Is Music allowed in Islam? | Khalifatul Masih Explains
Someone from Indonesia wrote to Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa, enquiring about Islam’s perspective on music and musical instruments.
In his letter, dated 9 March 2023, Huzoor-e-Anwaraa gave the following reply:
“It is permissible under the Islamic sharia to listen to such songs, poems and chants that are not accompanied by dancing, etc. and are free from any moral impropriety. Ahadith recount various occasions on which, during times of joy or at weddings, girls sang such songs and chants in the presence of the Holy Prophetsa and he did not prevent them; indeed, when anyone attempted to stop them, the Holy Prophetsa said,
‘Do not trouble these girls.’
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-jumu‘ah, Bab al-hirabi wa d-daraqi yawma l-‘id)
“Likewise, on one wedding occasion, the Holy Prophetsa told Hazrat Aishara that the Ansar, into whose family the bride was being married, delighted in melodious singing. He therefore advised her to send with the bride a few young girls of pleasant voice, who would sing:
‘We are come to you, we are come to you; may Allah preserve us and preserve you.’
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Kitab an-nikah, Bab al-ghina’i wa d-duff)
“However, whenever the Holy Prophetsa observed or sensed anything inappropriate in such songs or chants, he immediately forbade the singers.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-maghazi, Bab shuhudi l-mala’ikati badran)
“The Promised Messiahas, while rendering a commentary on the verses of Surah an-Nur, states:
“‘[These verses command the Holy Prophetsa to] direct the believing men to restrain their eyes from looking at women outside the prohibited degrees so openly as to be sexually excited by them and to cultivate the habit of guarding their looks. And should safeguard their private parts at all costs. Likewise, they should restrain their ears outside the prohibited degrees; that is, they should not listen to the singing or beguiling voices of women outside the prohibited degrees, nor should they listen to descriptions of their beauty. This is a good way of preserving the purity of their looks and hearts. In the same way, direct believing women that they should restrain their eyes from looking at men outside the prohibited degrees and should safeguard their ears against listening to the voices of such men. That is, they should not listen to the voices which sexually excite them.’
(Islam Ki Usul Ki Falasafi, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 10, pp. 341-342)
“After describing the decline of Muslim rule across various Islamic countries, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra states:
“‘Despite witnessing such catastrophic ruin, Muslims still passionately indulge in cinema and musical entertainment, deriving no lessons whatsoever from their history. Yet, the Holy Quran explicitly instructs in the words وَالَّذِیْنَ لَا یَشْھَدُوْنَ الزُّوْرَ’ (Surah al-Furqan, Ch. 25: V. 73), that if Muslims aspire to become ‘Ibad-ur-Rahman [i.e., Servants of the Gracious God], it is incumbent upon them, above all else, to shun gatherings of music and song and devote themselves wholeheartedly to the One God. Should they adhere to this, they shall attain success; failing this, they cannot evade the disastrous consequences.’ (Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 9, UK, 2023, pp. 218–219) [According to Lane and ‘Aqrab, زُوْر means a lie; a falsehood; false witness; association of others with God; a place where lies are told; a place where people hear singing and entertain themselves with vain or frivolous diversion; the assemblies of polytheists; strength, etc. —Editor Al Hakam]
“However, with regard to the permissibility of decent songs during wedding festivities, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra further elucidates:
“‘On the occasion of marriage, singing is permissible according to the sharia. However, such songs must either possess religious merit or be entirely harmless in nature. For example, general wedding songs, typically sung in a light-hearted and innocent manner, pose no moral objection, for they are merely sung to enliven hearts and exert no detrimental influence on one’s ethical conduct.’
(Farmudat-e-Musleh-e-Maud dar barah Fiqhi Masa’il, p. 220)
“In response to a specific question, he stated that there is no sin in singing a song during wedding celebrations, provided the lyrics contain neither obscenity nor idle nonsense and the manner of singing remains modest and dignified.
(Farmudat-e-Musleh-e-Maud dar barah Fiqhi Masa’il, p. 221)
“Hence, in summary, listening to songs is not intrinsically haram. Therefore, on festive occasions such as weddings or other joyous gatherings, singing and listening to songs couched in pure, wholesome verse, provided they contain no hint of indecency, entail no risk of arousing base passions and do not degenerate into a frivolous waste of time.“As for musical instruments, certain ahadith mention the permissibility of the daff.
(Sunan at-Tirmidhi, Kitab an-nikah, Bab ma ja’a fi i‘lani n-nikah)
The Holy Prophetsa himself elucidated its intended purpose as a means of publicly announcing marriage ceremonies, etc. Hence, the use of such instruments for a purposeful objective (as in olden times, when armies in war would be stirred to defend their homeland by patriotic chants and poems recited to the accompaniment of these instruments) is permissible. However, in this era, many musical instruments are employed aimlessly and merely for senseless dancing and singing, such as various forms of pop music, which not only involve vulgarity and lead people towards unworthy pursuits but also lack any meaningful purpose. Therefore, using these instruments in such a manner is inappropriate.”
[Al Hakam – Answers to Everyday Issues – Part 81]