Is Music Forbidden in Islam

Islam and Music

Table of Contents

In Islam, musical instruments are often associated with negative influences, particularly because of how they are used in popular culture. While musical instruments themselves are creations of humans and not inherently evil, their association with bad behaviors has made them seen as linked to Satan in a metaphorical sense. In Islam, the term “Satan” often refers to individuals who engage in evil acts, such as those who commit heinous crimes, and not to a literal devil. 👉Riyad as-Salihin 959👈🏻

When musical instruments are used in songs that promote immoral behavior—like the objectification of women, inappropriate attire, or the glorification of alcohol and drug use — they become linked to negative influences. For example, songs that feature girls in revealing clothing, such as those by popular artists like Taylor Swift, are often produced in a way that seeks to entertain or make money by exploiting these images. The inclusion of musical instruments in these performances makes them part of the larger commercialized industry that promotes these behaviors. Similarly, when musical instruments are used in songs that insult religious figures, such as Jesus Christ, this also links the music to negative influences.

In Islam, God is seen as knowing the actions of humans even before they happen, and the misuse of musical instruments was foreseen as part of the moral decline that would unfold over time. Today, we see how music is often used for entertainment, profit, and social influence, which can lead people away from spirituality or righteousness. God is holy, and He requires His creation to choose things that are not linked to impure or sinful activities.

However, it’s important to note that Islam does not explicitly forbid listening to music in all cases. If the song does not contain harmful content, such as profanity, adult themes, or offensive messages, it may not be considered a sin. The key point is that listening to music that promotes bad behavior should be avoided, as it can lead to a person’s moral corruption. For those who make mistakes in this regard, Islam encourages seeking forgiveness, as these are considered lesser sins. Greater sins, like murder, adultery, or associating partners with God, are more severe, and avoiding them is paramount. Muslims believe that God is merciful and will forgive those who repent and strive to avoid sin.

Hadith on Eid: Permissibility of Music and Singing on Eid

Narrated Aisha: Sahih al-Bukhari 949, 950
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) (p.b.u.h) came to my house while two girls were singing beside me the songs of Buath (a story about the war between the two tribes of the Ansar, the Khazraj and the Aus, before Islam). The Prophet (p.b.u.h) lay down and turned his face to the other side. Then Abu Bakr came and spoke to me harshly saying, “Musical instruments of Satan near the Prophet (p.b.u.h) ?” Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) (p.b.u.h) turned his face towards him and said, “Leave them.” When Abu Bakr became inattentive, I signaled to those girls to go out and they left. It was the day of `Id, and the Black people were playing with shields and spears; so either I requested the Prophet (p.b.u.h) or he asked me whether I would like to see the display. I replied in the affirmative. Then the Prophet (p.b.u.h) made me stand behind him and my cheek was touching his cheek and he was saying, “Carry on! O Bani Arfida,” till I got tired. The Prophet (p.b.u.h) asked me, “Are you satisfied (Is that sufficient for you)?” I replied in the affirmative and he told me to leave.

Lessons from Prophet’s (ﷺ) Permissive Stance on Music During Eid Celebrations

Meaning:

Contextual Interpretation:

Contextual Interpretation: The Hadith highlights the importance of considering the cultural and historical context when interpreting religious teachings. The Prophet (ﷺ) recognized that music and singing were integral parts of the Ansar’s culture and celebration during Eid. This teaches us that Islam allows for flexibility in certain cultural practices that do not contradict Islamic principles, and it emphasizes the need for contextual understanding in interpreting religious teachings.
Balancing between Permissibility and Caution: The Hadith also illustrates the Prophet’s (ﷺ) ability to strike a balance between allowing cultural expressions and maintaining caution. While the Prophet (ﷺ) permitted the girls to sing during Eid, he also acknowledged Abu Bakr’s concerns by not harshly rebuking him. This teaches us the importance of balancing between permissibility and caution in matters that may have varying interpretations or cultural sensitivities.
Upholding Unity and Celebrating Diversity: The Prophet’s (ﷺ) response of “Leave them Abu Bakr, for every nation has an Id (i.e. festival) and this day is our Id” highlights the significance of unity and inclusivity within the Muslim community. Despite cultural differences, the Prophet (ﷺ) emphasized the importance of celebrating diversity and unity during the joyous occasion of Eid. This teaches us the importance of fostering unity and inclusivity within the Muslim community, respecting and embracing diversity while upholding common Islamic values.
Avoiding Hasty Judgments: The Prophet’s (ﷺ) response to Abu Bakr’s disapproval of music during Eid also teaches us to avoid making hasty judgments or condemning cultural practices without understanding their context. The Prophet (ﷺ) showed patience and wisdom in his response, indicating that not all forms of music are inherently evil or from Satan, and that cultural practices should be evaluated with knowledge and wisdom before passing judgments.

