them be, Abu Bakr. These are the days of `Eid." [Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.]

4- There is an extract from the book, The Lawful and The Prohibited In Islam, by Y. Al Qaradawi, that is useful in this aspect. Among the entertainments which may comfort the soul, please theheart, and refresh the ear is singing. Islam permits singing under the condition that it not be in any way obscene or harmful to Islamic morals. There is no harm in it being accompanied by music which is not exciting. (Y. al-Qaradawi, "The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam," p. 300)

5- Music is something unique to every culture and group of people. It defines their experiences and can provide a powerful means of bring people to Islam as seen through the works of Yusuf Islam, Soldiers Of Allah, Ash Sh?ra, Sons of the Crescent and others (all have used musical instruments and sounds in one way or the other). Allah SWT says:

"Say: who has prohibited Allah's beautiful things which He created for His servants and good provisions?"

Music can be a powerful tool if used correctly, influencing you to do good. However, in the same way, it can make you do bad things, as was shown when the rock band, Good Charlotte, drove a teenage girl to suicide because of their self abusing lyrics. There is no doubt that music and songs about haram activities is not allowed in Islam. But before we make a judgment on singing and instruments for Islamic purposes one must look at the arguments for and against the use of Instruments.

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The second opinion Music isn’t allawed ( haram)

References within the context of the Holy Qur`aan along with the Hadith of the Prophet (PBUH) confirm that music is haraam. Interpreters of the Qur`aan have defined the term `lahwal hadith` which is mentioned in the Qur`aan as:

1) Singing and listening to songs.

2) Purchasing of male and female singers.

3) Purchase of instruments of fun and amusement.

When Sayyidana Abdullah Ibne Mas`ood , a very close companion of our Prophet (PBUH) was asked about the meaning of the term `lahwal hadith`, he replied :

I swear by Him besides whom there is no other God,that it refers to ghinaa (singing ).

his statement, he repeated three times. This view is unanimously supported by the four Khalifas, the eminent Sahabaah, Tabi`een, the four Imaams and other reliable Islaamic scholars and authorities.

PROOF FROM THE QURAN

1st Proof from the Qur’an:

“But there are, among men, those who purchase idle tales, without knowledge (or meaning), to mislead (men) from the Path of Allah and throw ridicule (on the Path): for such there will be a humiliating Penalty.” [31:6]

Ibn Abbas (radhi Allahu anh) said idle tales in this verse “lahu al hadith” is evil and music.

Mujahid (rahimahu Allah ) said idle tales in this verse “lahu al hadith” was the drum.

Hassan AlBasri said this verse was revealed about music and musical instruments. Alsady included in this evil talk and musical instruments. Ibn al Qayyim (rahimahu Allah ) said,

The interpretation of the sahabah (companions) and Tabi’een (their followers) of idle tales in this verse “lahu al hadith” is sufficient in that it means music.

Abu Alsahbaa’ said I asked Ibn Masoood about Allah’s verse. He said,

Wallahi the one and only one its music – repeating it three times.

(This is authentic in being attributed to Ibn Masood and Ibn Abbas)

Ibn Umar (radhi Allahu anh) also said it means Music.

Therefore, if you take time to observe around you will see that music is a path to adultery and fornication. It plants the seed of hypocrisy , the seed of polytheism. When people turn to music, like it and get addicted to it, it becomes the alcohol of the mind. One turns away from the Qur’an more than anything else once their hearts become addicted to music.

Allah says,

..for such there will be a humiliating Penalty . for those who replaces the Qur’an with idle tales.

2nd Proof from the Qur’an:

Also, Allah says (regarding Satan) what means:

And excite any of them whom you can with your voice. Assault them with your cavalry and infantry, be a partner with them in their wealth and children, and make them promises.' But Satan promises them nothing except deceit.

(Surah Al-Isra Verse 64)

Mujahid (rahimahu Allah ) said,

..and his voice is music and evil.

Ibn al Qayyim (rahimahu Allah ) said,

everyone who speaks in disobedience to Allah and or user of musical instruments, flute, haram duff, drums is the voice of the shytan.

Opjection

Some of the taabi'een (a person that has seen a sahabah) such as ad-Dahhaak and Mujaahid interpreted Satan's exciting mankind with his voice to mean through the use of music, song and amusement. Ad-Dahhaak said it was the sound of wind instruments. However according to Ibn Abbas , the voice mentioned in the verse refers to every form of invitation which calls to the disobedience of Allah the Exalted, which seems to be the most correct interpretation. This gives good support to the point that the SOA member made – that music is halal, as long as it does not invite to, or talk of haram.

3rd Proof from the Qur’an :

“Allah SWT says, in the Quran, what means:

"Do you marvel at this statement, and laugh and do not weep, while you amuse yourselves proudly in vanities? Rather, prostrate before Allah and worship Him alone."

(Surah An-Najm Verse 59 to 62 )

Ikrimah (rahimahu Allah) said Ibn abbas said Sumood in the verse mean music; when you say usmud lana it means sing to us. He said they used to when they heard the Qur’an sing, so Allah revealed the verse.

Ibn Katheer (rahimahu Allah) said in his tafseer under this verse, Sufian Althawry narrated that his father heard Ibn abbas say usmud for us means sing for us.