📖Sunan Ibn Majah 4020
It was narrated from Abu Malik Ash’ari that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: People among my nation will drink wine, calling it by another name, and musical instruments will be played for them and singing girls (will sing for them). Allah will cause the earth to swallow them up, and will turn them into monkeys and pigs.

This hadith highlights an important issue: the misuse of things like musical instruments and the involvement of girls for entertainment, leading to moral degradation. The focus here isn’t solely on the instruments or singing itself but on their use in inappropriate and exploitative contexts. The act of using girls for personal enjoyment suggests moral corruption and exploitation, which is condemned. As for the transformation into monkeys and pigs, Islamic scholars often interpret such descriptions metaphorically. These animals symbolically represent certain undesirable behaviors or qualities—monkeys reflecting mockery or lack of discipline, and pigs reflecting impurity or greed. This could imply that such individuals may develop characteristics resembling these animals in their behavior and morals. However, it is also possible that the hadith refers to a literal transformation, as other narrations sometimes describe extraordinary events. In Islamic tradition, hadiths often carry metaphorical meanings to guide reflection and self-awareness, urging Muslims to avoid such behaviors and their consequences.

There are many other reasons why music is considered bad:

Music is often scrutinized because it has the potential to evoke sexual desires in listeners, and there are concerns that it may impact cognitive abilities negatively, among other effects. These claims find some support in survey-based research, suggesting a multifaceted influence of music on individuals’ thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

Reference : Erotic stimuli

Reference : Music and health

Reference : Music while You Work: The Differential Distraction of Background Music on the Cognitive Test Performance of Introverts and Extraverts

Reference : Study finds listening to music has negative impact on creativity

Reference : music can make you smart or dumb?

Reference : Potential Negative Impact of Music

Reference : The Harmful Effects of Music on Body and Mind

Why Do Muslims Listen to Music or Use Musical Instruments?

As I mentioned, music is considered bad, and I included references to why music can be viewed negatively. Based on the hadiths, if a person uses musical instruments or listens to music, it doesn’t immediately fall into the haram category because there is a hadith, as I mentioned, where the Prophet himself allowed it, which means if a person listens or uses musical instruments, we should teach the person not to do so because these things are bad. However, if a person is unable to do so, it’s a matter between God and the person because only God knows why the person continues listening or using musical instruments and why they’re unable to stop. We are not in a position to impose judgments on others if they are unable to cease something, and only God knows the reasons behind their actions and their inability to stop, Also, there is a hadith about the future prophecy where the Prophet said Muslims will consider musical instruments as lawful, while some kinds of music or musical instruments are not lawful. But as we can see today, Muslims listen to and use musical instruments in various songs where singers use bad words or explicit content. Such kinds of music and using musical instruments are considered unlawful, but it is already predicted that Muslims will still consider these as lawful. So, if people listen to or use musical instruments, it’s also a fulfillment of the hadith. But we need to use our free will to control ourselves and try to avoid listening to or using musical instruments.

Summary:

In the Islamic world, musical instruments can be acceptable only if someone uses them for leisure, to sing for themselves, or for educational purposes, not for making money or using girls to sing for them, as is done in Western countries or India’s Bollywood, where people use girls for their own benefit and use musical instruments to make songs more popular.

Choosing Music Over Inappropriate Content

The world is already under Satan’s rule, and everyone is listening to songs. If you’re interested in songs, you can listen to them from this channel NH WARNER without needing images, even though some of these songs use bad words. But it’s better than watching Western nudity in songs. Keep in mind, though, that this is not recommended for everyone. If you don’t watch that kind of content, then stay away. These songs are for people who already listen to this kind of music, and for them, it’s better to listen to this than watch Western or Bollywood nudity, which is full of trash like porn stars presenting themselves in the songs.

Additional Information

In conclusion, the Hadith provides several valuable lessons, including the importance of contextual interpretation, balancing permissibility with caution, upholding unity and celebrating diversity, and avoiding hasty judgments. These teachings highlight the wisdom and flexibility of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in dealing with cultural practices during religious celebrations, and serve as guidance for Muslims in navigating similar situations in contemporary times.