Objection

According to Ibn Abbas, RA, a companion of the word 'saamidoon' in this verse refers to the non-believers habit of singing and playing music noisily whenever they heard the Quran being recited, in order to drown out the reciter’s voice so that others wouldn't hear it. However, Muslims who listen to Islamic music do not listen to it while the Adhan or Quran is being recited. In fact, the beauty of what some call the music of Islam, the Quran and Adhan (call to prayer) is so intense that that people stop all they are doing just to listen. This is how many non believers have converted to Islam.

PROOF FROM THE SUNNAH

1st Proof from the Sunnah

Narrated Abu ‘Amir or Abu Malik Al-Ash’ari that he heard the Prophet saying,

“From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, (ma`aazif) as lawful.

Detailed analysis of the arabic word `ma`aazif ` shows that it refers to musical instruments, the sounds of those musical instruments and singing with the accompaniment of instruments.

This hadith shows that music is haram through two avenues:

a. The prophet (sallah allahu alieh wasalam) mentioned that they will make permissible, meaning its haram/prohibited and they will make it permissible. Note all the examples in the hadith are issues that are haram.

b. The prophet (sallah allahu alieh wasalam) combined the musical instruments with that which is decisively haram like adultery/fornication and alcohol. Had music not been prohibited then it would not have been combined to that which is prohibited.

Objection

Some say music is not haram for itself but only haram if combined to setting where there is alcohol or other issues that are haram.

2nd Proof from the Sunnah

Naafey (rahimahu Allah) said Ibn Umar heard a musical instrument so he (sallah allahu alieh wasalam) placed his fingers in his ears and walked away from the area and said, “Naafey can u hear anything?” I said, “No!” He took his fingers out of his ears and said, “I was with the prophet (sallah allahu alieh wasalam) and he heard like this and did as I did.”

Some claim this hadith is not proof on the prohibition of musical instruments because had it been haram the prophet (sallah allahu alieh wasalam) would have plugged his ears and ordered Ibn Umar to do so, and Ibn Umar would have ordered Nafe to do that as well.

The reply to that is there is a difference between “sama-e” and “istima-e” “Sama-e” is to unintentionally hear music and “Istima” is to purposely listen to music or go in a setting where there is music. Here, Ibn Umar and the prophet (sallah allahu alieh wasalam) did not purposely listen and neither did did Naafey.

Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahu Allah ) said,

“What one does not intend of listening to is not haram as all scholars agree. Therefore, the prohibition or reward is based on whether it’s istima-e or sama-e. Someone who purposely listen to Qur’an “istima-e” will get reward; yet another who listens accidentally (or not wanting or seeking) does not get reward. Likewise, with musical instruments. Listening to it unintentionally and without seeking it will not hurt him.

Ibn Qudamah AlMaqdise (rahimahu Allah) said that Ibn Umar (radhi Allahu anhuma) did not intend to listen since he was just a passer-by and the prophet (sallah allahu alieh wasalam) walked away from that street. He (sallah allahu alieh wasalam) would not have came back had he not known the music ended and neither would he have taken his fingers out of his ears. Therefore, it was necessary for Ibn Umar (radhi Allahu anhuma) not to place his fingers in his ears to let the prophet (sallah allahu alieh wasalam) know when the music ended.

Objection

If music is haram why did the prophet command to bring the doer and deter him ? Moreover why did the prophet let ibn Umar listen

3rd Proof from the Sunnah

The prophet (sallah allahu alieh wasalam) walked with Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Awf in between pine trees. The prophet (sallah allahu alieh wasalam) then placed his son Ibrahim on his lap and began to cry. Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Awf said, “Oh prophet of Allah do you cry when you stop us from crying?”“I did not deter you from crying. I deterred you from two evil sinful voices – a voice with musical devilish instruments and a voice at a misery with scraping of the face and shredding of the clothe.” He said,

SAYING OF IMAMS REGARDING MUSIC

1. The Madhab of Imam Abu Hanifa:

The Madhab of Imam Abu Hanifa is among the most critical and harshest quotes on music. Imam Abu Hanifa’s students clearly declared musical instruments haram and anyone who listens to it is considered a fasiq whose testimony is not accepted. They also said one must strive not to listen to it if he passes by it or if its near him.

2. The Madhab of Imam Malik:

Imam Malik (rahimahu Allah ) was asked about those who play the drums and flute and those who enjoy listening to it as one passes by. He said one must get up and leave unless he is sitting for something extremely urgent or cannot get up. If he hears it in his pathway then he should go back or speed forward.

3. The Madhab of Imam Shafi’i:

His students and those truly knowledgeable of his madhab clearly declared music and musical instruments haram and denied that he ever said it was halal.

4. The Madhab of Imam Ahmad:

Imam Ahmad’s son, Abdullah, asked his father about music. His father said, “It grows hypocrisy within one’s heart and I dislike it.” And, then he said Imam Maliks quote that only fusooq (astray) do it.

EXCEPTION

Among the exception, and the only one in fact, is the use of a duff (a small hand drum) with no metallic tones on them. The prophet (sallah allahu alieh wasalam) made an exception to that instrument for ‘Eid and weddings

. Conclusion

To sum up ,Music is haram according the Majority of Ulama while some Ulama consider it as halal under the condition that it not be in any way obscene or harmful to Islamic morals. IF MUSLIM HAS MORE WARA'A (MORE FEAR FROM Allah )and want to be safe aside he Should give up listening to Music So We respect both of them and if some Muslim follow one of these two opinion, we should respect and accept their Opinion. May Allah increase us in our strength to obey Him. Ameen